The Left Stuff How the Left-Handed Have Survived and Thrived in a Right-Handed World

by Roth, Melissa

• ISBN13: 9781590770818
• ISBN10: 1590770811
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-07-25
• Publisher: M. Evans & Company

Summary

In this provocative and groundbreaking book, Melissa Roth debunks the cultural and scientific stigmas that have long been associated with left-handedness. From the ageless assertions of its perils to more recent claims of brain dysfunction and early death, Roth places every component of this debate under the microscope, as she seeks to explain the complexities and wonders of lefties. From Bill Clinton to Oprah Winfrey, many of today's most interesting and successful people are left-handed. In fact, 12% of the world is left-handed, and yet, despite its modern-day prevalence, much confusion still remains about this misunderstood attribute. For thousands of years left-handedness has been met with prejudice and suspicion, resulting in an almost universal attempt to suppress it. This book demystifies the place left-handedness has held in society, shedding new light on this controversial discussion. Incorporating the latest scientific research, Roth reveals the role that handedness has played in human evolution, proving that this trait has survived due to its positive effects upon human development. Left-handers bring a different set of skills and a different way of thinking to the right-handed world, which explains why many of history's most creative minds have been left-handed. Featuring profiles of famous left-handers, such as General Norman Schwarzkopf, Ben Franklin, Bill Gates, Paul McCartney, and Babe Ruth, this book is a must-read for lefties, their family members, and anyone curious about the brain, genetics, evolution, and human nature. A combination of cultural history and research from the frontiers of science, 'The Left Stuff' illustrates how left-handedness conferred benefits that helped to save the human race.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. 9
Author's Note	p. 11
The Left-Handed Renaissance	p. 15
The Right-Wing Conspiracy: The Historical Bias Against the Left Hand	p. 23
Who Are the Left-Handed? Deconstructing Lefty	p. 43
Lefty on the Inside: Handedness and the Brain	p. 63
Nature or Nurture: What Makes a Lefty?	p. 101
The Tipping Point: Evolution and Handedness	p. 131
The Triumph of the Lefties: How Southpaws Survived and Thrived	p. 159
Afterword	p. 197
Appendix	p. 201
Endnotes	p. 203
Additional Resources	p. 231
Index	p. 233
About the Author	p. 239
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