  By means of the composite operator method we calculate the specific heat of
the 2D Hubbard model. Our results show that the model gives a detailed
description of the experimental situation in the normal state of cuprate high
Tc superconductors. The observed behavior is consistent with a Fermi liquid
picture where the unusual properties are described in terms of the van Hove
scenario. There is experimental evidence, based on the data for the spin
magnetic susceptibility and specific heat, that this scenario is related to the
overdoped region where superconductivity is depressed.
