Math in Drag

by Kyne Santos

Unleash your inner math diva. Join sensational drag queen Kyne Santos on a fascinating journey through the glamorous world of . . . math? This hilarious and sometimes controversial book is your VIP pass, taking you behind the scenes with a TikTok superstar who shatters stereotypes and proves that math can be sassy and fun, even for people who think they aren't good at it. Within these pages, Kyne educates us about both mathematical mysteries and the world of drag through her unique perspective. With elegant irreverence, Kyne explores surprising connections, such as the artistry of ballroom culture and the nature of infinity, the illegal joys of Pride and dividing by zero, and the role of statistics in her own experience on Drag Race . This book is about more than just numbers―it's a celebration of inclusivity and the exhilaration of rebellion. Kyne gets personal while sharing her own experiences as a queer person forging a path in STEM. She empowers readers of all ages, genders, and skill levels to break school rules, question everything, and embrace math's beauty. Math in Drag explores a world in which numbers glitter and equations sashay through history. Read it to fire your own excitement and unleash your inner diva. Let Kyne Santos show you how to perform math with style and flair.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, LGBT, Mathematics, Queer, Stem, Audiobook

280 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Nicolas Lontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plusieurs grands avantages de ce livre d'introduction aux mathématiques par une drag queen comparé à de nombreux autres ouvrages que je lisais dans ma jeunesse et qui avait la même sensibilité d'introduire aux mathématiques, aux anecdotes historiques, etc. à un lectorat intéressé à en connaître davantage de ce qu'on voyait dans nos cours:
- Il y a des formules mathématiques!! Elles sont expliquées, elles sont claires pour moi (mais j'ai quand même aussi un niveau cégep avec tous les cours de maths avancées) et elles servent le propos qui est avancé (ce n'est pas là pour show off).
- Il y a vraiment du contenu LGBT politique qui soutient, appuie, exemplifie des contenus mathématiques. Des fois c'est très léger (comme quand on parle de formes géométriques et de robes), des fois, c'est plus "lourd" comme quand on parle de réalités mathématiques mis en parallèle avec la reconnaissance des droits et l'existence des personnes trans et non-binaires.
- C'est vraiment ludique, on ne s'ennuie pas et on couvre vraiment de très larges pans des mathématiques et de l'histoire des mathématiques. C'est vraiment plus un panorama qu'on contenu suivi ou qui a du sens historiquement ou dans la progression de l'enseignement mathématique donc on passe vraiment d'une matière à l'autre une fois qu'on a finit de traiter du sujet précédent.

Pour moi, la lecture est toutefois pas super excitante à cause justement du grand nombre d'essais du genre que je lisais durant mon adolescence et des nombreuses vidéos de maths que je regarde sur YouTube, mais comme première lecture (peut-être niveau secondaire 2-3 minimum) ou pour des jeunes et adultes personnes LGBTQ, pour démystifier ou dé-démoniser les maths, l'enseignement de celles-ci et peut-être défaire quelques "traumatismes" d'instructions, pour une personne qui étudie/travaille dans le domaine et qui veut expliquer ce qu'elle fait, ça peut vraiment être une bonne ressource ou un bon cadeau (j'ai déjà acheté une nouvelle copie que je vais offrir à du monde de mon côté).

[Debbie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute delight!

Kyne does a fantastic job making topics in math accessible through drag. She uses drag queens and wigs to talk about infinity, the gender spectrum to discuss imaginary numbers/complex plane, drag race and also splitting cake for game theory, drag race to introduce probability & statistics, population growth and viral growth to talk exponentials, and dress making to describe non-Euclidean geometry.

I was so excited about the game theory chapter because game theory is one of those topics that folks always refer to but I thought I didn’t know much about it. Turns out, something as simple as splitting a brownie with your sister (she cuts, I pick first) is game theory! I didn’t know that!

Kyne also weaves in lots of queer history from Turing’s contributions to WWII and his terrible treatment by the British government to some of the origins of drag in the Black ballroom scene… it was so interesting!

I also appreciated that Kyne weaved in some of her own personal history.

10/10 highly recommend

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit as a person that really don't like math my brain had difficulties getting the job for to stick. But Kyne Santos made me very interested to listen to a whole book about math and was very informative. That aline deserves a 5 stars. It really helped it was mixed with drag and other more interesting bits as well as a great audiobook narration and a very entertaining telling ways and it never felt boring or to much.

