Hands: What We Do with Them – and Why

by Darian Leader

How much do you really know about your own hands?

Throughout history , civilisations have been defined by the work of human hands: inventing tools, writing records, operating machinery, typing, texting, swiping. But beneath this known history is another, secret story: our hands are not the obedient servants that they seem to be. Through conscious and unconscious gesture, they reveal our deepest psychology, our weaknesses and obsessions, our personal history and our social conditioning.

Why do zombies walk with their hands outstretched? How does a new-born baby 'talk' with his hands? What is the connection between prayer beads, snuff boxes and cell phones? And most importantly, can we unlock the mystery of our hands in order to truly know ourselves?

The key to understanding everything around you - and everything within you - is staring you in the face. Take a journey through fascinating anecdotes and brilliant psychoanalytic research, through a legacy of ideas from da Vinci to Dickens to Die Hard. With wit and dexterity, Darian Leader reveals that there's much more to your hands than meets the eye.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Audiobook, 21st Century

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2017

About the author

Darian Leader is a British psychoanalyst and author. He is a founding member of the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research (CFAR).

Darian Leader is President of the College of Psychoanalysts, a Trustee of the Freud Museum, and Honorary Visiting Professor in Psychoanalysis at Roehampton University.

From Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darian_L...

Reviews

[Aslı Can]

Adından da anlaşılacağı üzere güzel mi güzel, kimilerinin zaman zaman epeyce kafaya taktığı uzvumuz El'e adanmış bir kitap. Darian Leader oral dönemden kalma takıntılardan biri olarak addedilen sigara içmekten tutun telefon bağımlılığına kadar, aklımıza gelebilecek her türlü alışkanlık ve bağımlılığın bir şekilde elle ilişkili olduğunu tarihsel bir bakış açısıyla ele almış. Diyor ki, el, her türlü alışkanlığa fiziksel bir oyalanma, bir sağaltım ya da bir haz aracı olarak eşlik eder. Örneğin televizyon izleme alışkanlığına eşlik eden kumanda kullanımı, göz ile birlikte eli de meşgul etmeye yarar. Ya da sigara içmenin ve tütün sarmanın eli meşgul etmesi, sigara içen kişinin nikotinle olan ilişkisinden daha az önemli değildir. Yani diyor ki Leader; asıl oyalanması gereken şey ağız, göz değil ellerdir belki de? Şu an ellerimizi en çok oyalayan telefonlara bakarken gördüğümüz şeyin bir önemi olmadığını, telefonun sadece elleri meşgul etmenin ve istenmedik durumlardan izole olmanın yeni bir aracı olduğunu, zaten çooook uzun zamandır bunun binbir yolunu bulduğumuzu söylüyor ve bunu bir sürü örnekle, gayet ikna edici bir şekilde açıklıyor bana kalırsa.

''Gerekli mertebe ve imtiyaz göstergeleri olarak yelpazelerin, enfiye kutularının, saatlerin ve başka nesnelerin yaygınlığını elbette görebililiriz, ama bunları tam da bu dolayım sağlama, hem orada hem başka yerde olmayı mümkün kılma anlamında sosyal temas araçları olarak yorumlayamaz mıyız?

Öyleyse belki de şunu sormak gerekiyor, neden bu kadar ihtiyacımız var hem orada hem burada olmaya ya da bazen hiçbir yerde olmamaya? Bu ihtiyaçla yüzleşmek ve başa çıkmak için ne yapabiliriz?(tabii eğer şikayetçiysek) Anda olmayı öğrenmek geliyor tabii ki hemen akla. Meditasyona girmek için kullanılan nefes sayma tekniğine odaklanmakta zorlanan kişilere önerilen parmak eklemlerinin sayıları sayarken tesbih gibi kullanıldığı bir teknik var örneğin. Nihayetinde amaç meditasyona girmek ve tüm vücudun (eller de dahil) hareketsiz kalması. Bu konu derinleştikçe derinleşir aslında, yine yoga ve meditasyonda farklı el ve parmak duruşları kullanılabiliyor farklı amaçlar için. Muhtemelen sadece psikolojik değil, sinir bağlantıları ile alakalı bir boyutu da var meselenin. Bu kitapta sadece psikoloji kuramı şeklinde ele alınsa da ve farklı yönlerde derinleşmeye epey müsait bir konu ellerle olan ilişkimiz.

Anlayacağınız üzere kitap beni epey düşündürdü, ilgili ilgisiz herkese tavsiye ederim.

