This is the first book in the “People of Science” series, dedicated to a psychologist. L. S. Vygotsky is an outstanding Soviet psychologist, the founder of one of the most productive trends in psychology, which has gained worldwide fame. The book covers both the life path of the scientist and his contribution to the system of ideas of world psychology, reflected in his main works. Direct or indirect students of L. S. Vygotsky are such Soviet psychologists as A. N. Leontiev, L. I. Bozhovich, L. V. Zankov, P. Ya., Galperin, D. B. Elkonin, V. V. Davydov and others. The book will be useful not only for high school students, but also for a wider circle of readers interested in the origins and modern problems of Soviet psychological science.