Hidden Handedness
Rosemary West wrote 10 April 2007
This book was inspired by a letter the author received from Dr. Oliver Sacks in 1999 advising that the story contained in these pages needed to be told in a book length account. “Hidden Handedness” treats an untouched subject; the story of what really happens when a child’s natural handedness is reversed, and the incredible consequences of making the return journey as an adult. The premise of the book is that millions of humans are neurologically “detoured” by handedness reversals – that they become something that they would not otherwise be – submergees. The author tells what it was like to return from the submergee state by becoming left-handed again, to become an emergee. In addition to experiencing a wonderful “awakening” of body and mind, the search for others with similar histories and resources turned into the quest, one that led to the challenge from Sacks and other professionals who heard the story, and asked that this book be written.
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5 comments
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This book really sounds interesting; I honestly have never really thought about this subject. I will definitely have to check this book out and tell my friends about it!
I’m 3 chapters into this book and it is very helpful to me. Some of the language is effusive and too flowery for my personal taste, but the core message is there. That is, laterility and the altering of neural pathways is not something that should be fiddled with via switching.
I recommend this book to anyone who has been switched from L to R. I’m excited about finishing this book, who knows where it might lead.
Abby
I am originally right-handed, but became ambidextrous at the age of six when my right arm was broken and I had to have a cast on for six MONTHS.
During that time, I started writing with my left hand, and now I can write two different sentences with both hands at the same time.
It’s exciting!!!
Anna, that is extremely impressive!
I recently discovered something interesting: I write with my right hand but do most everything else using the right hemisphere of my brain. I cross my legs with my right leg resting on my left, ect. It dawned on me just in the last several minutes that I was the one who forced myself to write with my right hand.
My older sister was a leftie but was forced to use her right hand in kindergarten. My mom says that by the time I was in school and learning to write I was already using my right hand, but my sister and I both have a horrible time telling left from right and I am extremely awkward in verbal/writing skills(which are left hemisphere dominant) and very creative in art, music and acting(which are right hemisphere dominant). By the time I was 3 I was making art. No one seemingly taught me, I just picked it up. I am guessing I learned it from watching television.
When I learn things I can’t learn verbally I have to see it done and when I do see it done I mimic it exactly. I think I must have seen someone on TV drawing with their right hand and I mimicked it precisely. I believe that I was intended to write with my left hand, but because I am the one who made myself use my right hand I never experienced the stress that most lefties who were forced to write with their right hand experienced. Does anyone think it would benefit me to buy this book and learn to write with my left hand?