From the reviews of the first edition: "This monograph describes the mechanical, physical, and chemical phenomena in powders and other heterogeneous materials under high-pressure dynamic deformation. ... Based on experimental observations, the treatment focuses on strongly nonlinear phenomena, such as shock waves, solitons, and localized shear. ... Intended for graduate students as well as researchers, the book includes more than 90 problems at the ends of chapters to help the reader develop a deeper understanding of the material." (Applied Mechanics Reviews, Vol. 56 (4), 2003)