The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture"The human hand is so beautifully formed, its actions are so powerful, so free and yet so delicate that there is no thought of its complexity as an instrument; we use it as we draw our breath, unconsciously." With these words written in 1833, Sir Charles Bell expressed the central theme of some of the most far-reaching and exciting research being done in science today. For humans, the lifelong apprenticeship with the hand begins at birth. We are guided by our hands, and we are indelibly shaped by the knowledge that comes to us through our use of them. "The Hand delineates the ways in which our hands have shaped our development--cognitive, emotional, linguistic, and psychological--in light of the most recent research being done in anthropology, neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology. How did structural changes in the hand prepare human ancestors for increased use of tools and for our own remarkable ability to design and manufacture them? Is human language rooted in speech, or are its deepest roots to be found in the gestures that made communal hunting and manufacture possible? Is early childhood experience in reaching and grasping the secret of the human brain's unique capacity to redefine intelligence with each new generation in every culture and society? Frank Wilson's inquiry incorporates the experiences and insights of jugglers, surgeons, musicians, puppeteers, and car mechanics. His fascinating book illuminates how our hands influence learning and how we, in turn, use our hands to leave our personal stamp on the world. |
Other editions - View all
The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture Frank R. Wilson Limited preview - 1999 |
The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture Frank R. Wilson Limited preview - 2010 |
The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture Frank R. Wilson No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
ability activity apraxia australopithecines Bachleitner beginning behavior biomechanical bipedal body bones brachiation called Charles Bell child chimp cognitive complex culture deaf Donald Johanson erectus evolution evolutionary experience Feldenkrais fingers flexion flexor function genetic gesture handedness Harlan Lane head Henry Plotkin hominid Homo Homo erectus Homo habilis human brain human hand human language humerus idea individual intelligence Jeannerod joint juggling limb linguistic living Lucy magic manipulation Marzke means mechanical ments Merlin Donald metacarpal motor move movement muscles musical musicians Napier neurologic object patients Percelly performance person physical pianist piano play Plotkin precision grip primate problem puppet Ralph Holloway rotation saddle joint sapiens scapula sequence shoulder skill Slydini social specific speech stone strings structure surgeon teacher theory things thought thumb tion tool trick visual William Stokoe words wrist York