This is a terrific new book on shock compression science from one of the top researchers in the field. I have worked with shock waves for a number of years, but I was not formally trained in the area. What makes this book special is the emphasis on explaining the fundamentals in an extremely clear and logical fashion. […] This ... Read morebook has also been a gift to my students, who bought the Kindle edition and finally have a reference that is fun to read and tremendously instructive. I think that experts in the field can appreciate and enjoy this book and its perceptive insights, and for newcomers it is a positive must have. Dana D. Dlott , William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry,  University of Illinois / http://www.etcmd.com/pages/book-sh.php     This book provides a fantastic introduction to the nuts and bolts of shock compression of materials and will be a canonical reference for neophytes and experts alike. There is a pressing need for a treatment of this subject that can be handed to a new student to get him/her up to speed; Forbes has provided that book. […] I discovered that this book is available electronically through my institution's library; pdf versions of the chapters can be downloaded individually making for easy distribution to my group members. Evan Reed, Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University / http://www.etcmd.com/pages/book-sh.php    The recently published book "Shock Compression of Condensed Matter" by Dr. Jerry Forbes is an excellent comprehensive teaching and research summary of the various fields that apply shock waves to many different types of solids and liquids.  While most teaching texts do not include modern experimental and theoretical techniques and most topical research texts do not contain sufficient background information, this book presents both in a clear, well-organized manner. The author combined lessons learned during several years of teaching shock wave compression courses and many years of state-of-the-art experimental research to create this unique book. […] Craig M. Tarver, Energetic Materials Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory /  http://www.etcmd.com/pages/book-sh.php Show Less