On the Other Hand: Left and Right Brain, Mental Disorder and History

摘要

The book opens with a quote by Michael Corballis relating to the fact that there is very little agreement on defining and measuring handedness, yet individuals clearly identify as right- or left-handed. This subject is returned to several times: it is introduced in the first chapter, and is the main focus in Chapter 3, “By the Numbers”. The preface highlights another two key points that help shape the books’ focus, firstly, that Kushner himself, along with his mother, are left-handers and thus there is a high level of personal curiosity/interest at stake. Kushner contrasts his own personal experiences of growing up as a left-hander in the 1950’s, with those of his mother in the 1930’s. Anecdotal stories are peppered throughout the book in this ilk, with Kushner experiencing very little pressure to switch handedness for specific activities, compared with his mother who was forced to write and sew with her right hand. The second major focus of the book is the evolution of the causes and consequences of (mainly) left-handedness, looking back through history and bringing us up to date with some of the latest research in the field. Subsequent chapters take a theoretical, empirical and sometimes anecdotal, journey through many aspects of human and non-human handedness.