Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe

By: Jeffrey C. Grossman, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Jeffrey C. Grossman

Nothing has had a more profound impact on the development of modern civilization than thermodynamics. Thermodynamic processes are at the heart of everything that involves heat, energy, and work, making an understanding of the subject indispensable for careers in engineering, physical science, biology, meteorology, and even nutrition and culinary arts. Get an in-depth tour of this vital and fascinating science in 24 enthralling lectures suitable for everyone from science novices to experts who wish to review elementary concepts and formulas.

Professor Jeffrey Grossman of MIT uses the four laws of thermodynamics as a launching point to discuss foundational concepts that are critical pillars of science and engineering - ideas such as entropy, chemical potential, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, osmotic pressure, heat capacity, eutectic melting, and the Carnot cycle. These and other ideas shed light on many phenomena in the natural world, and they are the analytical tools that engineers use to create new devices and technologies. At the end of these lectures, you'll truly appreciate the elegance and importance of thermodynamic principles. Also, you'll have unlocked the secrets to a fascinating aspect of our universe.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 The Great Courses (P)2014 The Teaching Company, LLC

Incredibly interesting still

If thermodynamics peaked your interest while at university, well this course is sure to grow that curiosity further. Professor Grossman makes the concepts easy to process and enjoy. Although his staccato rhythm can be distracting at times, the substance is spot on

Advanced Material

Visualizing mathematical formulas is always challenging in an audio book, and this one has plenty of them. The material is dependent on fairly advanced math -- calculus in many cases -- and a robust understanding of chemistry and physics. There is very little chance of absorbing this material osmotically -- did you catch that pun? In any case, this is one audio book that might require you to break out the supplemental material if you truly want to learn thermodynamics.

Audible is the Wrong Platform for This Series

This series is informative and interesting. However, I struggled to stay focused on it as the material required a chalkboard or a piece of paper and a pen. It is almost impossible to truly appreciate a topic like this without seeing the equations, the charts and the information that the person giving the series lectures is trying to relay.

But it is also true that your average non-science-geek person that knows nothing about thermodynamics would likely benefit from this series if for no other reason than to be exposed to the nomenclature and many of the concepts that drive the conversations related to it.

Link between empirical science, math, philosophy

Buried somewhat in this lengthy course are key connections between lab science, calculus, and clearly defined concepts connected to modern philosophy and the its focus on clear terms. A review of the PDF is necessary for selected chapters to get an understanding of the simple terms and their very complex non intuitive but precise relationships. For me this course is a return to the branch of engineering and science and 'common sense' understandings that propelled the early years of the scientific historical moment. My only complaint for an otherwise excellent intellectual performance is Grossman's diction and elocution, or lack of them really. These are easily corrected defects that several listenings, required for me in any case, corrects nicely.

Not for audio

The course was not made for audio. It was also light on the math. Without the math entropy and gibbs free energy is not easily explained.