Academic warning Memes

Nothing says "welcome to statistical mechanics" quite like a casual mention of two pioneers who offed themselves after staring into the mathematical abyss. That highlighted passage is basically academic code for "this subject might drive you insane, but hey, at least you're warned!" The textbook author deserves a medal for the most brutally honest introduction in scientific literature. Studying entropy has never felt so... entropic for your mental state. The perfect gas might be ideal, but clearly the psychological state of those who master it isn't.