Search -
A Left-hand Turn Around the World: Chasing the Mystery And Meaning of All Things Southpaw
A Lefthand Turn Around the World Chasing the Mystery And Meaning of All Things Southpaw Author:David Wolman A light-hearted exploration into the science, history, and culture of all things Southpaw If left-handedness were a religion, where would Mecca be? This book recounts one lefty's quest to uncover the causes and consequences of left-handedness. Wolman's travels take him from the halls of history to the halls of science, as he visits a Scottish c... more »astle designed for left-handed sword-fighting, nineteenth-century brains on display in a Paris museum, and a California laboratory where he experiences first hand the brain-zapping tools of modern neuroscience. He confers with an Atlanta primatologist about connections between chimpanzee coordination, handedness, and the evolution of language, while also seeking the mystical significance of left-handedness at a handwriting analysis conference in Virginia, a palmistry training program in Quebec, and in the woods of Left Hand, West Virginia. Along the way, he meets colorful Southpaws such as Diabolos Rex, follower of the Left Hand Path, an inspiring amputee named John Evans, and members of Japan's National Association of Left-Handed Golfers. Weaving his personal experience with a blend of sharp-eyed reporting and intriguing personalities, Wolman crafts an entertaining and accessible narrative about his search for the essence of what it means to be a Southpaw.« less