For a Better Understanding of the Thermodynamics of Living Organisms...

...check out this book:  Biological Thermodynamics by Donald T. Haynie.  All 440 pages are available free online.  For complete understanding of the topics discussed, the reader will need a certain knowledge base akin to an introductory undergraduate course in Biology/Biochemistry, so a well-read "lay" person should have little problem.  Happy Reading!