On the Other Hand
eBook - ePub

On the Other Hand

Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History

  1. English
  2. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  3. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

On the Other Hand

Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History

About this book

Does being left-handed make a person different in any way that matters?

Since the late Stone Age, approximately 10 percent of humans have been left-handed, yet for most of human history left-handedness has been stigmatized. In On the Other Hand, Howard I. Kushner traces the impact of left-handedness on human cognition, behavior, culture, and health.

A left-hander himself, Kushner has long been interested in the meanings associated with left-handedness, and ultimately with whether hand preference can even be defined in a significant way. As he explores the medical and cultural history of left-handedness, Kushner describes the associated taboos, rituals, and stigma from around the globe. The words "left" and "left hand" have negative connotations in all languages, and left-handers have even historically been viewed as disabled.

In this comprehensive history of left-handedness, Kushner asks why left-handedness exists. He examines the relationship—if any—between handedness, linguistics, and learning disabilities, reveals how toleration of left-handedness serves as a barometer of wider cultural toleration and permissiveness, and wonders why the reported number of left-handers is significantly lower in Asia and Africa than in the West. Written in a lively style that mixes personal biography with scholarly research, On the Other Hand tells a comprehensive story about the science, traditions, and prejudices surrounding left-handedness.

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Yes, you can access On the Other Hand by Howard I. Kushner in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Medicine & Elementary Education. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. Preface
  7. Chapter 1. Genes and Kangaroos
  8. Chapter 2. Criminals or Victims?: Cesare Lombroso vs. Robert Hertz
  9. Chapter 3. By the Numbers: Measuring Handedness
  10. Chapter 4. Ambiguous Attitudes
  11. Chapter 5. Changing Hands, Tying Tongues
  12. Chapter 6. From Genes to Populations: The Search for a Cause
  13. Chapter 7. The Geschwind Hypothesis
  14. Chapter 8. Genetic Models and Selective Advantage
  15. Chapter 9. Uniquely Human?
  16. Chapter 10. A Gay Hand?
  17. Chapter 11. Disability, Ability, and the Left Hand
  18. Conclusion: Does Left-Handedness Matter?
  19. Acknowledgments
  20. Notes
  21. Index
  22. Footnotes