Hands [Paperback]

John Napier (Author), Russell H. Tuttle (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 22, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0691025479 | ISBN-13: 978-0691025476 | Edition: Rev Sub

Intended for all readers--including magicians, detectives, musicians, orthopedic surgeons, and anthropologists--this book offers a thorough account of that most intriguing and most human of appendages: the hand. In this illustrated work, John Napier explores a wide range of absorbing subjects such as fingerprints, handedness, gestures, fossil remains, and the making and using of tools.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A physician who specialized in hands, Napier draws on a variety of disciplines to give his account of our crucial appendages.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Maybe Newton was right about the thumb [that it was evidence of God's existence], but there is far more to arouse wonder in the hand than he knew, and Dr. Napier indicates its scope with authority and imagination. (The New York Times Book Review )

[John Napier's] book is deliberately 'not too technical,' light and full of wit. . . . Fingerprints, gestures, nerves, bone, hand hair--all are given attention . . . in this interesting survey. (Scientific American )

Each fascinating chapter in this book is a conjured mixture of anecdote, entertainment, and instruction. (Annals of Human Biology )

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; Rev Sub edition (February 22, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691025479
• ISBN-13: 978-0691025476
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional science and witty writing February 12, 2009

By T. F. Mccoy

Format:Paperback

As a physician and ergonomist I found this book to be stimulating, fun, informative, and very useful. The hand is too often overlooked or treated shabbily in our work and daily living. Though it connects us to our world, we tend to take it for granted. This book helps all of us to overcome that error. Get the book, enjoy it. It is worth the money and the time reading it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Interfaces that are worth the "Hand" October 3, 2012

By Sohel Khan

Format:Paperback

I read this book after Bret Victor's allusion to it in his rant against Microsoft's vision of touch screens [...] ). The book does challenge one's estimate of "hand", its design (and the Designer). As I am waiting for carpal tunnel syndrome diagnostics for my right hand, I wish we can come up with better interfaces than mouse, keyboard and touch screens.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon.com sells refurbished items as new February 21, 2010

By Hambergler

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was a great read. It has a wide variety of applications (law enforcement, anthropology, medical etc) and is suitable for even a novice reader.

On the hand, I purchased my book "new" from Amazon. I received a book with a dog-earred page and highlighting. Because I needed this book for a college assignment, I could not just send it back. Afterwards, I found another person interested in my marked up book and bought another for myself (to keep for later reading/reference).

I've recently purchased yet another item from Amazon that was used and is being sold as new. I called their support (well they call you after you request a call) and complained. I ended up getting a refund (only for items under $40 they say) and didn't have to return my item.