No. 159 · Work · Physics
Entropy
Left alone, things drift towards disorder; order has to be paid for.
In the Almanac
“Clausius names it”, 1865 · “Credit Suisse”, 2023
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
Get the AlmanacQuestions
What is Entropy?
Entropy is a measure of disorder in a system. The second law of thermodynamics says that in an isolated system it tends to increase. Order is never free: desks, budgets, friendships and companies all decay unless someone keeps spending energy to maintain them.
How do you use Entropy?
To use it, schedule maintenance before things break. Hold a weekly review at work, audit recurring charges every few months, and keep a steady rhythm of contact with the people you love. Not all mess is bad, so choose which kinds of order are worth paying for.
When does Entropy matter?
Entropy is one of the 43 mental models for work, the situations where you ask: How do I get the right things done? Within that, it belongs to “Organising the work”, alongside Algorithms, Boots on the Ground and Cargo Cult.
What is an example of Entropy?
Two stories show it at work: Clausius names it (1865) and Credit Suisse (2023). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Entropy?
Broken Windows Theory, Inertia and Homeostasis. Entropy itself comes from physics.