Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, 3rd Edition [Hardcover]

Richard E. Sonntag (Author), Gordon J. Van Wylen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0471614270 | ISBN-13: 978-0471614272 | Edition: 3

Presents a comprehensive and rigorous treatment of thermodynamics while retaining an engineering perspective and, in so doing, provides a resource with considerable flexibility for the inclusion of material on thermodynamics. Updated for this Third Edition, it reflects an increased emphasis on environmental issues and a recognition of the steadily growing use of computers in the study of thermodynamics and solution of thermodynamic problems. Contains numerous examples, as well as problems at the end of each chapter that are carefully sequenced to reflect the subject matter.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Solutions Manual available. -- The publisher, John Wiley & Sons

From the Publisher

Presents a comprehensive and rigorous treatment of thermodynamics while retaining an engineering perspective and, in so doing, provides a resource with considerable flexibility for the inclusion of material on thermodynamics. Updated for this Third Edition, it reflects an increased emphasis on environmental issues and a recognition of the steadily growing use of computers in the study of thermodynamics and solution of thermodynamic problems. Contains numerous examples, as well as problems at the end of each chapter that are carefully sequenced to reflect the subject matter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (January 4, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471614270
• ISBN-13: 978-0471614272
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a CLASSIC!!!, December 8, 2008

By 

Leonardo C. Salemi "Dr. DOOM" (London, U.K.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, 3rd Edition (Hardcover)

Ok, lets's face it: "Thermodynamics is just HARD!" That being said, you should look for a good book, if you want to learn the basic principles. What most of the people don't understand is the depth of the first chapters of this book. They are the very basis for what's next. Every enginner I know have used this book, since the 1970's and still counting. It is not a very "easy-beast-to-tame", but once you master the basics everything else will be a consequence. Classics are like that! ; )

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book, but a horrible textbook, October 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, 3rd Edition (Hardcover)

This book is currently used in my Engineering Thermodynamics course, and is due to be phased out in favor of another textbook beginning in 2004. The authors of this text, Dr. Sonntag and Dr. Van Wylen, seem to know their stuff; however, they have not done a good job of writing a textbook that a typical engineering student can learn from.

The entire book is black and white text, with a few mediocre drawings, and a minimal number of worked example problems--some chapters do not have a single example problem. The few example problems that are given are usually solved by skipping most of the critical steps. The authors seem to assume that readers will be doing most of the complex calculations in their heads.

What is most annoying, however, is that for many of the book's end-of-chapter problems, the authors have not shown how to solve them anywhere within the chapter. Once again, the authors may have assumed that only geniuses would be reading their text and that they should be able to derive the necessary equations completely unaided by sample problems, illustrations, or other learning aids.

In short, I feel sorry for any full-time student who is forced to learn thermodynamics from this textbook.

For learning thermodynamics, I think "Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics" by Michael Moran and Howard Shapiro is a much better choice. It has plenty of explanatory graphs and illustrations (in color even), as well as numerous worked examples. Dr. Sonntag and Dr. Van Wylen, are you paying attention?

I give this book 2 stars overall.
As a reference book, I give it 4 stars.
As a book to learn thermodynamics from, I give it 1 star.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference, December 18, 2007

By 

B. Style - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, 3rd Edition (Hardcover)

I like this book as a reference/review, perhaps as a companion to other subject material. It doesn't have a lot or worked examples and so can't really be thought of as an introductory tutorial. It is very thorough and provides a moderately deep overview of the subject. Undergrad engineering math is a prereq for understanding the book. It is very expensive as a new book; however, in used form I think it is well worth the price (at just a fraction of the new price).