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This book offers an informal, easy-to-understand account of topics in modern physics and mathematics. The focus is, in particular, on statistical mechanics, soft matter, probability, chaos, complexity, and models, as well as their interplay. The book features 28 key entries and it is carefully structured so as to allow readers to pursue different paths that reflect their interests and priorities, thereby avoiding an excessively systematic presentation that might stifle interest. While the majority of the entries concern specific topics and arguments, some relate to important protagonists of science, highlighting and explaining their contributions. Advanced mathematics is avoided, and formulas are introduced in only a few cases. The book is a user-friendly tool that nevertheless avoids scientific compromise. It is of interest to all who seek a better grasp of the world that surrounds us and of the ideas that have changed our perceptions.

A Random Walk in Physics: Beyond Black Holes and Time-Travels

Chapter 1 - Introduction.- Chapter 2 - Atoms, Irreversibility, Probability, Statistical Mechanics, Entropy.- Chapter 3 - Probability, Entropy, Chaos.- Chapter 4 - Chaos, Prediction.- Chapter 5 - Prediction, Turbulence, Models.- Chapter 6 - Models, Richardson.- Chapter 7 - Boltzmann, Statistical Mechanics, Brownian Motion.- Chapter 8 - Boltzmann, Atoms, Statistical Mechanics, Mesoscale Systems.- Chapter 9 - Prediction: Chaos, Poincaré, Richardson, Models, Big data.- Chapter 10 - Statistical Mechanics: Atoms, Boltzmann, Maxwell.