It was conversations with Tim Dornan which gave me the impetus to write this book and the frequent reference below to medical institutions and professions and the application of Activity Theory in these contexts is owed in large measure to Tim’s advice and the work of his younger colleagues in the UK’s nhs. Tim also gave me invaluable advice on the technique of writing. All errors and misunderstandings of course are mine and my responsibility and no one else’s.
In addition, I owe a particular debt to Morten Nissen whose work with social workers in Copenhagen helped me clarify my ideas in relation to the concept of an “activity.” I also owe a great debt to John Cripps Clark, Nick Hopwood, Megan Anakin and Ivana Guarrasi in particular for their critical feedback on my work over the past couple of years. Bridget Leach and Julian Williams both read my manuscript for style and clarity. Laya Hooshyari has given invaluable advice based on her experience as a clinical psychologist by challenging and encouraging my work in a number of areas. Fernanda Liberali, Monica Lemos, Aydin Bal, Paul Ernest, Brecht de Smet, Eduardo Vianna and Helena Worthen kindly contributed copious insights acquired in their exemplary interventions using Activity Theory. It was the innovative work of Tim Dornan and these other practitioners which encouraged me to complete this work. I also thank Sohrab Rezvani, Laya Hooshyari, Julian Williams and Beth Ferholt for their productive discussions on perezhivanie in movies. For whatever I have achieved over the past 20 years I owe an inestimable debt to Mike Cole at ucsd and to David Fasenfest for recognising my work as worthy of publication.