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The Handshake
- A Gripping History
- Narrated by: Ella Al-Shamahi
- Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins
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The Handshake
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Summary
Friends do it, strangers do it and so do chimpanzees - and it's not just deeply embedded in our history and culture; it may even be written in our DNA. The humble handshake, it turns out, has a rich and surprising history.
So let's join palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi as she embarks on a funny and fascinating voyage of discovery - from the handshake's origins (at least seven million years ago) all the way to its sudden disappearance in March 2020. Drawing on new research, anthropological insights and first-hand experience, she'll reveal how this most friendly of gestures has played a role in everything from meetings with uncontacted tribes to political assassinations - and what it tells us about the enduring power of human contact.
Because the story of the handshake...is far from over.
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Critic reviews
“It's a little book of wonder; it's fantastic.” (Chris Evans)
“A fabulously sparky, wide-ranging and horizon-broadening little study...joyously unboring." (Sunday Times)
What listeners say about The Handshake
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adam Sheardown
- 31-05-23
Short but incredibly sweet
A wonderful book on an intriguing topic. Inspired by social distancing during Covid but this will be as relevant in 20 years as much as it was 3 years ago because of handshake's history.
Ella is also the perfect narrator for this. It's a serious book but at times doesn't take itself too seriously. A lot Ella's humour comes through and adds to the charm. Absolutely would recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- HardToPlease
- 11-08-24
Simply Wonderful
Fabulous history of the humble handshake, beautifully read. One of my favourite books this year!
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