The laws of thermodynamics drive everything that happens in the universe. From the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas to the cooling of hot metal, and from the unfurling of a leaf to the course of life itself - everything is directed and constrained by four simple laws. They establish fundamental concepts such as temperature and heat, and reveal the arrow of time and even the nature of energy itself. Peter Atkins' powerful and compelling introduction explains what the laws are and how they work, using accessible language and virtually no mathematics. Guiding the reader from the Zeroth Law to the Third Law, he introduces the fascinating concept of entropy, and how it not only explains why your desk tends to get messier, but also how its unstoppable rise constitutes the engine of the universe.

"His engaging account...the lucid figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy." - Science

"Concise, well-written, engaging and carefully structured... an enjoyable and informative read." - Chemistry World

"Peter Atkins's account of the core concepts of thermodynamics is beautifully crafted." - Simon Mitton, THES

"A brief and invigoratingly limpid guide to the laws of thermodynamics." - Saturday Guardian

"Atkins's systematic foundations should go a long way towards easing confusion about the subject...an engaging book, just the right length (and depth) for an absorbing, informative read." - Mark Haw, Nature

"[Atkins'] ultra-compact guide to thermodynamics [is] a wonderful book that I wish I had read at university." - New Scientist