Many students struggle because their parents and teachers insist they write with their right hand. In reality, numerous famous individuals are left-handed, including French Emperor Napoleon, Queen Victoria, and Cuban President Fidel Castro…
Famous Left-Handed Geniuses
There is a saying in folklore, “Left-handed people can’t do anything right,” suggesting that left-handed individuals are less capable. However, history shows that many geniuses have been left-handed. To remind us of this and to share with “a part of the world,” International Left-Handers Day is celebrated on August 13.
On this day, various activities take place around the world, where left-handed individuals challenge right-handed people to perform tasks (like opening bottles or chopping wood) using only their left hand. They also exchange gifts made specifically for left-handed people.
The movement to protect left-handed individuals began in the United States over 50 years ago. It started when a left-handed police officer was fired for refusing to carry his pistol in a right-side holster. This incident sparked a movement advocating for the officer’s rights, and he was eventually reinstated.
10% of the Population
Currently, there are over 600 million left-handed people worldwide. One in ten individuals is left-handed. Scientists have diligently researched to answer the question: Why is the majority right-handed, and why do some people favor their left hand? Up to now, there is still no clear answer.
Left-handed individuals tend to be born in the last six months of the year; spring births of left-handed children are quite rare. Additionally, left-handed women have a 42% higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to their right-handed counterparts.
34% of gay men and 91% of lesbian women are left-handed. If one parent is left-handed, the chance of their child being left-handed is 17%. This figure increases to 46% in couples where both parents are left-handed, and it drops to 2% in all other cases.
Disadvantaged Yet Accomplished
Despite the disadvantages faced by left-handed individuals (such as being forced to write with their right hand in school and using tools designed for right-handed people), they seem to achieve greater success. In 2006, researchers from Lafayette College and Johns Hopkins University concluded that left-handed male college graduates earn 15% more than right-handed graduates; this figure rises to 26% for university graduates.
In every field, left-handed geniuses command respect and admiration.
U.S. President Obama is among several American presidents, including James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, who are left-handed. Some scientists believe that left-handed individuals possess superior language skills, which is a crucial factor in achieving political success.
Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, is also left-handed. Other American entrepreneurs who are left-handed include Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company; John D. Rockefeller, the head of Standard Oil; and Lou Gerstner, former CEO of IBM.
Oprah Winfrey, the African American television queen, is also part of the left-handed group alongside other actresses like Marilyn Monroe, Julia Roberts, and Angelina Jolie.
Babe Ruth was a legendary baseball player in the early 20th century. From 1915 to 1919, Ruth participated in 85 winning games. Other famous left-handed players include Sandy Koufax, Warren Spahn, and Steve Carlton.
French Emperor Napoleon commanded in the early 19th century that all people must walk on the right side of the road after conquering Europe. Prior to this, it was common in Europe to walk on the left, especially for knights. This caused a disadvantage for Napoleon, as he was left-handed. After Napoleon’s decree, many countries complied, except for England, which Napoleon could never conquer, and continued to walk on the left side of the road.
The world-renowned artist Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was left-handed and wrote from left to right in a mirror-writing style. Initially, his writings were indecipherable, but over time, people discovered his peculiar writing method. Some scientists suggest that because he was left-handed, writing from left to right would smudge the ink. His left-handedness allowed him to explore and think about issues from different perspectives, further enhancing his genius.
Marie Curie (1867 – 1934) was a Polish-French chemist who won the Nobel Prize twice: in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911. This world-famous woman was also left-handed. Interestingly, her husband was also left-handed and won a Nobel Prize. Other renowned scientists such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were also left-handed.
Aristotle was a philosopher, educator, and scientist who significantly influenced world civilization. He is considered one of the most important Greek philosophers. His ideas continue to have a profound impact today.
Jimi Hendrix (1942 – 1970) was a renowned African American guitarist. Hendrix is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in rock and roll history. He was voted by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest guitarist of all time and ranked fifth in the list of the 100 greatest artists. Being left-handed allowed Hendrix to play his guitar upside down while still producing sweet sounds.
