Lee Child: What thought won't let you sleep? — FLAPSS

The question

What thought won't let you sleep?

Originally asked

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

A long-running fixed question in The Guardian's weekly Q&A questionnaire.

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

LC

Lee Child

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Nothing. If I’m worried or upset or tormented, I go to sleep quickly and easily, to find welcome oblivion.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Others on this question

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Daniel Mays British actor

The light in my neighbours’ kitchen because they still haven’t put a blind up.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2020 source ↗

Nish Kumar British stand-up comedian and presenter

Anything from the concept of human mortality to a faux pas I made at a party in 2005.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 February 2019 source ↗

Lleyton Hewitt Australian professional tennis player

My wife cleaning.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 9 July 2016 source ↗

Mandy Patinkin American actor and singer

Not being at peace with myself, in spite of an ongoing lifetime effort to try to calm down and accept that, no matter what, I did the best I could.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 26 October 2019 source ↗

More from Lee Child

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Question What period or moment in your life brought you the most joy? Time & hindsight

In 1993, making love on the beach of a deserted island in the Bahamas.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Always saying yes to people. For example, I’m doing this.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Question Who alive today do you admire most, and what draws you to them? Values & belief

The exact median middle-aged black woman in the US. If hard work guaranteed success, she’d be the most successful person on the planet. But she isn’t, yet she keeps on going.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Appearing on US breakfast radio. I heard the DJ say that after the news we would hear from the author Lincoln Child. I had to choose between making a guy with a mixed-up PR release look like an idiot or pretending to be Lincoln. I pretended.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Question What do you fear most? Identity & self

I’m from Birmingham. I’m not afraid of things. Things are afraid of me.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

Question What would you most want to leave your children? Death & what remains

More than I can, sadly. I led the softest of lives in the softest of times, and my daughter will face sterner challenges.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 June 2025 source ↗

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