Performing Math tells the history of expectations for math communication—and the conversations about math hatred and math anxiety that occurred in response. Focusing on nineteenth-century American colleges, this book analyzes foundational tools and techniques of math communication: the textbooks that supported reading aloud, the burnings that mimicked pedagogical speech, the blackboards that accompanied oral presentations, the plays that proclaimed performers’ identities as math students, and the written tests that redefined “student performance.” Math communication and math anxiety went hand in hand as new rules for oral communication at the blackboard inspired student revolt and as frameworks for testing student performance inspired performance anxiety. With unusual primary sources from over a dozen educational archives, Performing Math argues for a new, performance-oriented history of American math education, one that can explain contemporary math attitudes and provide a way forward to reframing the problem of math anxiety.

"Through an impressive array of evidence and historical accounts, Performing Math convincingly shows that mathematics education has often had a significant theatrical component. Without a doubt this book illuminates mathematics and its place in American culture in new and surprising ways."   - author of Proof! How the World Became Geometrical

"Andrew Fiss’s examination of ways in which American textbook authors, teachers, and students have communicated mathematical ideas over the past two centuries gives new meaning to the phrase classroom performance." - coauthor of Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, 1800–2000

""Performing Math tackles the important topic of mathematics education from a distinctive angle. The author has unearthed fascinating accounts of American students creating performance events out of the seemingly undramatic materials of the mathematics classroom and the mathematics textbook. This book should intrigue anyone with an interest in American history and will be of particular value to historians of mathematics and historians of education."" - author of Republic of Numbers: Unexpected Stories of Mathematical Americans through History

"With unusual primary sources from over a dozen educational archives, Performing Math argues for a new, performance-oriented history of American math education. It also analyzes a lot of humor about American mathematics in a fun way." - Research Magazine

"“Mixed Media,” VQ: Vassar College Alumnae/i Quarterly, Spring 2021 mention of Performing Math" - VQ: Vassar College Alumnae/i Quarterly, Spring 2021

"Super Math, Performing Math, Mathematics of the Gods and Algorithms of Men, and More in Mathematics | Academic Best Sellers" - Library Journal

"Through an impressive array of evidence and historical accounts, Performing Math convincingly shows that mathematics education has often had a significant theatrical component. Without a doubt this book illuminates mathematics and its place in American culture in new and surprising ways."   - author of Proof! How the World Became Geometrical

"Andrew Fiss’s examination of ways in which American textbook authors, teachers, and students have communicated mathematical ideas over the past two centuries gives new meaning to the phrase classroom performance." - coauthor of Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, 1800–2000

""Performing Math tackles the important topic of mathematics education from a distinctive angle. The author has unearthed fascinating accounts of American students creating performance events out of the seemingly undramatic materials of the mathematics classroom and the mathematics textbook. This book should intrigue anyone with an interest in American history and will be of particular value to historians of mathematics and historians of education."" - author of Republic of Numbers: Unexpected Stories of Mathematical Americans through History

"With unusual primary sources from over a dozen educational archives, Performing Math argues for a new, performance-oriented history of American math education. It also analyzes a lot of humor about American mathematics in a fun way." - Research Magazine

"“Mixed Media,” VQ: Vassar College Alumnae/i Quarterly, Spring 2021 mention of Performing Math" - VQ: Vassar College Alumnae/i Quarterly, Spring 2021

"Super Math, Performing Math, Mathematics of the Gods and Algorithms of Men, and More in Mathematics | Academic Best Sellers" - Library Journal