Professor Maxwell's Duplicitous Demon

The Life and Science of James Clerk Maxwell

By: Brian Clegg

Narrated by: Simon Mattacks

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Asked to name a great physicist, most people would mention Newton or Einstein, Feynman or Hawking. But ask a physicist and there’s no doubt that James Clerk Maxwell will be near the top of the list.

Maxwell, an unassuming Victorian Scotsman, explained how we perceive color. He uncovered the way gases behave. And, most significantly, he transformed the way physics was undertaken in his explanation of the interaction of electricity and magnetism, revealing the nature of light and laying the groundwork for everything from Einstein’s special relativity to modern electronics.

Along the way, he set up one of the most enduring challenges in physics, one that has taxed the best minds ever since. "Maxwell’s demon" is a tiny but thoroughly disruptive thought experiment that suggests the second law of thermodynamics, the law that governs the flow of time itself, can be broken. This is the story of a groundbreaking scientist, a great contributor to our understanding of the way the world works, and his duplicitous demon.

©2019 by Brian Clegg. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Interesting homage

I was not sure what to expect and this was a nice life history of a great scientist. I never knew he was so prolific and thank the author for bringing this information to our attention. I was hoping for more science narrative, but there is enough and the details of his life help frame his learning environment.

Superb!

This brilliant man has not received the recognition he so deserves! Superbly written and exceptionally narrated. This is a must read for anyone interested in science history.

Good book about the life and work of Maxwell.

Very well written book. Very original way to tell the story. It is a biography and high level explanation of Maxwell 's work.

Biography With a Twist

A peek into 19th Century scientific life (and its evolution), and a biography of Maxwell, as told by his demon (the twist).

Understanding basic physics

This book should be required in any study of how the universe is built. I would like to be included, is the actual equations. An excellent book with an enjoyable voice.

An entertaining summary of a physics pioneer’s life

This is an engaging and interesting overview of Maxwell’s life, going beyond what many (based on my experience being common) know about this incredible scientist. I was expecting this book to go into Maxwell’s scientific discoveries in more depth, but it strikes a good balance of technical detail and narration of his life. I recommend this book to those interested in learning more about Maxwell, the scientific society he lived in, and some very important and fascinating scientific developments.

Edutainment at its best

Having Maxwell’s demon narrate his biography just works. The story telling proceeds at a lively pace, never slowing down, as you would not expect that from a demon.

Intriguing and Insightful

A bit of physics and mathematics history about one of the greatest minds of past generations.

Great biography, well read, would listen again

Great foray into the life of an enormously influential physicist. I am an electrical engineer and I learned things about Maxwell I didn't know. Splendid book.

Breathtaking

Captivating and Informative, this amazing book is delights in so many ways...Get this book. You will not be disappointed