Kushner, Howard I. (Author)
Johns Hopkins University Press
Physical Details: 216 pages
Language: English
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.
...MoreReview Hannah S Decker (2020) Review of "On the Other Hand: Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History". Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences (pp. 350-352).
Review Pamela Dale (2018) Review of "On the Other Hand: Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History". Social History of Medicine (pp. 673-674).
Review Lauren Julius Harris (2018) Review of "On the Other Hand: Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History". Bulletin of the History of Medicine (pp. 568-569).
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