This textbook was developed over a period of 10 years for theauthorslecture on soft matter physics for both graduate andundergraduatestudents in the Physics Department of FudanUniversity.Soft matters are different from hard ones essentiallydue to formersrelatively weak interaction which is comparable tokBTrm(Trm=roomtemperature). It is this feature that results in themajor characteristics ofsoft matters such as "strong reactions uponweak actions". This textbooknot only concentrates on the basicinteractions inside soft matters in areductionist approach(Chap. 2,Chaps. 5 and 6), but also introduces theexploration works on thecomplexity of soft matters in methods of systemscience(Chap. 4).Soft matters is a bridge between hard matters andcomplex systemsthat show characteristics of deterministic chaos in nature.As a"model animal"(a mouse, if you prefer) in softmatters,electrorheological(ER) fluids are introduced. While theproperties andmechanisms of static ER effect are summerized(Chap.5), this textbookputs its emphasis on the dynamic EReffects(Chap.6). The Onsagerprinciple of least energy dissipationrate is adapted in the textbook to seehow it governs the Optimalpaths of a systems deviation from andrestoration to equilibrium.As another model animal, granular media isintroduced(Chap. 7) toexplain the thermodynamics of sands and itsdynamics such ascompartmentalization, pattern formation, and granu!arflow. Sincemany soft matters consist of light atoms, neutron scatteringappearsuseful as, a powerful tool and is worthmentioning(Chap.3),especially when a splashing neutron source isbeing erected in China.Soft matter physics is full ofunknowns(Chap. 1) as the subject is still at itsinfancy, making ithighly attractive. If you like a challenging subject, youwill mostcertainly fall in love with soft matter physics at first sight!