>(1) is the question I like the most of the bunch. I think the goal there is to make the interviewee more comfortable; getting people to talk about something th

>(1) is the question I like the most of the bunch. I think the goal there is to make the interviewee more comfortable; getting people to talk about something they like also gets a very good show out of most people. If the goal is to get people to talk about something they like, then you should just ask that directly. Tell me about something you're passionate about. I've started asking this in social settings now, when I meet somebody for the first time and I want to avoid the awkward chit-chat. I don't think it matters what the topic is, I enjoy listening to people talk passionately about something new to me.