"A stunningly captivating, clever, and comical look at why social discomfort haunts us long beyond our teenage years. This book didn't just help me make sense of my most awkward moments. It liberated me from feeling embarrassed by them. Well, most of them."
Adam Grant, author of Give and Take and Originals

"Melissa Dahl provides a fascinating (and often hilarious) examination of the underdiscussed feeling of awkwardness. Her practical, penetrating insights reveal that understanding what's 'cringeworthy' can help us understand ourselves better - and create happier lives."
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project

"In this deeply researched and frequently hilarious book, Melissa Dahl shows that our capacity for cringing with embarrassment - at our own ineptness or other people's - is no mere psychological oddity. Her surprisingly uplifting message: through understanding awkwardness, we can learn to find more joy in the fundamental absurdity of being human."
Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote

"For anyone who's ever felt awkward in a social situation (so, all of us), Melissa Dahl's Cringeworthy is required reading. Dahl offers a thoughtful, original take on what it really means to feel awkward and how to handle them. A way to socialise better, without embarrassment? Sign us up."
Sunday Times

"This lively study explains how embracing embarrassing conversations or exposing situations can improve your life. Dahl is exceptionally good at describing emotions and the visceral physical sensations that often accompany them...pertinent and penetrating."
Katy Guest, The Guardian