This is a book on the dissipative dynamics of ordered fluidswith a particular focus on liquid crystals. It covers a wholerange of different theories, mainly concerned with nematic liquidcrystals in both their chiral and nonchiral variants. The authorsbegin by giving a detailed account of the molecular origins oforientational order in fluids. They then go on to develop a generalframework in which continuum theories for ordered fluids can be phrased.Within this unified setting, they cover both well-established classical  theories and new ones with aspects that are not yet completely settled.  The book treats a wide range of hydrodynamic theories for liquid crystals, from the original 1960s works by Ericksen and Leslie to new, fast-developing  ideas of liquid crystal science. The final chapter is devoted to  nematoacoustics and its applications. Old experiments on the propagation of  ultrasound waves in nematic liquid crystals are interpreted and explainedin the light of a new theory developed within the general theoretical  infrastructure proposed in the body of the book.

Molecular Theories.- Dynamics of Dissipative Fluids.- Director Theories.- Order Tensor Theories.- Nematoacoustics.- Notation and Basic Concepts.- References.- Index.