The Proust Questionnaire

Named after the French writer Marcel Proust, who popularized the questionnaire when he answered a version of it at the end of the 19th century, the Proust questionnaire aims to reveal the true taste and aspirations of the taker through very basic questions.

Up, close, and personal

The original version of the Proust Questionnaire consisted of a series of personal and introspective questions to delve beyond the surface and uncover deeper insights into an individual's thoughts, emotions, values, and the meaning of life.

Mycroissants.com is dedicated exclusively to interviews with the world's top startup founders using the Proust questionnaire.

Below is a comprehensive list of Proust questionnaire to get to know a person's true nature and character. Each of our founder interviews features between 10 to 15 questions out of this full list.

NB: I'm using British English in the quesions, such as 'favourite', 'colour'. However, I shall keep the answers true to the founders' American, British or any spellings.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

2. What is your greatest fear?

3. Which living person do you most admire?

4. What is your greatest extravagance?

5. What is your current state of mind?

6. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

7. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

8. Which living person do you most despise?

9. What is the quality you most admire in a woman?

10. What is the quality you most admire in a man?

11. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

12. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

14. In your next life, who or what would you like to be?

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

16. When and where were you happiest?

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

20. Where would you most like to live?

21. What is your most treasured possession?

22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

23. What is your favourite occupation?

24. What is your favourite journey?

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

26. What do you most value in your friends?

27. Who are your favourite writers?

28. Who is your hero/heroine of fiction?

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

30. Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

31. What are your favourite names?

32. What is it that you most dislike?

33. What is your greatest regret?

34. How would you like to die?

35. What is your motto?

36. To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

37. Who are your favourite characters in history?

38. Who is your favourite painter?

39. Who is your favourite musician/composer?

40. What is your principal defect?

41. What's your favourite colour?

42. Who are your favourite writers?

43. What natural gift would you most like to possess?

I'm adding two more:

44. What is your favourite book on startups?

45. What is your favourite breakfast?

Intrigued by what the answers will be? Stay tuned!