C. P. Snow once remarked that not knowing the second law of thermodynamics is like never having read Shakespeare. Yet, while many people grasp the first law of energy, "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed," few recognize the second, "Entropy can only increase." What is entropy anyway, and why must it increase? Whether we want to know how a device as simple as a refrigerator works or understand the fate of the universe, we must start with the concepts of energy and entropy.

In The Refrigerator and the Universe, Martin and Inge Goldstein explain the laws of thermodynamics for science buffs and neophytes alike. They begin with a lively presentation of the historical development of thermodynamics. The authors then show how the laws follow from the atomic theory of matter and give examples of their applicability to such diverse phenomena as the radiation of light from hot bodies, the formation of diamonds from graphite, how the blood carries oxygen, and the history of the earth. The laws of energy, the Goldsteins conclude, have something to say about everything, even if they do not tell us everything about anything.

About the Author
Martin Goldstein is former Professor of Chemistry at Yeshiva University. Inge F. Goldstein is Special Lecturer in Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

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



Book Information
ISBN 9780674753259
Author Martin Goldstein
Format Paperback
Page Count 446
Imprint Harvard University Press
Publisher Harvard University Press
Weight(grams) 635g