[...] During the past two decades of teaching thermodynamics to students from all over the world, we have felt a widespread demand for greater clarity, avoidance of misinterpretations, and logical sequence in the development of the principles offered in typical presentations. In response to our students' request, we have gradually developed a series of arguments, observations, definitions, formulations, and conclusions that cannot be found in any of the textbooks available today. Continuing the pioneering effort of Keenan and Hatsopoulos, we have composed a presentation of the principles and applications of thermodynamics that many enthusiastic MIT students have found clear, efficient, and inspiring. Our lecture notes have evolved into a coherent collection that has been tested in classrooms, accompanied by a large number of problems for individual practice, and is mature enough for wider dissemination. [...]

(from the authors' preface)