James Patterson
American author
One of the big moments was the birth of our son, Jack – he's 13 now.
When were you happiest?
Question
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Values & belief
Question
What do you value most in your friends?
Relationships
Question
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Identity & self
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
What is your greatest fear?
Identity & self
Question
Which trait do you most dislike in yourself?
Identity & self
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.
Probably during my childhood growing up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, December 2021 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 577 →It’s hard to pick one time. I feel like I’m quite a happy person. My ninth birthday was epic, though.
Rebecca Front
English actress, writer and comedian
Last night, having dinner with the family round the kitchen table.
Hayley Mills
English actress
Now. This is the best time of my life.
More from Mel Brooks
View profile →Never picking up the check.
Taking daily showers and always being there when I need them.
Being in a Broadway theater full of people laughing their heads off at one of my shows.
Probably me, but I don’t think I’m supposed to say that!
A Broadway theater filled with nothing but critics.
Being too damned self-absorbed.
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