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The most exciting and significant episode of scientific progress is the development of thermodynamics and electrodynamics in the 19th century and early 20th century. The nature of heat and temperature was recognized, the conservation of energy was discovered, and the realization that mass and energy are equivalent provided a new fuel, – and unlimited power. Much of this occurred in unison with the rapid technological advance provided by the steam engine, the electric motor, internal combustion engines, refrigeration and the rectification processes of the chemical industry. The availability of cheap power and cheap fuel has had its impact on society: Populations grew, the standard of living increased, the envir- ment became clean, traffic became easy, and life expectancy was raised. Knowledge fairly exploded. The western countries, where all this happened, gained in power and influence, and western culture – scientific culture – spread across the globe, and is still spreading. At the same time, thermodynamics recognized the stochastic and probabilistic aspect of natural processes. It turned out that the doctrine of energy and entropy rules the world; the first ingredient – energy – is deterministic, as it were, and the second – entropy – favours randomness. Both tendencies compete, and they find the precarious balance needed for stability and change alike.
From the reviews:
"Müller ... summarizes the historical development of thermodynamic concepts, going into great depth to detail how certain discoveries were interconnected and how numerous researchers developed these theories based on current available knowledge. ... Readers will appreciate how researchers in the 19th century had to develop basic concepts ... . Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (H. Giesche, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (2), 2007)
"An exhaustive history and presentation of current state of research in the subject of thermodynamics. ... This book is too good ... . The author is an important leader in this field, with most impressive record of research publications. This is a great book, which should be in the library of any scientist interested in thermodynamics. It is easy to read ... . It contains a lot of information about thermodynamics, certainly the history, and biographies of prominent creators of our knowledge." (Vadim Komkov, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1131 (9), 2008)
"Müller ... summarizes the historical development of thermodynamic concepts, going into great depth to detail how certain discoveries were interconnected and how numerous researchers developed these theories based on current available knowledge. ... Readers will appreciate how researchers in the 19th century had to develop basic concepts ... . Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (H. Giesche, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (2), 2007)
"An exhaustive history and presentation of current state of research in the subject of thermodynamics. ... This book is too good ... . The author is an important leader in this field, with most impressive record of research publications. This is a great book, which should be in the library of any scientist interested in thermodynamics. It is easy to read ... . It contains a lot of information about thermodynamics, certainly the history, and biographies of prominent creators of our knowledge." (Vadim Komkov, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1131 (9), 2008)
Aus den Rezensionen: "In diesem ansprechend gestaltenen Buch wagt der Professor für Thermodynamik an der TU Berlin, Ingo Müller, einen Parforce- Ritt durch die Wissenschaftsgeschichte ... Müller selbst ist ein geistreicher Autor, der es ausgezeichnet versteht, seinen Text aufzulockern ... Der Kontrast zwischen Maxwell und Boltzmann wird durch Juxtaposition zweier Zitate deutlich ... Überhaupt sind die Charakterisierungen von Personen und Intentionen sehr treffend gelungen ... Als eine Geschichte der Thermodynamik ... kann ich dieses Buch sehr empfehlen ..." (Klaus Hentschel, in: Physik Journal, 2008, Vol. 7, Issue 2, S. 61) "... Müller beschreibt nicht nur die theoretischen Konzepte und ihre praktischen Anwendungen, sondern würdigt auch die Menschen hinter der Wissenschaft. Zahlreiche Illustrationen und physikalische Formeln vertiefen die Themen ..." (in: Das Science Fiction Jahr 2008, 2008, S. 783)