Two Men Talking in a Tavern (detail), Jean Charles Meissonier (1848-1917)
I'm a cognitive scientist who studies and writes about language and communication. As an experimental psychologist, I conduct research with my students on discourse, pragmatics, and nonliteral language. I also try to share research on these topics with a broader audience.
Specifically, I have authored or co-authored several books for the general public on a variety of topics. These include second language learning in adulthood, cross-cultural communication, language and aging, and irony and sarcasm.
In 2023, I published two more books: one on miscommunication and one on language and identity. And Strikingly Similar, my book about plagiarism and appropriation, was published in January 2026 by Cambridge University Press.
Information about all of my books can be found under the "Books" and "Reviews" sections of this website.
I also write for The Conversation and contribute monthly articles about language and communication to Psychology Today. Links to these pieces can be found under "Articles/interviews."
February 2026 update: Praise for Strikingly Similar
I strongly recommend anybody who is concerned about plagiarism, or ghostwriting around the world to read it. This is of as much interest to the general public, as to researchers at the top of this field.
-Anaphora Literary Press
"Strikingly Similar" is that rare book: entertaining, comprehensive, and relevant. Don’t sleep on it!
-Air Mail (Editor's Pick)
A wide-ranging investigation of plagiarism as both a psychological and cultural phenomenon . . . full of entertaining anecdotes, this is a thorough overview of current understandings of plagiarism’s motivations and its role in artistic production.
-Publishers Weekly
Kreuz’s style is engaging, and he has a nice way of telling a story.
-The Spectator
Engaging and thought-provoking, this accessible study of plagiarism offers a nuanced perspective on a complex topic. Readers will enjoy the journey and may be left contemplating viewpoints they hadn’t previously considered.
-Library Journal (Starred Review)
Engagingly fact-packed survey of plagiarism through the ages . . . in a particularly eye-opening section of his book, [he shows] how few people can recognise glaringly obvious examples of plagiarism.
-The Times of London
Kreuz theorizes that the guiltless ease with which we can all violate copyright online makes plagiarism feel more acceptable.
-Washington Independent Review of Books
Shows the extent to which artists and politicians appropriate material from others, from Melania Trump to Bob Dylan.
-The London Standard (a Must-Read)
A treasure trove of plagiarism through the ages.
-The Mail on Sunday
Roger Kreuz’s book burrows into the history of plagiarism and its complicated cousin, appropriation, to try to tell us how we got here . . . 'Strikingly Similar' is at its best when it drops big names into juicy plagiarism debates.
-The Observer (What to Read This Week)