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The question

Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's Q&A repeatedly uses this prompt, sometimes dropping 'living' while retaining the same comparative judgment.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

CW
Chris Ware

American artist

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
For intellect: Art Spiegelman. For art: Robert Crumb. For poetry and vision: Gary Panter. For decency: Barack Obama. For genuine goodness: Charles Burns. For genius: Charlie Kaufman. For soulfulness and love: Lynda Barry. For words: Zadie Smith. For unique life's work and superhuman effort expended: Ira Glass, Dave Eggers.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 12 October 2012 source ↗

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Others on this question

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Suzi Quatro American-British rock musician
My sister Arlene, who is 75 and on marriage number seven. I admire her hopefulness.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 November 2016 source ↗
Noah Harari Israeli historian and philosopher
On a personal level, the friend who is a single mum raising two kids by herself during this Covid era. She is a real hero. If a historical personality, I choose Mikhail Gorbachev, who probably saved the world from world war three.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 October 2021 source ↗
Cynthia Nixon American actress and politician
Michelle Obama (not that Barack wouldn’t be right up there). She seems genuinely to enjoy her life and do the best with all the tasks that she sets her mind to.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 April 2017 source ↗

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