This guide is an examination of the historical and cultural background to left-handedness, including a consideration of the negative overtone of the words "sinister" and "gauche" and the ancient cultural mistrust of lefties. There is an analysis of recent psychological research, covering the "right-brain"/"left-brain" issue, assessing its implication for left- and right-handers. The book also looks at the effects on children of having been made to write with their right hand (and subsequently mocked for their clumsiness), and gives practical advice for parents of left-handed children, and for children of left-handed parents.