[Squolle]

Ein britischer Psychoanalyst schreibt über Hände...
(Wo sind die anderen Bücher über Körperteile? Über Nasen bspw. würde ich sofort lesen.)

[emre]

konuşurken ellerini çok fazla kullanan ve ellerinden pek de hoşlanmayan biri olarak, bu kitabı okurken çok şey öğrendim. darian leader'ın popüler kültüre hakimiyeti ve gündelik hayat gözlemciliği takdire şayan, bir alana saplanıp her şeyi oradan gören insanlara alışık olduğum için kendi disiplininin dışındaki disiplinleri dikkate alan, yaptığı sentezlerle okuyucunun zihninde yeni odacıklar açan yazarların/düşünürlerin yeri ayrı oluyor bende. erkal ünal'ın çevirisi de çok iyiydi, yazmadan geçemedim.

[Ceren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Één van de fijnste boeken die ik heb gelezen. Er staat onwijs veel interessants in. Ik wil meer van deze man lezen.

[Liza Gordin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I am more grounded in reality and did not often acknowledged psychoanalytical analysis of certain phenomena in the real world as a valid means of scientific investigation. This book has introduced me how psychoanalytical analysis can serve as a tool of observation and understanding of certain aspects of the world. Not fully grounded in the scientific method of doing observations, Leader has provided a wonderful essay with his insightful and intelligent observations what we do with our hands and why we have them. This essay can serve as a stepping stone in the development of new technologies and in relationship to our innate ability to use our hands constantly. Additionally, it has also gave me some ideas on why things as google glasses failed and how the self-driving car need to be designed to not be a complete failure. A definite recommendation for people who are industrial designers and people who like to contemplate about the future of work as human's occupation in a world that will become more automised.

[νίκη κωνσταντίνου-σγουρού]

τα χέρια. τι κάνουμε μ’ αυτά και γιατί / μετάφραση: χρήστος πάλλας, επιμέλεια: δημήτρης χατζηχαραλάμπους / εκδόσεις periplaneta

[Encoremma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meer Freud en Lacan gaarne.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oddly delightful, breezy read about the psychodynamic implications of why we can't seem to keep our hands still.

[Mind the Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Förväntade mig en full genomgång av händernas funktion och evolutionära historia. Men författaren försjunker i freudianskt färgade funderingar. Trots det får jag ihop följande mentala sammanställning:

Väva, spinna, sticka, läsa bok och tidning, zappa med fjärrkontrollen till TV:n, använda touchscreen för att sms:a, klicka och scrolla, bygga Lego, fläkta oss under varma dagar, hålla ett paraply, göra gester, räcka upp handen, sträcka oss efter något, hälsa, ingå ett avtal, "släppa något" mentalt, utöva healing, massera, utföra sexuella handlingar solo eller med andra, rita, måla, göra skulpturer och annan konst, hyvla, spika och banka, kratta och plantera i trädgården, hålla händerna framför oss om vi är zombies i en film... slå någon, skjuta någon, hålla en kniv... röka.. och nu närmar vi oss det freudianska, vilket ständigt sker i boken, enligt denna logik: Med våra händer kan vi dricka kaffe. Vår strävan efter det perfekta kaffet är i själva verket en längtan efter modersmjölk. Beware, freudskeptiker.

[Aaron Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book on why we cannot keep our hands still.
Desire is where we reach out toward something beyond us; whereas drive is where we try to attenuate an agitated within us.
The search for 'more' (desire) is at the same time a search for 'less' (drive).

