Dr. Mnyukh, known by his discoveries in crystal phase transitions, put forward the unified account for three areas of solid-state physics. As a part, the "lambda-anomalies" that besieged science for 70 years were explained. The book represents a significant achievement.

There are many separate books on phase transitions, ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity. Neither adequately accounted for their phenomena. Inconsistencies were profound: "critical points" were "rounded" and subjected to hysteresis; "lambda-anomalies" were observed upon first-order transitions; exchange integral had wrong sign; domain structure of antiferromagnetics and ferroelectrics had no reason to exist; "critical phenomena" concept was applied to rearrangements at interfaces.

In contrast, Mnyukh's monograph provides unexpectedly simple, consistent and unified account for all three scientific areas, clarifying everything. How this became possible? The key is his experimental discoveries, which allowed deduce the universal molecular mechanism of phase transitions in solids.

Chapter 1 "Critical Survey" reveals failures of different theories and lays out fundamental principles. There are only two ways a phase transition can occur -- by infinitesimal qualitative changes (second-order) or infinitesimal quantitative changes (first-order). The only way the latter can occur is nucleation and growth. This prohibits approximation of first-order transitions by second-order ones. The second principle, well substantiated, further simplifies the picture: only nucleation and growth materializes.

Chapter 2 "The Molecular Mechanism of Solid-State Phase Transitions" describes the author's experimental findings. The most impressive is observation of beautifully shaped single crystals growing in different orientations during phase transitions. It is a crystal growth, and not a "critical phenomenon", "displacement", "shift", "deformation" or "distortion". Investigation in depth led to other discoveries and allowed deduce the contact model of phase transitions. All aspects of this crystal growth were studied. Clarification of the notion "temperature of phase transition" and the conclusion that nucleation is impossible without microcavities of a specific size led to explanation of heterophase state, range of transition, hysteresis and "lambda-anomalies".

Two more consequential results: 1.Transitions CRYSTAL-ODC (orientation-disordered crystal) occur also by crystal growth. 2. Frequently observed lattice orientation relationship originates from epitaxial nucleation and growth which was erroneously classified as second-order transition. The whole classification of solid-state phase transitions is thus reduced to only non-oriented and epitaxial crystal growth.

Chapter 3 "Lambda-Anomalies and Other Apparent Anomalies" reveals the true nature of the phenomenon that mystified scientists for so long: the peaks of some properties vs. temperature observed during phase transitions. Anderson wrote [Science, # 4574]: "Landau…nominated [the anomalies] as the most important as yet unsolved problem in theoretical physics". Feynman regarded them "one of the challenges of theoretical physics today". But they are now explained by an experimentalist.

Chapter 4 "Fundamentals of Ferromagnetism and Ferroelectricity" is based on the findings of previous chapters. The phenomena and their manifestations are explained in straightforward way without Weiss/Heisenberg molecular/exchange field. The account for ferroelectricity is actually the same.

The solutions presented in this book are well substantiated, logically monolithic, answering all questions left by conventional theories; they are destined to prevail.

"Mnyukh's pioneering work on phase transformations in crystals had made him a reputation both at home and abroad." [Newsweek, August 8, 1977]

"I was one … who thought that your ideas on solid-solid state phase transitions are basically correct. …I cited your 1979…paper several times…as providing the only model consistent with our results." "I have now read with interest the first three chapters of your book…and benefited greatly." "To Yuri Mnyukh, who taught me much of what I know about phase changes in solids." [Professor J.D. Dunitz, Switzerland]

"I was aware of your work since many years and the more I come into the field of phase transitions and polymorphism the more I recognize the importance of your contributions." [Professor Roland Boese, Germany]

"I have now finished reading your book. I found it very interesting and illuminating" [Professor Frank H. Herbstein, Israel]

