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The Refrigerator and the Universe: Understanding the Laws of Energy 1st Paperback Edition Edition

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Martin Goldstein (Author)
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Martin Goldstein (Author),
Inge F. Goldstein (Author)
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Inge F. Goldstein (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 7 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0674753259
ISBN-10: 0674753259
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 446 pages
  • Publisher: Harvard University Press; 1st Paperback Edition edition (February 24, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0674753259
  • ISBN-13: 978-0674753259
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,714,063 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3.0 out of 5 starsUseful introduction to, or review of, thermodynamics
By A reader on August 1, 2004
Format: 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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA classic account
By Chris C. Hill on December 7, 2008
Format: Paperback
Quite a few good to excellent pop science books have been published since this volume was released in 1995. After close to a score of 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. They write fluently, but there is a clear expectation that the details of the intellectual adventure, not merely anecdotes, 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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsOne of the greatest science books ever written.
By A. W. Moats on May 9, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I have owned the hard-cover edition since its publication. This paperback one was for a gift (to a precocious high-school junior).

One simply cannot do meaningful work in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering without a solid grasp of thermodynamics. Some thermodynamic topics are intuitively very difficult for students. This is the book to take a science student, high-school or college, into and through several essential topics, making formal classroom work much easier.

No, this is not a book just for science students. It's an excellent refresher for us older hands, as well. And a downright pleasant and lively read.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Masterpiece on Thermodynamics
By George Poirier on March 6, 2012
Format: Paperback
What an amazing journey reading this wonderful book has been for me! The authors have written a sweeping exposition of the science of thermodynamics including its development from the earliest thinkers on the subject, through the discovery of its laws, on to the applicability of these laws to various fields such as chemistry, biology and geology. Finally, they discuss the perseverance of these laws when confronted with quantum mechanics, relativity and the entire universe.

The authors' approach is to focus on concepts and principles and their development and meaning rather than mathematical rigour. Since mathematics is kept to a bare minimum, this book could be a very valuable complement to any of the usual (much more mathematical) courses on thermodynamics.

The writing style is very clear, friendly, lively, accessible and quite captivating. The authors are not stingy with words and, consequently, they thoroughly explain the various ideas presented along with plenty of useful examples. In addition to students of thermodynamics, those most likely to thoroughly enjoy this book are science buffs, especially those, like me, who have a particular love and fascination for thermodynamics and the laws of energy.
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