[Xenia Germeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Όπου κι αν κοιτάξουμε, οι άνθρωποι είναι απασχολημενοι με το κινητό τους. Οι κοινωνικές περιστάσεις αποτυγχάνουν να μετριασουν τη χρήση του κινητού και, για πολλούς σχολιαστές, αυτό σηματοδοτεί το τέλος των ανθρώπινων σχέσεων όπως τις γνωρίζουμε."-Ντάριαν Λιντερ, Τα χέρια: Τι κάνουμε μ'αυτα και γιατί, μτρφ. Χρήστος Πάλλας, Periplaneta, σ.109 ΥΓ Ένα πολύτιμο εγχειρίδιο του πιο εκφραστικου και αντιληπτικου μέρους του σώματος μας. Τα χέρια είναι παντού. Μιλάνε, αγγίζουν, εργάζονται, ερωτεύονται, σκοτώνουν, οδηγούν στην αυτοκαταστροφη, μουδιαζουν, αχρηστευονται, απειλούν και τελευταία σκρολαρουν και μαθαίνουν κινήσεις αυτοματοποιημενες στα πλήκτρα των υπολογιστών και των τηλεφώνων. Γίνονται σύμβολα καταστροφής και σύμβολα μίσους, είναι εργαλεία. Ο Λιντερ μέσα σε εφτά κεφάλαια οδηγεί τον αναγνώστη ή ερευνητή ή φοιτητή στην κατανόηση των κινήσεων των χεριών από την βρεφική ηλικία, την εφηβική, την ενηλικίωση. Την ιστορία, την τέχνη, την ψυχιατρική, τη διαφήμιση, τον κινηματογράφο, τον έρωτα, το σεξ. Όσο το διάβαζα σκεφτόμουν το μάθημα επιλογής στο ΕΚΠΑ με τον αγαπημένο μου Θανάση Τζαβαρα που δεν είναι πλέον στη ζωή και πόσο όμορφα και ταιριαστά θα άνοιγε δρόμους στη σκέψη όσων γράφουν εργασίες στο πανεπιστήμιο ή πτυχιακές. Επίσης προσπάθησα να θυμηθώ γιατί από την παιδική ηλικία μου παρατηρούσα στο τρένο τα χέρια τον ανθρώπων ειδικά των γυναικών που πιανονταν από τις χειρολαβές. Άλλοτε γιατί ήταν νεανικά, Άλλοτε γιατί ήταν στολισμενα με κοσμήματα και περιποιημενα μανικιούρ και σκεφτόμουν τα δικά μου χέρια πως θα έμοιαζαν μετά από χρόνια. Σήμερα με δώρο ένα καρπιαιο σωλήνα και μια εργασία που απαιτεί την χρήση χεριών ίσως αυτό που αποζητάω είναι ηρεμία, ένα καλό μανικιούρ και μάλλον να πετάξω κάποια στιγμή το κινητό μου. Να πω ότι πρέπει ο μεταφραστής να κόπιασε ώστε να βρει τις σωστές εκφράσεις ή λέξεις αφού τα αγγλικά αρκετές από τις εκφράσεις του Λιντερ είναι πολύ "English" και η αντίστοιχη μετάφραση τους απαιτεί εξειδικευμενες γνώσεις, ωστόσο είναι αρκετά κατανοητό το κείμενο το ίδιο. Περιμένουμε κι άλλα από τις εκδόσεις Periplaneta που με εξέπληξαν ευχάριστα δις τους τελευταίους μήνες!

[Maria Di Biase · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il linguaggio segreto delle mani

Se è vero che la nostra vita è mossa dal desiderio, inteso come lo sforzo di raggiungere qualcosa – un oggetto, un soggetto, uno stato –, l’immagine che traduce questo slancio è una mano protesa. Al contrario, può accadere che una forza della stessa intensità ci spinga nella direzione opposta; la negazione, allora, si concentra in un gesto teso ad allontanare ciò che più spaventa.
La pulsione è uno dei temi del romanzo fantasy più famoso al mondo: il Signore degli Anelli: la missione di Frodo è distruggere l’anello del potere, uno strumento che lo costringe a misurarsi, passo dopo passo, con i suoi impulsi più profondi.

«È questa la differenza tra desiderio – con cui ci sforziamo di raggiungere qualcosa che sta al di là di noi – e la pulsione – con cui tentiamo di attenuare qualcosa che si agita in noi».

Ho letto il libro di Leader per scrivere Questa storia è una storia di mani

[Liam Xavier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hands is an intriguing book that's made an impact on how i view social media addictions - largely the role hands and mobiles have in relation to this type of addiction and reliance.

There are a lot of fascinating, well articulated concepts in the book that open an understanding into the human autonomy and sense of self-control and the shaping of one's own fate however I found the approach quite dull.

Leader writes well and has an element of humour peppered in but, even with such a short book, I felt it needed more personality and more of a voice. This felt like it was an extended thesis with the formality of it to boot and perhaps this is intended but the subject matter made me want to hear a tone that would explain the science and psychology in a more conversational manner.

[Sahar Ashraf · Rating 4 out of 5]

"هل تتساوى يدٌ سيفها كان لك بيدٍ سيفها أثكلك؟"

عن الأيدي وأشياء أخرى. اليد البشرية كوسيط وآداة وسلاح، كمدخل للذات ومهرب منها. اليد التي تأخذ وتعطي. كأنه مجموعة مقالات "فتح كلام"، لكنها ليست كافية.

