This week's respondent is Craig Cohen, Executive Publisher of powerHouse Books, who will serve as a juror for the upcoming American Photography annual competition. Here's what he wrote:

Q: What you like most about being creative.
A: Freedom to decide what I want to spend my time working on.

Four titles executed under Craig Cohen's direction at powerHouse Books: Back in the Days by Jamel Shabazz; Crosstown by Helen Levitt; New York September 11 by Magnum Photographers; Take Ivy by Y. Hayashida

Q: Your best quality.
A: I'd like to phone a friend...

Q: Your main fault.
A: Impatience.

Q: The natural talent you wish you had.
A: Patience.

Q: If not yourself, who you would be.
A: My kids.

Q: What you would change about your appearance.
A: Make me 6'2" and I'd be a better rebounder.

Q: The quality you most appreciate in a wife/husband/life partner.
A: Love.

Q: The quality you most appreciate in a friend.
A: Humor.

Q: What you appreciate most about children.
A: Imagination and passion.

Q: What makes you happy.
A: So many things! My kids, wife, time with friends, a good book we've published, a real laugh, a game of basketball or ultimate, delicious food, and of course a cold beer.

Q: What makes you miserable.
A: Angry, hostile people.

Q: What you would do on a midweek day off.
A: Catch up on some sleep, read, exercise, cook.

Q: The first art or photo book you bought, and where.
A: Henri Cartier Bresson (Aperture Masters series). I can't remember where I got it...

Q: Your favorite writers.
A: I can't resist a good yarn from Paul Auster or Michael Chabon.

Q: Your favorite New York neighborhood.
A: Carroll Gardens where I live.

Q: Your favorite food and drink.
A: Beer, dumplings, kale, pasta.

Q: What you are listening to now.
A: Christmas music piping into the powerHouse Arena.

Q: Your greatest regret.
A: Best not to dwell on regrets.

Q: Your greatest hope.
A: Hard to do without sounding too cheesy and I'll spare myself and the readers any embarrassment.

Q: How you would prefer to die.
A: At a ripe old age without pain.

Q: Your favorite motto.
A: Pax et lux.

Craig Cohen is the Executive Publisher of powerHouse Books. Since joining
powerHouse Books in 1996 he has produced over 400 titles including the
groundbreaking bestseller, Back in the Days by Jamel Shabazz; Life is
Paradise by Francesco Clemente; New York September 11 by Magnum
Photographers; Crosstown by Helen Levitt; Women Before 10 a.m. by Véronique
Vial;  The Destruction of Lower Manhattan by Danny Lyon; Lovemarks: the
future beyond brands by Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts; Take
Ivy by Y. Hayashida; and others including a diverse collection of artists
such as Phil Stern, Harry Benson, Larry Fink, Steve Schapiro, Mike and Doug
Starn, Ron Galella, Richard Misrach, Elizabeth Peyton, Kehinde Wiley,
Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges, John Cohen, Peter Sutherland, and Brian Finke
among others.

Click for information about the original Proust Questionnaire.

120910