This textbook covers the basic prinples of statistical physics and thermodynamics at the level of first-year graduate students or advanced undergraduates; it presents the subject in a straightforward and lively manner. After reviewing the basics probability theory classical thermodynamics, the author addresses the standard topics of statistical physics, and demonstrates their relevance in other scientific fields using clear and explicit examples. Later chapters introduce phase transitions, critical phenomena and non-equilibrium phenomena.

From the reviews:

It is written in an informal, physics type style, but presents precise and well explained arguments. The list of references is well chosen and contains comments which facilitate further readings.

--Zentralblatt Math

"This book is addressed to physics students at the senior undergraduate or beginning graduate level. As such, it emphasizes physical intuition and central physical arguments over detailed mathematical justification. Physics students will enjoy the clarity and calculated simplicity of its presentation, while acquiring a broad knowledge of the subject. But, because of its careful selection of conceptual issues and its unassuming style, the book can also be a useful reference to students in other disciplines, including mathematics ." (Roberto Fernández, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2003 e)

"Statistical physics attempts to explain laws by considering the large number of constituent particles from a statistical point of view. This is also the point of view of this textbook . It is written in an informal, physics type style, but presents precise and well explained arguments. It supports intuition more than formalism, and discusses a large number of relevant examples and models. The list of references is well chosen and contains comments which facilitate further readings." (Michael Baake, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 983, 2002)

Inhalt
1 Introduction to Statistical Methods.- 2 Statistical Description of a Physical System.- 3 Overview of Classical Thermodynamics.- 4 Microcanonical Ensemble.- 5 Canonical Ensemble.- 6 The Classical Gas in the Canonical Formalism.- 7 The Grand Canonical and Pressure Ensembles.- 8 The Ideal Quantum Gas.- 9 The Ideal Fermi Gas.- 10 Free Bosons: BoseEinstein Condensation; Photon Gas.- 11 Phonons and Magnons.- 12 Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena: Classical Theories.- 13 The Ising Model.- 14 Scaling Theories and the Renormalization Group.- 15 Nonequilibrium Phenomena: I. Kinetic Methods.- 16 Nonequilibrium phenomena: II. Stochastic Methods.- Appendices.- A.1 Stirling's asymptotic series.- A.2 Gaussian integrals.- A.3 Dirac's delta function.- A.4 Volume of a hypersphere.- A.5 Jacobian transformations.- A.6 The saddle-point method.- A.7 Numerical constants.