Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) was an
Italian-American physicist particularly
known for his work on the development
of the first nuclear reactor and for his
contributions to the development of
quantum theory, nuclear and particle
physics, and statistical mechanics. He
was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize in
Physics for his work on induced
radioactivity.

Fermi is widely regarded as one of the leading
scientists of the 20th century, highly
accomplished in both theory and experiment.
Along with J. Robert Oppenheimer, he is
frequently referred to as "the father of the
atomic bomb."

His lecture notes, especially those for quantum
mechanics, nuclear physics, and
thermodynamics, were transcribed into books
which are still in print, including
THERMODYNAMICS, which remains his most
important publication.

With his characteristic clarity, in this classic on
Thermodynamics, Fermi explains the First and
Second Laws of Thermodynamics, entropy,
thermodynamic potentials, and much more.