[Indira · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad loves math, knows little to nothing about drag, I love drag and know a little bit about math, so I'm just floored to find a book for both of our interests. He would especially appreciate Kyne's recognition of India's contributions to math and its mathematicians. Really engaging, entertaining and accessible way to learn a lot about the complexities of math (and drag.) Needs to be in my school library asap!

[Jillian Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie was right, this book was absolutely brilliant. Longer review to come, but for the meantime, y’all should read this book!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I changed this to five stars because I pretty much listened to 10 hours of her talking about math and I was never bored once so, kudos. Also, I loved learning about math and how it relates to drag and how it relates to the universe. Very unique and engaging.

[Alexander Thee Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyne is a master at making complex math concepts easily digestible through phenomenal drag analogies. Even the most jaded math-hater would love this book.

[Adam Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was so simple and easy to understand stand. Math is not my strong suit. I was worried that it was going to be complexed. However, it dives deep into math theories without being complicated. Kyne makes it very easy for the reader to understand. It is not a text book where it teaches you how to do math. It is more high level allowing your brain to understand the general concept of it. Plus, it gets personal. Kyne reveals more about herself. It was such an incredible book! I would recommend to someone still in school or someone who is out of school and has not used math in years. Kyne shows math is easy and relatable.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 - Charming, smart, and real in many important ways, I thought this was excellent as a book about math and humanity. Kyne Santos shares real, relevant concepts in approachable ways and shows how it applies to our perception of society and the way we interpret strict rules. Explaining problems like "how many wigs do you need to fit one more drag queen if you already have an infinity number of wigs?" were hilarious and generally very easy to understand. There were even sections explaining the history of certain principles, and I loved learning about those (like the fact that the IQ test was created to promote eugenics - no thanks). A few complex graphs left me wanting more information, but I definitely got a solid introduction to math I haven't used in a long time or never actually learned. Even people who don't think they like math could get something out of this, and it seems impossible to not appreciate the vulnerability with which Santos begs us to open our minds and accept the queerness of math and people. Overall, I think this is a triumph and couldn't be presented better.

Content warning for in-depth discussions of homophobia, racism, bullying, genocide, mental health, and bigotry of all kinds.

[P Roberge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to meet Kyne during her book tour when she came to Montreal! What an absolutely delightful person! She wore a rubic's cube dress, with matching rubic's cube earrings, lovely!

Also, I love the way she explains the Monty Hall problem. I've always hated that goat door bullshit thing until I read Leonard Mlodinow' The Drunkard's Walk, which explained it in a way that I was able to understand it (Mlodinow pinpointed the important detail that game show's host knows which door has the car behind it, very important). Kyne's section on Monty Hall is different than Mlodinow's, and she gives different details and example that make the problem very logical and understandable, and for that she has my respect.

She also has my respect for being a gender-non-conforming person teaching about science (specifically math, famously known as a subject schoolchidren are apprehensive or even hateful of, so props to her for teaching that important subject!).

Also! In the last year, I saw the documentary Paris is Burning, because the DVD poppep up on the "new acquisitions" shelf of my local library, and I'm glad I did because I was able to better appreciate Kyne's references to the NYC Ballroom scene. If you enjoyed Math in Drag, you should definitely watch Paris is Burning.

[Ohniar · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is such an interesting and original concept for a book. I think it worked perfectly and I would definitely recommend it to the general public. however, I would have enjoyed a little bit more of maths but I understand it's beyond the scope of this work and I'm probably not the main target audience of the book

[Andrew Brassington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight! Kyne enchantingly draws connections between queer identity and mathematics.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Did you know people used to reject the number 0? They said it was nonsense and they wouldn’t stand to see it written on the page! You believe that 0 exists, really?! Show me zero, point to zero! See, you can’t do it! So it doesn’t exist, right?

Does it seem ridiculous that people ever believed 0 wasn’t real? If you can accept that zero is a number, then maybe you can try to entertain the fact that there might be more than two genders too. Just saying.

