这篇由奥地利物理学家玻尔兹曼（１８４４～１９０６）在约一个世纪前撰写的美国游记，不但生动地记述了他游历加州。访问伯克利大学、利克天文台、洛布实验室等机构时的观感，展现了这位统计物理学奠基人鲜为人知的文学才华；而且就理想主义与物质财富、历史上战争的雄伟与科学真理发现的力量等问题，抒发了不少富含哲理的见解，发人深思。──编者 This American travelogue, written by Austrian physicist Boltzmann (1844-1906) about a century ago, vividly records his travels to California. Visits to institutions such as Berkeley, the Lick Observatory, and the Lubbock Laboratory showcase the lesser-known literary talents of this founder of statistical physics; and on the discovery of the idealism and material wealth, the majesty of historical warfare and scientific truth Power and other issues, expressed a lot of rich philosophical insights, thought-provoking. ── Editor