The Refrigerator and the Universe: Understanding the Laws of Energy [Hardcover]

Martin Goldstein (Author), Inge F. Goldstein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674753240 | ISBN-13: 978-0674753242 | Publication Date: September 1993 | Edition: First Edition

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.

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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 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 )

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

About the Author

Martin Goldstein, is former Professor of Chemistry at Yeshiva University.

Inge F. Goldstein is Associate Professor of Clinical Public Health in Epidemiology, Columbia University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 433 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; First Edition edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674753240
• ISBN-13: 978-0674753242
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,842,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Entropy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful introduction to, or review of, thermodynamics, August 1, 2004

By 

A reader (Shrewsbury, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Refrigerator and the Universe: Understanding the Laws of Energy (Paperback)

The book presents the three laws of thermodynamics: the first law (conservation of energy)in chapters 1-4, the second law (dispersal of energy) in chapters 5-9, and the third law (low temperature behavior) in chapter 14. Other chapters apply thermodynamics to light, chemistry, biology, geology, and cosmology. The authors present thermodynamics using both classical and statistical mechanical arguments. References are listed for further study of topics.

Although the book is intended for a general audience, the book will be interesting even to a reader who already has some familiarity with thermodynamics because the book probably treats at least a few applications with which he is unfamiliar. The book also makes a number of refreshing admissions about the limits of thermodynamics; for example, thermodynamics can't be strictly applied to living organisms (p. 297), and in general relativity, energy need not be conserved (p. 370).

The book requires a knowledge of simple algebra and logarithms; however, a tutorial on these subjects is presented in an appendix.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic account, December 7, 2008

By 

Chris C. Hill - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Refrigerator and the Universe: Understanding the Laws of Energy (Paperback)

Quite a few good to excellent pop science books have been published since this volume was released in 1995. After 14 years the Goldsteins' book still stands for this reader as one of the most rewarding. For one thing, the authors are serious about getting historical detail right. The authors write fluently, but there is a clear expectation that the details of the intellectual adventure are what will engage and sustain your interest. For those not already well versed in thermodynamics, the book will require closer attention than some other very good books on overlapping topics such as Boltzmann's Atom by David Lindley. The payoff from the Goldsteins' book is, however, exceptional. As with John Derbyshire's Prime Obsession, when you finish this book, you will have much of an insider's understanding of an important but difficult subject (up through the early 1990s), even if you knew little or nothing about it going in. Highly recommended.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real explanation of the I and II law of thermodynamics, June 15, 2006

By 

Humberto Mejia "Still alive and kicking" (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Refrigerator and the Universe: Understanding the Laws of Energy (Paperback)

In the U I had this rather old professor who said that we should not be discouraged by the difficulty in thermodynamics for many great men of science found it difficult too.

If I had to go back and teach those course I would start by recommending this book.. first sound principles well grasped.. anything can be done after that