New Books in Science Alison Bashford, "Decoding the Hand: A History of Science, Medicine, and Magic" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Jan 11, 2026
Alison Bashford, a historian at the University of Sydney, unravels the intricate history of palm reading in her latest work. She explores why figures like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin were fascinated by hands, linking them to identity and dominance. The podcast dives into chiromancy's medical roots and its surprising connections to modern genetics. Bashford highlights the enduring appeal of palmistry and how ancient practices intersect with contemporary science, tracing palm lines from fortune-telling to diagnostics.
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Archival Spark: Woolf, Huxley — And A Gorilla
- Alison Bashford discovered palm prints of cultural figures and a gorilla in the Wellcome archives which launched the book project.
- The gorilla Mock's palm print, taken from the zoo morgue in 1938, was the surprising catalyst for deeper research.
Palmistry Roots In Global Physiognomy
- Palmistry grew from broader physiognomy traditions that read bodily surfaces for inner character.
- These practices appear across South Asian, Persian, Jewish and Chinese cultures and informed European palmistry.
Physicians Authored Early Chiromancy
- Early chiromancy texts were often authored by physicians and integrated astrological-medical frameworks.
- Medical practice historically blended what we now call occult and scientific knowledge.
