Nicholson Baker
Contemporary American novelist and writer
It’s like all your emotions are apples and they get crushed all at once into cider.
What does love feel like?
Question
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Values & belief
Question
When were you happiest?
Time & hindsight
Question
What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?
Failure & regret
Question
What is the worst job you have done?
Craft & work
Question
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Craft & work
Question
Aside from a property, what is the most expensive thing you have bought?
Money & investment
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this exact standing prompt.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
The best of times, the worst of times.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 May 2023 source ↗
Others on this question
View all 212 →Warmth and confidence.
Sheryl Crow
American singer-songwriter
Euphoric and very calming.
Johnny Flynn
British actor and musician
Not feeling like you have to be anywhere else.
More from Michael Ball
View profile →Volodymyr Zelenskiy, his trajectory from performer to leading his country and then stepping up in such a magnificent way is extraordinary.
My first summer working, in 1984. I’d come out of drama school, I’d landed a job that got me an Equity card doing Godspell in Aberystwyth – and it was just unmitigated joy.
“Unfortunately, Michael, I don’t think you’re ever going to work in the acting profession until you’re about 40, and then it’ll only be in minor character roles.” Drama teacher at Guildford School of Acting.
Handing out leaflets for a European coach trip wearing just lederhosen, in February and March in Surrey. It was freezing, and I got fired.
I am pretty proud of having got Aspects of Love back into the West End.
My dogs. They didn’t cost that much to buy, but I’ve been paying for them since. We’ve two Tibetan terriers, Danny and Wilbur.
More on relationships
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Christopher Eccleston, Andy Serkis, David Harewood, Jimmy Akingbola, Charlotte Church, Omid Djalili
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