PRIME MEMBER EXCLUSIVE | 3 Months Free Trial

Auto-renews at INR 199/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026.
Block by Block cover art

Block by Block

The Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Thermodynamics

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER
3 Months Free Trial
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
1 credit a month to use on any title.
Listen to anything from the Plus Catalogue—thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks.
₹199 per month after 3 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.
Download titles to your library and listen offline.

Block by Block

Written by: Robert T. Hanlon
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
Get this deal

₹199 per month after 3 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026 at 11:59 PM IST.

Buy Now for ₹927.67

Buy Now for ₹927.67

At the heart of many fields - physics, chemistry, engineering - lies thermodynamics. While this science plays a critical role in determining the boundary between what is and is not possible in the natural world, it occurs to many as an indecipherable black box, thus making the subject a challenge to learn. Two obstacles contribute to this situation, the first being the disconnect between the fundamental theories and the underlying physics and the second being the confusing concepts and terminologies involved with the theories. While one needn't confront either of these two obstacles to successfully use thermodynamics to solve real problems, overcoming both provides access to a greater intuitive sense of the problems and more confidence, more strength, and more creativity in solving them.

Block by Block offers an original perspective on thermodynamic science and history based on the three approaches of a practicing engineer, academician, and historian. The book synthesizes and gathers into one accessible volume a strategic range of foundational topics involving the atomic theory, energy, entropy, and the laws of thermodynamics.

©2020 Robert T. Hanlon (P)2020 Tantor History & Culture Physics Science
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
For anyone who has studied thermodynamics, but has not fully understood many concepts, this is a wonderful book. The author takes you through the entire history of thermodynamics thoroughly. Along the way, the author really clears the state of the knowledge at various points, what were the burning questions, what were the motivations of various scientists and beautifully bring the wonderful subject of thermodynamics to life.

It helped me understand how Carnot cycle came out (the way all text books present it, makes it look like it came out of nowhere). It explains the contribution of greats, whose names we come across while studying thermodynamics, but whose depth of knowledge and contributions are not made known. This books goes to great lengths at explaining the difficulty and the impact of various scientists like Klausius.

The book is a little repetitive in many places. But, this is one of the most unique books I have come across and I loved it.

Literally building the subject block by block

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I always wanted to know more about that elusive area of thermodynamic and especially entropy.. this book is a very good introduction. needs careful attention to listen esp on audiobook format but rewards you with a satisfying experience... ability to start to dip the toes into this area of science !

Narration is very good and does justice to such a rich text.

very well researched, written and narrated. thank you to the author for brining this to us !

very good review of a complex area

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.