Table of Contents

Energy and entropy in everyday terms; work and force; heat from work - the first law; the microscopic view of energy; engines and refrigerators - the second law; implications of the second law; the molecular view of entropy; why does entropy always increase?; entropy and/or information; radiant energy, black bodies, and the greenhouse effect; chemistry - diamonds, blood, iron; biology - muscles, kidneys, evolution; geology - how old is the earth?; quantum physics and the third law; relativity and the fate of the universe. Appendix: math tools.

Reviews

The strengths of [this book] are its scope and coverage and much excellent writing...It contains a rich mix of interesting ideas covering important historical events and applications of the laws of energy and entropy. -- Harvey S. Leff "American Journal of Physics"

Readers at all levels, from high school to professional scientists, will find something intriguing in this book...It provides a very readable and informative account of a difficult topic.

The strengths of Ýthis book¨ are its scope and coverage and much excellent writing...It contains a rich mix of interesting ideas covering important historical events and applications of the laws of energy and entropy. -- Harvey S. Leff "American Journal of Physics"

The writing is clear, uncluttered, insightful, and makes use of many excellent analogies to explain and clarify difficult but important concepts.