What if you discovered that the whole concept of a gender binary is an illusion?

I can honestly say this book opened my eyes to how much more there is to gender than just “male” and “female.” It starts with this really cool idea about how different cultures see different numbers of colors in a rainbow, like three in ancient Greece or seven in modern America. It’s the same with gender—it’s not as simple as we’ve been taught. The introduction does a great job of explaining basic ideas about sex and gender, making it easy to understand before diving into more complex topics.

What I loved most was how it took me on a journey through time and around the world. I learned about hijras in South Asia, māhū in Hawaii and even eunuchs from ancient times. Wind also talks about how European colonization pushed strict ideas about gender onto other cultures, erasing a lot of this diversity. My favorite part was the chapter on intersex activism—it taught me how those who confuse sex and gender can harm people even today. It was sad but really important to read.

I also appreciated how honest Wind was about his own experience as a cisgender person. He admitted that he had to challenge his own ideas while writing this book, and that made me feel like I was learning alongside him. At the end of each chapter, there are questions to help readers think more deeply, which I found really helpful.

That said, I found the layout a little overwhelming. There’s a lot happening on every page, with bold words, side notes and extra commentary everywhere. Sometimes it felt like too much, and I had to slow down to keep up. Also, while some parts were super clear, others were a bit harder to follow. I think younger readers might find it tough to stick with, even though the topic is so important.

Yet even though the layout can feel busy, I think it’s a great book for anyone curious about gender and ready to expand their understanding.
– Weldon Ngetich