
THE RIGHT HAND: LEFT-HANDEDNESS
PREFACE
CHAPTER ITHE HAND
CHAPTER IITHE EDUCATED HAND
CHAPTER IIITHE WILLING HAND
CHAPTER IVPALÆOLITHIC DEXTERITY
CHAPTER VTHE DISHONOURED HAND
CHAPTER VITHE PRIMITIVE ABACUS
CHAPTER VIITHE COMPASS POINTS
CHAPTER VIIIHANDWRITING
This thoughtful study explores the curious phenomenon of left‑handedness, weaving together archaeology, linguistics, and physiology to ask why a minority of people favor the opposite hand. Drawing on centuries of observation—from prehistoric tools to modern handwriting—the author traces how societies have both admired and stigmatized the “dishonoured” hand, revealing a pattern of bias that often masks genuine talent.
The work also delves into the mechanics of the hand itself, describing how its unique blend of strength, delicacy, and sensory feedback makes it a key partner to the brain and heart. By examining historical attitudes and recent scientific findings, the author makes a compelling case for nurturing ambidexterity rather than suppressing it, suggesting practical benefits for everyone.
Readers will come away with a richer appreciation of how a simple preference of one limb can illuminate broader questions of culture, cognition, and human potential.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (257K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: Macmillan and Co, 1891.
Credits
The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2023-12-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1816–1892
A Scottish-born scholar who helped shape intellectual life in Canada, he wrote widely on archaeology, ethnology, and history while also leading the University of Toronto. His career joined curiosity about the ancient world with a strong belief in education and public learning.
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