I’m a nerd and I like math and drag, so I expected to find this interesting just because I nerd out easily. But this book was actually entertaining to read, like I think people who don’t know very much about math would really enjoy this. It also really helps that the book is very well written. The word choice and flow are clear and concise. Kyne does a fantastic job of linking math and its history to concepts of gender, sexuality, and drag, it was very interesting to see where she drew connections, like the one above. Would recommend.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Math in Drag,” Kyne Santos performs a vibrant reimagining of mathematics, a subject many of us, myself included, shrugged off during our school years. My journey with math during middle school and high school felt final, as if the door to the world of numbers and equations was shut and locked tight. Santos’s book, however, serves as a key to reopen that door, but this time in a realm free of pressure and filled with curiosity and enjoyment.

This book is not just a simple tutorial on math; it's a re-exploration of concepts through a prism of playfulness and the broad spectrum of gender and sexuality. Santos ingeniously interweaves these themes to demonstrate a compelling point: like gender and sexuality, math too is a construct. It can and should be questioned and pushed beyond traditional boundaries to spark innovation and creative thinking.

Although the integration of math with gender and sexuality occasionally feels contrived, it largely strengthens Santos's argument and encourages a deep, critical examination of the norms we take for granted. This approach not only makes the subject matter more accessible but also more engaging. The book challenges readers to test boundaries, ask probing, uncomfortable questions, and dare to try new things.

“Math in Drag” is especially recommendable for anyone who has felt alienated by mathematics and is ready to give it another chance under a new light. It’s also a fantastic pick for young adults exploring their identity and the world around them. Santos’s work is a testament to the beauty and elasticity of math, and it's an invitation to view this fundamental discipline through a more inclusive and innovative lens.

In sum, Kyne Santos’s “Math in Drag” is more than just a book; it's a reclamation of mathematical agency and an inspiring call to view education through a spectrum of diversity and potential. Whether you're a skeptical math learner or someone curious about the intricate ties between math, gender, and sexuality, this book promises to be an enlightening journey.

[Rachel]

This book was perfectly tailored to my interests as a queer person with an abiding love of math. Kyne Santos interweaves an exploration of advanced math and math history with a meditation on queer culture and history. The book does a great job of showing how the questions that have enriched our understanding of mathematics (Should we change our system of numerical notation to embrace the concept of zero? How do we wrap our heads around the concept of infinity? What happens if we change the core axioms at the heart of geometry? WHAT EVEN IS MATH???) are similar to questions society is wrestling with about gender and sexuality. Santos also challenges the notion that math and other STEM fields are stuffy, strait-laced, and not meant for queer people to pursue. I thoroughly enjoyed having my mind blown by the math and my thoughts provoked by the connections to queerness in society.

[Scott Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be a memoir but it’s really a history of mathematics from the perspective of a drag performer. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Kyne and I was excited for them to have this opportunity. I appreciate their mathematical know-how even if it’s mostly over my head. My brain just doesn’t process numbers like a mathematician. There are some interesting tidbits here about the history of Ballroom and drag but I would mostly recommend this to people interested in math.

[Edwin Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Math is like a drag queen: marvelous, whimsical, at times even controversial, but never boring!”

Discovering Drag Superstar, Kyne Santos, on TikTok was a revelation. Known as the Math Queen, Santos makes popular short form videos about math, and shows us that math is fun, artistic, and inclusive. She is an excellent teacher and while watching her videos I often think to myself, where were you in when I was in high school?

I have experienced what Santos describes as “math trauma” and remember when it first happened. It was in the 1970s during the fourth grade and the math curriculum shifted from a straightforward explanation (addition, subtraction, multiplication) to a “function machine” which is a metaphorical representation of math functions that (allegedly) acts as a visual aid that helps one understand how a function operates by thinking of it as a machine. After the fourth grade I was lost for the rest of my life, essentially stuck at multiplication and fractions. Last year, Santos published her first book, Math in Drag. In chapter seven, titled “Illegal Math”, she explores why math is such a unique source of frustration which likely stems from the “…humongous set of rules, which can feel strict arbitrary, and confusing.” and goes on to convey that we rarely get any explanation for why the rules exist.

She conveyed in a Science Friday podcast, “This is absolutely not a textbook but rather a simple drag queen’s guide to the world of math” and went on to say, “…people think that these are two such separate worlds. We have drag, which is art, and art has no rules. Whereas people think that math is just full of arbitrary rules. But what the book tries to argue is really that math is about thinking creatively and working collaboratively and thinking innovatively and questioning our pre-held stereotypes and beliefs.” She conveys a similar sentiment in her book: “You may embody the average in some instances, but no matter who you are, there’s also sure to be something extraordinary about you.” This dichotomy can be found throughout the book. She describes the Pythagorean theorem and how it is something we are forced to memorize and then goes on to note that geometry gives us the language to describe our world by measuring objects, calculating distances, and judging angles.

