We live in a lateralized universe. Fundamental particles; molecules - including the all important amino acids; and, of course, in our own bodies, handedness and laterality appear to be a universal principle of the manifest world.



The idea that the left hemisphere of the brain is specialized for logic, analysis and language, while the right hemisphere is holistic, artistic and mystical has been circulating for over thirty years. This notion has become so pervasive that it is commonplace to hear people describing themselves as being "right brained", or accusing someone else of being "left brained."



A simple concept that is profoundly wrong.



If anyone needs evidence of the need to transcend the simplistic right/left dichotomy, it is all in this book, which summarizes the essential cooperative functioning of the hemispheres.



Multi-authored books often tend to be patchy, but the editors have succeeded in producing a book with chapters that are all of a high standard and uniformity of style. It is difficult for any book to stay up to date, given the constant generation of new data, but the chapters provide a comprehensive overview up to the end of 2002, including the burgeoning interest in the relationship between disturbances of laterality and some psychological and psychiatric problems, including schizophrenia.



Though this book is designed for specialists, selected chapters would provide excellent jumping off points for anyone interested in the enduring mystery of handedness.