The Second Law of Life

In this compelling and important book for general science readers, John Schmitz brings order to the world of chaos that surrounds us. "The Second Law of Life" refers to the second law of thermodynamics, entropy, which is an omnipresent force that quietly and crucially determines many aspects of our society and daily lives. And yet, we are generally unaware of its presence. Unless we understand entropy and how it affects our world, future generations will face the consequences of the unstoppable laws of physics. Entropy explains the amount of energy no longer capable of conversion into work; in other words, wasted energy or heat loss. Every moment of every day, we lose irreplaceable energy and "modern" technology is not helping. In fact, it is accelerating the problem at a catastrophic rate, and we will ultimately face a "heat death" crisis and the utter destruction of Earth. Even things we are doing to improve the environment may actually be causing more damage than we think. For example, although recycling is environmentally, socially, and politically correct, it is actually a prolific waster of energy; we must look at entire systems, not just parts. It is critical that we find ways to reduce energy loss. Seeing the problem more clearly will lead to solutions. This fascinating and easily understood journey through the second law of thermodynamics is a step in the right direction.