Alison Bashford

Alison Bashford, a history professor at UNSW and author of "Decoding the Hand," delves into the fascinating history of palmistry and its scientific counterparts. She shares a captivating story about discovering a gorilla's handprint that ignited her research. The conversation covers the psychology of handprints, ancient beliefs linking hands to character, and the intriguing connections between palmistry and astrology. Bashford also reveals how 19th-century hand readings intertwined with social identities and examines the rise of celebrity palmists.