Prof. A. K. TIMIRYAZEV, Kinetic Theory of Matter (lectures delivered at the First Moscow State University in 1917–1918), pp. 278, GTTI Publishing House, Moscow—Leningrad, 1933, price 5 rubles, bound 6 rubles 25 kopecks.

A. K. Timiryazev’s book, devoted to classical kinetic theory, including elements of classical quantum statistics, is in one respect unique not only in Russian but also in world literature: in it almost every theoretical conclusion is accompanied by a presentation of the experimental material relating to it. This is undoubtedly one of its merits, especially valuable for readers becoming acquainted with this field for the first time. Another of its merits, also very important from a pedagogical point of view, is the completeness of the mathematical derivations presented: the author never confines himself to mathematical preparation on the part of the reader and gives all the developments in full. In many cases the author even gives derivations of purely mathematical formulas needed for what follows. This method of exposition greatly facilitates the reading of the book, especially for a reader with little preparation.

Alongside these undoubted merits, Prof. A. K. Timiryazev’s course also has certain shortcomings, quite natural in the first edition of a book that is a record of lectures delivered by the author, but which, it seems to us, could easily be eliminated in subsequent editions. Chief among these shortcomings is undoubtedly the lack of unity in the exposition, resulting from the fact that the author does not attempt, apparently, to adhere to any definite manner of presentation. True, thanks to his excellent knowledge of the literature and good taste, the methods of exposition are borrowed from such masters of classical kinetic theory as Boltzmann, Jeans, Smoluchowski, and so on. But undoubtedly, despite all the merits of each chapter taken separately, the result is a certain motley character of exposition.

In addition, the book does not make entirely clear the connection between thermodynamic potentials and their statistical analogues, and, as a result, the reader is deprived of the opportunity to become acquainted with one of the most general statistical methods for solving problems relating to equilibrium states; quantum statistics in its classical form is allotted only 10 pages out of 280. This, of course, is not accidental, since Prof. Timiryazev evidently sets as his chief aim the reader’s acquaintance with the methods of classical kinetic theory and their applications.

The complete absence in Prof. Timiryazev’s book of material devoted to the new directions in statistics developed by Bose, Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac is evidently explained by the hurried publication of the second edition.

As a guide for acquaintance with the foundations of classical kinetic theory and its experimental bases, Prof. A. K. Timiryazev’s book, even in its present form, fully fulfills its purpose both in the richness of the material presented and in the accessibility of the exposition, never, however, descending into cheap popularization. On the contrary, while presenting all the mathematical details, the author tries to help the reader overcome the most complex derivations in all their rigor, gradually training him to ascend the rather steep peaks of theory for a beginner.

The price of the book, taking into account its rather careless production, cannot but be considered high.

Vl. Semenchenko