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EPISODE · Nov 2, 2012 · 17 MIN

The Handshake

from The Why Factor · host BBC World Service

This week, Mike Williams asks why do we shake hands? All over the world millions of us use this gesture to greet others but where does this everyday ritual come from, and what purpose does it serve? With the US presidential election just days away, Mike also looks at the role of the handshake in political life - why has it proved to be such a sensitive issue?(Image: US President Barack Obama (R) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L) shaking hands. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Nov 2, 2012

What this episode covers

This week, Mike Williams asks why do we shake hands? All over the world millions of us use this gesture to greet others but where does this everyday ritual come from, and what purpose does it serve? With the US presidential election just days away, Mike also looks at the role of the handshake in political life - why has it proved to be such a sensitive issue?(Image: US President Barack Obama (R) and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (L) shaking hands. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Why Factor?

This episode is 17 minutes long.

When was this The Why Factor episode published?

This episode was published on November 2, 2012.

What is this episode about?

This week, Mike Williams asks why do we shake hands? All over the world millions of us use this gesture to greet others but where does this everyday ritual come from, and what purpose does it serve? With the US presidential election just days away,...

Can I download this The Why Factor episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
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