On The Other Hand Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, And History

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.