Block by Block: The Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics does not live solely in the textbook. It lives in the worlds of machines, chemistry, biology, industry, power, and more. It tells us the boundaries of what is and is not possible in these worlds. Unfortunately, this powerful science can often intimidate students, due to the sole focus being on the subject and its equations, not on the underlying physical sciences and historical contexts involved. This text seeks to change this, examining and explaining to the curious minds of those who want to know the why behind the what of thermodynamics.