Right Hand, Left Hand
Published on 14. March 2002
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-0-297-64597-9 (ISBN)
Description
Chris McManus's dazzlingly written debut provides the answers to an array of familiar, almost childish, questions: Why are most people right-handed? Why do the British drive on the left? Why are human bodies symmetrical on the outside, but not on the inside? What is the relationship between handedness and speech disorders, such as stuttering? "Right Hand, Left Hand" uses sources as diverse as the paintings of Rembrandt and the drawings of Leonardo, the origins of medieval iconography, the history of medicine, cognitive science, molecular biology, particle physics, and the history of sport to explain the vast repertoire of 'left-right' symbolism that permeates our everyday lives. The book answers wonderfully deep and simple questions about why the universe, the human body, and our minds and cultures are so full of distinctions between left and right.
Reviews / Votes
Chris McManus has given four very successful public lectures at the Hay Festival, Royal Institution (200 people attending), Edinburgh Science Festival about 150 attending and at the Institute for Cultural Research about 150 attending, with the event being listed in the Sunday Times Books Events Section. His lecture at the Hay Festival led to an article in the Guardian and subsequent interviews with The World Today, BBC World Service, Late Night Live, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Leeds. He appeared on Start the Week (BBC Radio 4) on Monday 1st April. BBC Radio 4 are also running a three part series in May/June on handedness' which will feature Chris McManus. Interviews have also been fixed up with: Talk Sport, German Public Radio, NewsDrive (BBC Radio Scotland - 18 March), BBC Three Counties Radio (18 March), BBC Asian Network Radio (18 March), Nicky Campbell Show (BBC Radio 5, 19 March), Jimmy Young Show (BBC Radio 2 19 March), BBC Radio Belfast (1 April) Gary Robertson Show (BBC Radio Scotland 4 April), BBC Radio Kent - phone in (23 April), Jerry Ryan Show, RTE Radio Ireland and BBC London. Further interviews are planned with BBC Radio Leeds and Star 107.9FM. There was a feature on London Tonight on 19 March about the author and his research. Other feature/news coverage includes: Sunday Times (17 March), Daily Mail (full page feature, 19 March), Daily Mail (news piece, 18 March), Times (full page feature, 18 March), Ta Nea (Greek National Newspaper), Corriere Della Sera (Italian National Newspaper) which has published a news article, a feature and a further feature in its colour magazine supplement, Interest has also been expressed by The Sunday Herald, The Herald, and Scottish Metro Reviews have appeared in the Sunday Telegraph, The Spectator, Scotland on Sunday, Financial Times, Chemistry in Britain, Nature, New Scientist and on Amazon. ... this wonderful book...delightful and informative ..Nature Read this deservedly prize-winning book for yourself...An extraordinarily wide-ranging and gripping "whatdunnit"Financial Times It is a triumph of a book. Limpidly written, dryly witty and extraordinarily wide-reaching,this is surely the most inclusive and erudite popular account of asymmetry yet produced.The Spectator A work of such breadth of eruditionScotland on Sunday This is one of the best popular science books of the year.Douglas Palmer, AMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Illustrations
32 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 43 mm
Weight
780 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-297-64597-9 (9780297645979)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Chris McManus is Professor of Psychology and Medical Education at University College, London. He is the author of the leading textbook PSYCHOLOGY IN MEDICINE and is the co-editor of THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK OF PSYCHOLOGY, HEALTH AND MEDICINE. He is one of the world's foremost experts on handedness and lateralization.