50 Questions to Record a Life Story
Good questions open up stories you'd never otherwise recall. Use them for a conversation with a loved one or for yourself.
On childhood and roots
Where did you grow up? What home do you remember? Who were your parents? What childhood story comes to mind first? What did you love to eat as a child?
On choices and the path taken
How did you choose your profession? What decision changed your life? What did you dream of at twenty? What are you proudest of? What was the hardest?
On values and love
Who do you consider the most important people in your life? What would you want to teach your grandchildren? What advice would you give your younger self? What is happiness to you?
How to lead the conversation
Don't turn the talk into an interrogation: ask one question at a time and don't rush the answers. The most precious things often surface in the pauses and the tangents, so let the conversation flow freely. A few warm meetings are better than one long questionnaire.
- On childhood and roots.
- On choices and the path of life.
- On values, people, and love.
- Record the answers as audio, to keep the intonation.
Frequently asked questions
Save the story while it is with you
Create a memorial page in a few minutes — gently, beautifully and with respect for your loved ones. Free forever for the text version.
Create a memorialRead also
Ideas & stories
How to Build a Family Archive
Where to begin a family archive: photographs, documents, voices, and stories. How to digitize and preserve it for the long term.
Ideas & stories
Stories Worth Saving Before It's Too Late
Which family stories disappear first, and why it matters to record them while the storytellers are still with us.
Ideas & stories
How to Record a Loved One's Voice While There's Still Time
How and why to record a loved one's voice during their lifetime: what to capture and how to store it.