The works of the 1991 Nobel prize winner in Physics, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, have transformed condensed matter physics. Over the last three decades, he has left his indelible mark on an astonishing variety of condensed matter topics — magnets, superconductors, liquid crystals, polymers, interfaces, wetting and adhesions, and chirality. In doing so, he has bridged the gap between solid state physics and physical chemistry, and has forged close links between experimentalists and theoreticians.In awarding him the 1991 Nobel prize for his theoretical studies on liquid crystals and polymers, the Nobel foundation has paid tribute to his undoubted genius in discovering mathematical simplicity and elegance in the most complex and “messy” of systems. His deep insights into these fields have enabled others to exploit liquid crystals in technology and have paved the way for physicists to work on polymers.SIMPLE VIEWS ON CONDENSED MATTER presents a personal selection of the major works of de Gennes. It comes complete with afterthoughts by the author on his main papers, explaining their successes or weaknesses, and the current views on each special problem. This collector's volume contains all the important works of de Gennes which have made a lasting impact on our understanding of condensed matter, and serves as an essential reference book for all condensed matter physicists and physical chemists. It also bears testimony to the genius of a remarkable man, and should be a source of inspiration for aspiring scientists around the world.Contents:Part I. Solid State:Sur un exemple de propagation dans un milieu désordonnéEffects of double exchange in magnetic crystalsNuclear magnetic resonance modes in magnetic material. I. TheoryOnset of superconductivity in decreasing fieldsBoundary effects in superconductorsPart II. Liquid Crystals:Soluble model for fibrous structures with steric constraintsConjectures sur I'état smectiqueDynamics of fluctuations in nematic liquid crystalsNotes on the dynamics of prenematic fluidsAn analogy between superconductors and smectics AHydrodynamic properties of fluid lamellar phases of lipid/waterPart III. Polymers:Quasi-elastic scattering of neutrons by dilute, ideal, polymer solutions: I. Free-draining limitQuasi-elastic scattering by dilute, ideal, polymer solutions: II. Effects of hydrodynamic interactionsMinimum number of aminoacids required to build up a specific receptor with a folded polypeptide chainReptation of a polymer chain in the presence of fixed obstaclesCoil-stretch transition of dilute flexible polymers under ultrahigh velocity gradientsSolutions of flexible polymers: neutron experiments and interpretationTheoretical methods of polymer statisticsEcoulements viscométriques de polymères enchevêtrésTheory of long-range correlations in polymer meltsTight knotsA second type of phase separation in polymer solutionsPart IV. Interfaces:Phénomènes aux parois dans un mélange binaire critiqueSuspensions colloïdales dans une solution de polymèresConformations of polymers attached to an interfaceSur une règle de somme pour des chaînes polymériques semi-diluées près d'une paroiMicroemulsions and the flexibility of oil/water interfacesTransitions de monocouches à molécules polairesPolymers at an interface: a simplified viewStabilité des films de savon “jeunes”Part V. Wetting and Adhesion:Wetting: statics and dynamicsDynamics of drying and film-thinningTension superficielle des polymères fondusEtalement d'une goutte stratifiée incompressibleDynamics of partial wettingFracture d'un adhésif faiblement réticuléPolymer-polymer welding and slidingPart VI. Chirality:Sur l'impossibilité de certaines synthèses asymétriquesPierre Curie et le role de la symétrie des Iois physiquesDiscrimination chirale dans une monocouche de LangmuirReadership: Physicists, chemists, hydrodynamicists and materials scientists.Key Features:Combines a compact introductory treatment of special and general relativity with discussion of current research areasIncludes a detailed exposition of the author's novel work using general relativity to explain away dark matterAddresses issues including time machines, gravitational energy and the twin paradox