Energy, the Subtle Concept: The discovery of Feynman's blocks from Leibniz to Einstein
"The conservation of energy is arguably the most important law in physics. But what exactly is being conserved? Are some forms of energy more fundamental than others? You will have to read the book to find out. Coopersmith sets out to answer such questions and to explain the concept of energy through the history of its discovery. This is neither a straightforward narrative nor one for the faint-hearted. Those not put off by the odd bit of mathematics, will be well-rewarded by dipping into this book." -- Manjit Kumar,New Scientist"In clear and engaging prose, Coopersmith shows how the modern understanding of energy was formulated, moving from the first documented discussions of simple machines and perpetual motion in ancient Greece, to the work of Gottfried Leibniz and other 17th-century thinkers, to Einstein's theory of relativity and beyond. Because Energy, The Subtle Concept is a fascinating read, both physicists and non-physicists who want to learn more about the history of energy will enjoy it." Lisa Crystal, Physics Today, April 2011Featured in  athematical Reviews