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The sun shines, the wind blows, water runs downhill, and wood burns into ashes. Each of these processes involves energy and its transformation to states of higher disorder or entropy. The two fundamental physical concepts of energy and entropy shape all the dynamics that take place around us at a fundamental level, and are at the core of questions about the development of life and the evolution of the Universe, as well as informing practical questions such as the maximum energy a power plant can generate, and how much renewable energy is available on Earth. This Very Short Introduction describes the basics of energy, entropy, and the laws of thermodynamics, and how these apply to processes in the world around us, from planetary dynamics to the climate system, life, and human activity. Axel Kleidon describes the different forms of energy seen in nature; the laws that govern its conversion from one form to another; and how these forms and conversions underlie processes in the world around us. He also considers how energy becomes dispersed, and considers the short- and long-term future of the Earth in terms of energy ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.