Santos also discusses her life and the connection with math. “While it was much less theatrical, I found the quiet solitude of algorithmically solving equations quite satisfying. I liked how I could ace the tests and assignments by simply getting all the questions right, unlike in English class, where my teacher could deduct marks for what, I felt, were subjective opinions.” Santos writes that drag artists, trans, and nonconforming individuals are con-currently the most visible and vulnerable part of the LGBTQI+ community and that freedoms are being taken away from queens and other queer people.

Santos concludes the book by declaring that “math is drag” that is “a carefully calculated self-invention and relies on courage and an open mind.” She goes on to proclaim that if we are going to democratize math the way it is taught must be changed: “…instead of prioritizing correctness, memorization, and speed, we should be empha-sizing the importance of creativity, collaboration, and deliberate, inquisitive thinking.”

edwinroman.com

[richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But as we're finding, the ability to be flexible about our frameworks - whether those we build around using nonbinary pronouns like they/them, or about nongeometric numbers like those deemed imaginary - is crucial."

Este livro é tão necessário de tantas maneiras que acho que me faltam as palavras certas para o justificar.

A principal conclusão que tiramos é clara: a história da matemática equipara-se bastante à história da conquista pelos direitos e espaços queer. Apesar da matemática parecer uma lista previamente feita e inflexível, não podia ser mais o oposto. O estudos da lógica que compõe este campo foi descoberto e postulado exatamente por desafiar tudo aquilo que se considera a norma. Foi a curiosidade e o querer apostar naquilo que é diferente e único que nos trouxe a matemática como a conhecemos e o mundo queer.

Como tudo o que conhecemos, a matemática foi um espaço heteronormativo, branco e "gender conforming". Este livro vem exatamente mostrar a necessidade de mostrarmos a história por outros olhos, seja realçando que os espaços "queer safe" têm grande influencia nas culturas de rua das POC, seja dizendo que o pai da ciência de computadores foi castrado por ser gay.

Como queer e entusiasta de matemática, este livro fez o meu coração aconchegar um bocadinho, e encheu-o de esperança e bons pressentimentos. São estas as histórias que nunca poderemos deixar de contar, mesmo que nos tentem calar uma e outra vez 🩵

[Olivia Pryor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only sometimes rate non-fiction books, but I waited for this book to come out for months and then hunted bookstores to find it so I have to! Also, as someone who, like Kyne, was/is both a “math kid” and an “arts” kid, I was very excited to see how this book linked the two together. I was not disappointed!

LOVED IT! I think the essence of the book is distilled in Chapter 8: “Queer Geometry” It really gets into how math is not set in stone, requires creativity, flexibility, and imagination, and does an excellent job of comparing this to drag and other queer identities. The whole book does this, but chapter 8 is SO effective at it.

This book got me excited about math again and that was very fun to feel. Kyne has excellent skill for explaining difficult mathematical concepts in a clear way, as exhibited on Tik Tok and in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone! Whether you’re interested in LGBTQ+ stories/theory/history, math, or you’ve never had any interest in these subjects, this book is really enjoyable and educational. I’m left with an even greater belief that math & creativity need not be separated. 💖

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading the hardcopy of this book, and got sidetracked (as I so often do with books that I own) by books that had due dates at the library. I finally decided to buy the audiobook so that I could "read" while I drive.

Whether in paper format or audio, this is a great book! I've been following @onlinekyne on Instagram for a while, so my expectations were pretty high. And the book still managed to exceed them.

Since my degree is in math, I already knew most of the math content in the book. (I admit that the refresher didn't hurt on a few topics, though!) I did learn a lot of fascinating math history, though. And I found myself frequently reacting to how the author explained something with, "That's going to be a great way to explain [topic] when I'm tutoring."

I was also impressed with the effective analogies that the author uses to explain math in terms of drag and/or gender identify and vice versa.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to a digital audio edition of Math in drag. I had never heard of kyne santos before listening to the book. And I am glad I know about him now.