"As an expert who is often faced some problems in the modern theory of phase transitions, I wish to know more about your approach. In fact, there is something wrong, but what? I still cannot "catch" the problem in its full size." "Finally I succeeded to read your interesting book and to learn a lot from it. This is really a book elucidating a number of experimental points as well as providing the theorist with essential problems which experimentalists meet in their work and consider as relevant in explanation of phase transitions. I am very grateful to you for…giving me the opportunity to learn from your great experience." "I agree that the mechanisms of nucleation and growth are basic and crucial." [Professor D. Uzunov, Bulgaria]

"The reviewer … liked the book." [Professor M. Pardavi-Horvath, USA]

"The news about your book made me so happy! Your approach is very innovative and impressed me immensely a while ago. Your conclusions on the mechanism of phase transitions were very helpful in the understanding and explanation of our experimental findings." [Dr. I. Vorontsov, Russia]

"I am engaged in the problems similar to those you have mentioned, and agree with your statement that nucleation and growth of new phase define the process of phase transitions in solids. This fact is confirmed by the results we have obtained in our investigations of ferro-antiferroelectric phase transitions." [Professor V.M. Ishchuk, Ukraine]

"Thank you for sending me the information on your book. It looks very impressive…The fact that around all phase transitions there exist heterophase states is completely in line with my understanding. [Professor V. Yukalov, Brazil]

"I have been working in the area of solid state phase transformations and crystal morphology since 1970. I became aware of Dr. Mnyukh's work from his published scientific papers… His suggestions…in studying such systems proved to be very useful to me…Our own laboratory experience has been in accord with his predictions." "Dr. Mnyukh's new manuscript presents a wide range of experimental evidence bearing on solid-solid phase transformations. This book will be of interest to crystallographers, solid-state physicists and material scientists because of its wealth of observational material and the integration of this material into a systematic view of solid state transformations". "The observations are incontrovertible." [Professor L.J. Soltzberg, USA]

"I agree with you. All transitions go by nucleation and growth." [Professor G. Ackland , United Kingdom)]

"Structural aspects of polymorphism and phase transitions… are the subject for Chapter IV by Bayard, Decoret and Royer… The chapter relies mainly on parent matrix – daughter phase model of Yu. V. Mnyukh to explain polymorphism and examines the requirements of this model to provide a useful explanation" [J.Mater.Chem., 1991, 1(1), 155: Book review on "Structure and Properties of Molecular Crystals, Ed. M. Pierrot, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1990"].

"One of the best documented theoretical approaches to polymorphic transformations is that developed by Yu. V. Mnyukh. The mechanism of polymorphic transformations…was analyzed in a way which implies a crystal growth phenomenon. The daughter phase grows in the parent crystal whatever the kind of transition observed: first or second order, displacive or reconstructive, discontinuous or continuous. This original point of view…is of great interest and will help to future comprehension of the existing classifications of phase transitions" [Structure and Properties of Molecular Crystals, Ed. M. Pierrot, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1990].

"On the Mechanism of Some First Order Enantiotropic Solid-State Phase Transitions – From Simon Through Ubbelohde to Mnyukh" [Title of review article by Frank H. Herbstein, Acta Cryst. B, Vol. 62 (2006), 341–383]. Synopsis: "An integrated and comparative study of more than twenty enantiotropic solid state phase transitions shows that these are all first order and proceed by a ‘nucleation and growth’ mechanism in accord with the description set out especially by Yuri Mnyukh."

"Mnyukh's pioneering work on phase transformations in crystals had made him a reputation both at home and abroad." [Newsweek, August 8, 1977]

"Dr. Yuri Mnyukh was trained in the then Soviet Union and received his doctorate in 1959 from the Soviet Academy of Sciences Institute of Crystallography. For many years he worked as a research scientist in the Crystallophysics Laboratory headed by the world famous A.Kitaigorodskii. From 1966-1973, Dr. Mnyukh was the Director of the Crystallophysics Laboratory of the Soviet Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics. As a consequence of his membership in a human rights movement, his employment was terminated, and he came to the U.S. Dr. Mnyukh ... specialized in the study of solid-state phase transitions." [Professor Martin Pope, New York University]

"You have a stellar reputation as a scientist." [Oxford University Press to the author]