  Scrambling of quantum information can be conveniently quantified by so called
out-of-time-order-correlators (OTOCs), whose measurements presents a formidable
experimental challenge. Here we report on a method for the measurement of OTOCs
based on the so-called two-point measurements scheme developed in the field of
non-equilibrium quantum thermodynamics. The scheme is of broader applicability
than methods employed in current experiments and also provides a clear-cut
interpretation of quantum information scrambling in terms of non-equilibrium
fluctuations of thermodynamic quantities such as work. Furthermore, we provide
a numerical example on a spin chain which highlights the utility of our
thermodynamic approach when understanding the differences between integrable
and ergodic behavior. We also discuss connections to some recent experiments.
