The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction
Review from previous edition: "It takes not only a great writer but a great scientist with a lifetime's experience to explains such a notoriously tricky area with absolute economy and precision, not to mention humour."  --Books of the Year, Observer. 30.11.08"His engaging account...the lucid figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy."  --Science 4/04/08"Concise, well-written, engaging and carefully structured... an enjoyable and informative read."  --Chemistry World 01/12/2007"Peter Atkins's account of the core concepts of thermodynamics is beautifully crafted."  --Simon Mitton, THES 16/11/2007"A brief and invigoratingly limpid guide to the laws of thermodynamics."  --Saturday Guardian 15/09/2007"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 20/09/2007"[Atkins'] ultra-compact guide to thermodynamics [is] a wonderful book that I wish I had read at university."  --New Scientist 20/10/2007