Accordingly, Daniels's introduction and several of the subsequent chapters describe changes in, interpretations of, and debates about Vygotsky's ideas over time. Following Daniels's introduction are 10 articles reprinted from major journals and texts. In these articles, authors examine key elements and extensions of Vygotsky's work. Although chapters have not been explicitly organized by themes, several themes can be discerned within and across these chapters. Daniels has selected chapters that raise interesting issues and questions about the significance of Vygotsky's work for the disciplines of psychology, linguistics, and education.
Authors also raise issues currently debated among Vygotskyian scholars.
Several chapters are particularly helpful in placing the development of Vygotsky's ideas and later interpretations of his work in a social, political, and historical context, a perspective that deepens one's appreciation of Vygotsky's work. But the diversity of content included in this volume's chapters, and in some cases, the isolation of texts from their full and original contexts, contribute to two sets of problems. First, An Introduction to Vygotsky generally seems more relevant for advanced than novice readers. Most authors discuss issues that expand upon an informed reading of Vygotsky's work, rather than providing a cohesive introduction. Authors frequently describe either interpretations or implications of Vygotsky's work.