Because the definition of left - laterality varies so much from study to study , it has been reckon that anywhere from 7 to 30 percent of the population is left - handed . It is generally accepted that around 10 % of the population currently reckon themselves lefties . alas , linguistic process and superstition have led to misinterpretation and many multitude veil their left - laterality as a resolution .
In an effort to fetch pride to the overlook and mistreat southpaws of the world , August 13 has been named Left - Handers ' Day , and boy , are there loads of noted people who deserve some praise for surviving our world of colored good - handed tools , such as scissors , data processor black eye and guitar .
Presidents
Four out of the last five American presidents have been left - handed ( all except George W. Bush ) , althoughRonald Reaganlargely hid his left - orientation because his parents and teachers had press him to suppress it .
While some people have usher out this info as co-occurrence , others have recognise its statistical meaning and tried to discover why such a disproportional numeral of President of the United States ( in recent years ) , Nobel Prize winners , creative person , writers , architects , musicians and mathematicians are go forth - handed . Most mass process language on the unexpended side of their brains , but odd - handers appendage language on both sides of the brain much more ofttimes than righties . Many people have theorise that this means there is an increased amount of space dedicated to speech communication skills in these person . Some people have also suggested that this entail these individuals are also capable of more complex reasoning .
Another theory says that left - handers have to find solutions to survive in a right - dominated world , which provides these somebody with extra mental resilience .
Captains of Industry and Invention
Regardless of the grounds that lefthander seem to go up to the top , a number of studies have try that they are often more level-headed than their right - handed counterpart . In fact , one study showed that 20 % of the top - mark student in the SATs are left hander , which is twofold their representative population . Another study come upon that righties who attend college but do not finish their degrees are 15 % poor than lefties in the same boat . Of those that do fine-tune , the discrepancy increase to 25 % .
Many successful inventors and captains of industry were left - handed , includingBenjamin FranklinandHenry Ford , or double-faced , such asNikola TeslaandAlbert Einstein .
Funny People
While sensation of wittiness is probably not improved by handedness , the melodic theme that left-handed pitcher are unspoiled at communicating could also explain why there are so many funny people who are southpaws . noted left - handed comedian includeDavid Letterman , Jay Leno , Lenny Bruce , George Burns , Larry Fine , Drew Carey , Tim Allen , Dan Aykroyd , Carol Burnett , Howie Mandel , Harpo Marx , Richard Pryor , Charlie Chaplin , Don Rickles , Jerry Seinfeldand , although he ’s not technically a comic , it ’s hard to deny thatMatt Groeningis a comic hombre .
Theatrical Artists
doer , of course , also need to communicate at a high stratum than the intermediate person , and there ’s an stupefying figure of celebrity lefthander in this field as well . The inclination includesMatthew Broderick , Robert DeNiro , Richard Dreyfuss , Peter Fonda , Greta Garbo , Whoopi Goldberg , Cary Grant , Mark Hamill , Goldie Hawn , Jim Henson , Rock Hudson , Angelina Jolie , Diane Keaton , Nicole Kidman , Lisa Kudrow , Cloris Leachman , Shirley MacLaine , Sarah Jessica Parker , Luke Perry , Robert Redford , Keanu Reeves , Julia Roberts , Mickey Rourke , Christian Slater , Dick Van Dyke , Wil Wheaton , Bruce WillisandOprah Winfrey .
paradigm courtesy ofbryanearl ’s Flickr flow .
Musicians
Jimi Hendrixis perhaps the most celebrated lefty guitar player — he used a flipped - over right - handed guitar throughout his career — but he is by no mean the only famous lefthander musician you experience . Lefty composers includeBachandRachmaninoff . As for rockers , a few popular remaining - handers includeDavid Byrne , Kurt Cobain , Phil Collins , Billy Corgan , Dick Dale , Paul McCartney , Paul Simon , Robert Plant , Joe PerryandJohnny Rotten .
Artists
likewise , some of the most gifted artist we know and admire are also lefties , includingM.C. Escher , Michelangelo , Raphael , andLeonardo da Vinci . Renoirwas not a dedicated left - hander , but he was known for picture for a chip of time with his left hander anyway .
Athletes
While there are famous left - handers in all mutation , baseball game seems to have the award of ingest the most lefty celebrities .
Getty Images
Some famous lefty baseball game player you may recognize includeBarry Bonds , Ty Cobb , Wade Boggs , Ken Griffey , Jr. , Tony Gwynn , Reggie Jackson , Babe RuthandDarryl Strawberry . You might notice that most of these player are make love for being great at stumble , and there ’s a reason for that : batters have an reward when the pitcher is throwing with the diametric hand , and since most people are righties , left - handed batsman have all the lot .
underdrawers also have an advantage if they take on the southpaw stance ( the right foot in front of the left ) against an opponent with a received properly - handed pose . That ’s part of the reasonOscar de la HoyaandReggie Johnsonhave do so well in the sport . And while he ’s not a real person , it is worth noting thatRocky Balboawas also a lefty .
Great Warriors
In the same way that many lefty athletes have an vantage over their righty counterpart , warrior also live this , as most fighters will only be habituate to fighting someone who is right - handed . It should n’t be too surprising then that some of the well recognize military leaders in chronicle were leave - handed , includingAlexander the Great , Joan of ArcandNapoleon Bonaparte . * * *
Are you a left-handed pitcher ? If so , how are you planning to celebrate?Might be clock time to address yourself to that newfangled lefty can opener .