يقترح الكتاب أن المرء يكتشف ذاته باللمس، ويكتشف العالم باللمس، وأن هذه اللمسة هي ما يربطه بالواقع ويمنعه أن يضيع في قلقه وشكوكه وتساؤلاته عن الجدوى والحقيقة.

يقترح أن اليد تولد لتمسك بالأشياء، فطريًا. لكنها تتعلم ببطء وصعوبة كيف تتركها في الوقت المناسب، بالهدوء المناسب.

"The same hand that we seek comfort from and depend on is also the hand that we must separate from. If, at one level, we are terrified lest the hand drop us, there is perhaps an even greater terror that it will never let us go."

[ＢＥＫＡ ＬＯＵＩＳＥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty heavy read but an interesting and informative book, especially the more psychoanalytic parts, regarding something we all take for granted. Only wanted to read this as I've been researching into artists who had a fascination with hands - Rodin, Hepworth, Bourgeois mainly - as well as the roles of our hands now in a more technologically based world, however it'll be a book on the shelf I go back to for reference for a long time.

[Evelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. In just a few chapters, the significance of our hands was explored through the years and through different scenarios, though very early on I noticed that all theories and claims were grounded in psychoanalysis. Of course, should’ve been expecting this as the book was written by Darian Leader. Anyway, good for me, because I love psychoanalysis.

[Rudi]

Een leuk filosofisch boek over iets om handen hebben , eten , drinken , een sigaret ,pen (seel) het laatste decennia is dat dan vooral een smartphone , we lijken te moeten iets kunnen vastpakken ,
Iets kunnen (be) grijpen. , Eigenlijk zijn we allemaal graaiers ; /
4 sterren een boek dat vlot leest en wat doet nadenken ,

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever writing that embraces popular culture lit film and psychoanalysis to think through the historic and contemporary use of hands, from the associated modalities between hands mouth and eyes as babies to the satisfaction of typing on phones, of making words flesh. I enjoy listening to Leader’s books. They reminds me of the complexity of humans.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful reflections on how and why we use our hands. A handful of information can be gleaned from how we move our body. Some behaviours we see are simply a way of distracting the hands. Keeping them busy to prevent discomfort.

[Izzy Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ended up speed reading this as it didn’t feel like it had a lot of meat, some interesting thoughts on how and why hands are so symbolic and important and part of our communications and expression and psychology

[AM Machabee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of my Master's as I have a literary focus on tactility, haptics and touch. It was an invaluable resource my research and by reading this surprisingly short text I developed a new appreciation for the hand as an object, a trope and a symbol of agency.

[Bookfreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ ενδιαφέρον δοκίμιο για τις ψυχαναλυτικές συνδηλώσεις των χεριών στη καθημερινότητα μας, ξεκινώντας από την βρεφική μας ηλικία και φτάνοντας μέχρι την ενήλικη ζωή μας.

Το κεφάλαιο για τα κινητά φοβερό, και ναι μιλάει και για τον αυνανισμό. :)

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting the psychoanalytical approach. And so many references to popular culture. Neither is my cup of tea but that's my bad for not doing prior research. If you are into it, you'll like it. And I still brought away many of the interesting ideas presented.

[Steve Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating.

[Ar Ia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ναι!

[MimbleWimble___ Elli Maria Moutsopoulou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Κάπου μεταξύ 3-4, έχω ανεβάσει ανάρτηση στο Instagram

[Max Duval · Rating 1 out of 5]

My hands could not drop this book fast enough! What a wasted opportunity.

[meg fitzwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

really quick interesting look at the significance of hands in modern era, particularly in terms of psychological (and psychosexual) development, desire/motivation, agency/manipulation, identity, and communication. 3 starts because i read for an essay - working to a deadline means i can't sit with the ideas as long as i would like (and also not all of it was relevant!) but v enjoyable nonetheless

[mahatmanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...it is the pad and the phone that capitalized in the iPad and iPhone rather than the 'I' of the user"

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A truly exciting book to read pertaining the psycho analytics of the most profound instrument in the development of civilization and industrialization, our hands, the functional tool that navigates the world. This book will change your perspective, teach you to be analytic and conscious. I loved it and will definitely read it multiple times to gain further insight.