I have been wanting to get better at math. In school I did not do good in math so I thought well I am never going to be good at math and that is ok. Later in life I started to wish I was better at math and I am trying to get better at math.

I thought that to be good at math I had to be only interested in math and nothing else. Kyne Santos proves me wrong. He seems to be great at math and know a lot of other stuff too.

For me Math in drag is one of the best math books I have ever listened to or read. in fact I think its the first math book I have ever listened to. I think if you want to read a great book about math that talks about some of the history of math and talks about interesting math problems this is the book for you.

[pili · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It was fun! It was cute!
A good mix of autobiographical anecdotes, history and math! It's a great book to introduce concepts to people who are a little weary about math, since it's easy to understand and has a lot of vert practical and very real examples, even when talking about concepts like infinity that can be a little hard to bring down to earth.
It has some fun tidbits for people who are really into math but may not know the history of the discipline, so most people will leave the book knowing something new.
I felt like it dragged a bit when talking about some easier concepts that are extremely well covered in school, like exponential functions, but to be fair it's not my favorite part of math so it may be a me problem.
All this said, still really good and it can make a great gift for any queer mathematicians <3

[Tegan]

Oh, I’m so disappointed. I read chapter 1, but, having encountered the concept of infinity before, I did not find it particularly enthralling. I wanted to give it a chance, but chapter 2 was about the difference between numbers and numerals as well as the concept of zero. Again, not a new idea. I tried to persevere, but I just couldn’t get into it. (Sorry, I just don’t think math is interesting! 😭)

It reminds me strongly of The Number Devil. But that was aimed at kids, who wouldn’t already be familiar with the concepts. I didn’t think this was aimed at kids going into it… but maybe so?

My rating would be 2 ⭐️ but I don’t want to drag (lol) down the rating. It’s a bit niche, and while it isn’t my niche, maybe it’s yours?

[Cindy.Sherban · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed algebra in high school Other than University Chem, have never had occasion to do algebra, lots of arithmetic. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it and how logical it was. Kyne goes off on related topics so it is not just math. I think it is very clever and I would definitely recommend it to certain folks I know. It was a really nice change of pace. First book on math I have read since Mighton's work I which I also loved). thnx for the book Kyne. I will thin of it ever time I have to do a captcha! hats off to A Turing.

[Kenny Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so niche and that’s why I’m giving it a 5 star review. The way Kyne seamlessly write about math and queer identities is so smart. I never realized there was that much in common metaphorically speaking. I have,however, had a few sentiments and realizations he has had. I love how easy this was to read. None of it was over my head even with concepts I never heard of. I wasn’t expecting to hear so many queer histories that I did not know of! I love how he stressed how math and art overlap and math is a place for queer people as well as women.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a fabulous book! i appreciate kyne’s effort of combining math, math history, queer history, and her personal history in this book. i’ve been a fan of her since i saw her math videos on my algorithm about a year ago and it’s so nice to read this book and to feel and hear kyne’s voice through her writing. i appreciate that every chapter there is a personal anecdote before and after the math lesson. i really love the incorporation of queer and women’s history throughout. if kyne gets more funding, i think this book could be a great digital mini-series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! It was informative, often funny, and really highlighted Kyne's experiences in drag, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and as a math lover! I really loved how Kyne broke down the math and gave us so many examples. I had more than one "woah!" moment reading this. I hope books like these continue to get published. Maybe we would have less math phobia if we had more math love!

[Calli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must be living under a rock, but I had never heard of Kyne Santos before. I checked this book out of the library based on the cover alone. I LOVED it! I am not usually a fan of math, but Kyne made complex concepts relatable. The way she tells stories made math interesting and relevant. And she is incredibly skilled at weaving in her own story and queer history. This should be required reading for high schoolers.

[Danny Hieber · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Math in Drag" flows between advanced math concepts, math history, queer history, and Kyne's personal herstory as seamlessly a mobius strip. Kyne challenges the reader to rethink everything from what numbers are to one’s own psychological biases, to see world with an open mind, and to challenge the status quo.

[Tooka Zokaie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a unique book! Not just about math but history, the spectrum of numbers/logic, and how what we define can shape our world.
I think this book can give people a new perspective on mathematics (and mathematical riddles/proofs). The tie in with drag and queer history and ongoing social challenges was unique and welcoming. A fresh perspective on a topic that I personally find daunting!