Jay McInerney
American writer
When my mother let me stay home from school even though I wasn't ill.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 June 2009 source ↗
When were you happiest?
Question
What keeps you awake at night?
Daily life
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
How close have you come to death?
Death & what remains
Question
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Death & what remains
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Today, waking up in the dark hours of the morning with a litter of puppies snoozing on my bed.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
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Andy Roddick
American tennis player
Nothing is better than right now, and having a baby is no small part.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2015 source ↗
Edmund Hillary
Mountaineer and explorer; first ascent of Everest, 1953
Those years from 1953 to 1975 were extremely happy years for me. I did many adventurous activities. I got deeply involved in these aid programs for the people of the Himalayas. I had a nice family, we took our family into the out-of-doors, we camped and we swam and we clambered around the hills. For me, it was a very full and a very happy existence.
Recorded Academy of Achievement interview source ↗
Julie Delpy
French actress and filmmaker
When I am working on something I really like, or when I am alone with my son playing in the garden.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 15 June 2013 source ↗
More from Fatima Bhutto
View profile →That to-do list I am supposed to get through but can’t summon the energy for in these weird, distracted times.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
Chekhov said, any idiot can weather a crisis, it’s the day-to-day living that wears you out. I think the same is true for great achievements. It’s not a big thing, but one ought to feel proud about the small moments in which you might have helped, cared for, or done something good for others.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
I don’t know. I prefer it that way.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
We don’t play songs at funerals where I’m from, but if they had to – Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 February 2021 source ↗
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