About this template
The Proust Questionnaire is a legendary interview-style survey originally popularized by Marcel Proust, designed to reveal the core personality, values, and inner thoughts of its subject. Long used by journalists, biographers, and podcasters, it captures a fascinating portrait of an individual through a series of evocative, deep-dive questions about happiness, fear, ambition, and identity.
Whether you are profiling guests for a podcast, conducting qualitative research, or exploring personal growth exercises with clients, this ready-to-use Google Form template lets you collect thoughtful responses instantly. Instead of manually copying questions or building a lengthy survey from scratch, use Doc2Form to instantly generate a clean, shareable form. The template covers all the iconic prompts—from your subject's greatest extravagance and current state of mind to their motto and ideal happiness—providing a structured yet deeply personal interview experience.
Key features
- Includes 37 classic personality and interview prompts
- Fully customizable text fields for tailored follow-ups
- Instant distribution via direct link, QR code, or website embed
- Seamless response collection directly in Google Sheets
Use cases
- Podcast and newsletter guest profiling interviews
- Biographical research and author profiles
- Therapeutic self-reflection and coaching exercises
- Creative writing and character development workshops
What this form collects
- Full Name (Short answer)Enter your name as you would like it to appear in the interview publication.
- Email Address (Short answer)Where can we reach you if we have follow-up questions about your responses?
- What is your idea of perfect happiness? (Paragraph)Describe the ultimate state of joy or peace for you.
- What is your greatest fear? (Paragraph)What circumstance or outcome worries you the most?
- What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? (Paragraph)Reflect on a personal habit or characteristic you wish you didn't have.
- What is the trait you most deplore in others? (Paragraph)What human behavior or characteristic frustrates you the most?
- Which living person do you most admire? (Short answer)Name someone alive today who inspires you.
- What is your greatest extravagance? (Paragraph)What is your favorite luxury or splurge?
- What is your current state of mind? (Paragraph)How are you feeling right now, in this exact chapter of your life?
- What do you consider the most overrated virtue? (Paragraph)Which widely praised quality do you think receives too much credit?
- On what occasions do you lie? (Paragraph)When do you find yourself bending the truth, and why?
- What do you most dislike about your appearance? (Paragraph)Share any physical feature you'd change if you could.
- Which living person do you most despise? (Paragraph)Whose actions or character do you find completely unacceptable?
- What is the quality you most like in a man? (Paragraph)What trait do you value most in men?
- What is the quality you most like in a woman? (Paragraph)What trait do you value most in women?
- What words or phrases do you most overuse? (Paragraph)What catchphrases or filler words slip into your speech constantly?
- What or who is the greatest love of your life? (Paragraph)Describe your deepest romantic attachment or passion.
- When and where were you happiest? (Paragraph)Recall a specific moment and location of pure contentment.
- Which talent would you most like to have? (Paragraph)If you could magically acquire any skill or ability, what would it be?
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? (Paragraph)Physical, mental, or emotional — what gets an overhaul?
- What do you consider your greatest achievement? (Paragraph)What accomplishment makes you the proudest?
- If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be? (Paragraph)Share your preferred reincarnation form.
- Where would you most like to live? (Paragraph)City, countryside, country, or planet — where is your ideal home?
- What is your most treasured possession? (Paragraph)What physical object holds the most sentimental or personal value to you?
- What is your lowest depth of misery? (Paragraph)Describe your darkest or most painful moment.
- What is your favorite occupation? (Paragraph)What work or activity brings you the most fulfillment?
- What is your most marked characteristic? (Paragraph)What stands out most about your personality to others?
- What do you most value in your friends? (Paragraph)What qualities do you look for in your inner circle?
- Who are your favorite writers? (Paragraph)Name the authors whose work has impacted you the most.
- Who is your hero of fiction? (Paragraph)Which literary or cinematic character do you look up to?
- Which historical figure do you most identify with? (Paragraph)Whose life story mirrors yours or resonates deeply with you?
- Who are your heroes in real life? (Paragraph)Who are your personal role models outside of fiction?
- What are your favorite names? (Paragraph)Names for people, pets, or places that you simply love.
- What is your greatest regret? (Paragraph)What decision or action do you look back on with sorrow?
- How would you like to die? (Paragraph)If you could choose your final moment, how would it happen?
- What is your motto? (Paragraph)What phrase or guiding principle do you live by?
FAQ
What is the Proust Questionnaire?
It is a famous series of personality questions designed to reveal a person's true character, values, and inner thoughts through introspection.
How can I share this questionnaire with interview subjects?
Once generated in Google Forms, you can share the form via a direct link, email, QR code, or embed it directly on your website.
Can I customize the questions?
Yes. Since the form lives in your Google Drive, you can easily add, edit, or remove any questions to suit your specific interview style.
Where are the questionnaire responses saved?
All submissions are automatically organized in a linked Google Sheets spreadsheet for easy review, analysis, or export.
Get this form in your Google Drive
Save a copy to your Google Drive with one click (uses 1 credit). Or build from a PDF or description in the app.