- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Da Capo Press Inc; New edition edition (7 Dec 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0306814986
- ISBN-13: 978-0306814983
- Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 23.6 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
675,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #77 in Books > Science & Nature > Biological Sciences > Education > Higher Education > Human > Biological Anthropology
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Product Description
Review
"Wolman's account of all this takes place from the amusingly biased perspective of a true ("strong") left-hander...A mostly illuminating and enjoyable trip is spiced up by a slangy glee to the prose, as when he casually mentions 'one of the world's most bad-ass microscopes'. I will refrain from asking you to give him a big hand. The Guardian "Left-handers will emerge from reading this with confirmation of what they always secretly suspected: that left-handers are superior to right-handers; while right-handers will emerge glad that they belong to the majority and not to those sinister sinistrals." Mail on Sunday"
Product Description
This is a light-hearted exploration into the history, psychology, science, and most of all, the culture of left-handedness. Readers who believe that "only left-handed people are in their right minds" will want to join David Wolman on his left-hand turn around the world, in search of the origin and meaning of the lefty mystique. In a quest to prove his premise of Southpaw superiority, his travels take him from the halls of history to the halls of science, as he visits a Scottish castle with a staircase designed for left-handed sword-fighting, and a California operating room where he watches cataract surgery performed by a left-handed doctor. He searches for the mystical significance of leftiness at a handwriting analysis conference and a palmistry workshop. Along the way, he meets colourful Southpaws such as Diabolos Rex, follower of the ancient religion of the Left Hand Path, and members of the National Association of Left-Handed Golfers of Japan. Weaving his personal experience with a blend of sharp-eyed reporting and intriguing personalities, Wolman crafts an entertaining narrative in praise of all things Southpaw.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The number of words used to describe left-handedness that have negative connotations are rife. This is the story of one lefties trip to try to find out the why of left-handedness and if humans are unique.
His conclusion? That the scientists are still kinda stumped and unsure what's the reasoning but that some of them are arguing that handedness is a spectrum rather than a fixed thing.
For a leftie it's interesting, for everyone it has something to say. Assumption is interesting and it's also a situation that until people stop trying to force people to use particular hands for tasks we will not really understand it properly.
His conclusion? That the scientists are still kinda stumped and unsure what's the reasoning but that some of them are arguing that handedness is a spectrum rather than a fixed thing.
For a leftie it's interesting, for everyone it has something to say. Assumption is interesting and it's also a situation that until people stop trying to force people to use particular hands for tasks we will not really understand it properly.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Humorous with just a touch of scientific research.
20 Nov 2005
Format:Hardcover
This is a light and carefree look at the left handed world. It's a mixture of science (the brain's contribution - which now is known to happen much earlier than previously thought), culture (where to sit at a dining table), humor (as in left handed sword fighting), and a dose of I'm not sure just what to call it about stories such at one where a man had his left arm attached to his right shoulder (To move his thumb, his brain sends out signals to move his little finger. Question, is he left handed?).
Mr. Wolman is a leftie, he took off a year to research leftiness. He lives in Portland, Oregon, which is just about as far left wing as any city in the country, besides being on the left hand side of the map. -- Sorry, I couldn't help it.
An amusing book, potentially a very good gift for the right person, no I mean the left person, no that's not what I meant either.
Mr. Wolman is a leftie, he took off a year to research leftiness. He lives in Portland, Oregon, which is just about as far left wing as any city in the country, besides being on the left hand side of the map. -- Sorry, I couldn't help it.
An amusing book, potentially a very good gift for the right person, no I mean the left person, no that's not what I meant either.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Perfect Holiday Gift for A Lefty
31 Oct 2005
Format:Hardcover
My dad is notoriously hard to shop for but this wonderful book is perfect. I read it first myself and loved it even though I'm a righty. It made me feel smarter - I think most people have probably been curious about what makes some people left handed, particullarly if they have lefties in their family. Well, this book reveals a lot, but you'll have to read it to learn for yourself. Anyway, I'm giving it to my dad because he's a lefty and will appreciate it. Sure makes my gift-giving easier this year!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Very interesting - I learned something new
20 Jan 2006
Format:Hardcover
Being left handed and having been forced to write with my right hand since a child, I can sympathize with the author's experience as a left hander. His one year quest to learn more about this subject is very illuminating. I agree with many of the assertions and conclusions. For example, I was a fencer in College Varsity and I definitely agree with the fact that there is a distinct advantage in some sports for a left hander. I always thought the condition is based on genetics but I learned that it was not as simple as first appears. I recommend this book for all people to learn more about the complexity of life and to accept and celebrate our differences.
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