This informal, readable introduction to the basic ideas of thermal physics covers the extremum principles of entropy and free energies. Prerequisite material on mathematics and quantum mechanics is reviewed, then chapters cover isolated thermal systems, systems in contact with a thermal reservoir, phase and phase transitions, and the Landau-Ginzburg free energy functional, employing analogies between what goes on in the thermal world and what goes on in the human world. The book assumes familiarity with introductory physics and with basic ideas of modern physics. Lee teaches in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southern Mississippi. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)