This book contains a compendium of essays by influential psychologist L.S. Vygotsky, recognized as the founder of the sociocultural theory of cognitive development. The essays form an outline for a dialectical-materialist theory of cognitive development. Vygotsky argues that the human mind cannot be understood in isolation from the surrounding society. This theoretical framework is used by Vygotsky to explore how human perception, memory, and language are shaped. The selections were edited and compiled by a group of Vygotsky scholars and include essays on Zone of Proximal Development, scaffolding, social constructivism, and the crucial role of language in human development.