By: Desiree Akhavan

Writer, actor, and director Desiree Akhavan shares the stories she was told to shut up abouthilarious, horny, heartbreaking tales of a life in pursuit of art, love, and a better haircut.

There was a time before shame. A time of POGS, Tamagotchis and the Macarena. When birthday party invites were a given, books came with charm necklaces, and whoever was in your class was automatically a friend. Then puberty hit and everything went weird.

When it comes to shame, Desiree Akhavan knows what shes talking aboutwhetherits winning the title of The Ugliest Girl at her high school,acquiescing tothe nose job she was lovinglyforcedinto by her Iranian parents, or losing her virginity to a cokehead she met in a support group for cutters.InYou’re Embarrassing Yourself,Desiree goes to the rawest placesthe lifelong struggle to be at peace in ones body, the search for home as the child of immigrants, the anxious underbelly of artistic ambitioninpursuitof wisdom, catharsis, and lolz.

Equal parts funny andheartfelt,these seventeen essayschartan artists journey from outcasttoovernightindie darling, to (somewhat)self-awareadult woman.The result is a collection that captures the patheticlows and euphoric highs of our youthand how to survive them.

Story Locale:New York City, LA, London, Iran