Rating: 
Summary: Smoothly flowing, lots of anecdotes and personalities
Review: Not really in any substantive sense a history of cryptography, this book gives one very much the same feeling as if watching a well done television documentary. This is not particularly surprising, as the author works on programs such as PBS' "Nova" in his day job. This makes the book an easy and pleasant read, but it chooses its focus rather oddly, often emphasizing persons and events out of all logical proportion to their real historical significance. In fairness, the author does concede that he is not attempting to write a history of cryptography, as that has already been done comprehensively by others, especially David Kahn ("The Codebreakers," recently reprinted). While Americans are given inappropriately little attention until the chapter on public-key cryptography -- I think William F. Friedman is mentioned once in passing, and Herbert O. Yardley perhaps twice -- the selection of subject matter is a refreshing change from the usual stories that are rehashed over and over in most books on cryptography. It is particularly nice to see the British WWII cryptanalytic efforts at Bletchley Park being given their due, since Bletchley's people such as Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers have had to suffer from their work being kept secret until several years after Kahn's and most of the other principal histories had been written. The acknowledgement of the early Polish effort with German Enigma which made the British effort possible is also comparatively rare, again mostly because of the secrecy which until recently surrounded the matter, but it is likewise long overdue. I was also pleased to see the chapter on the decipherment of Cretan Linear B, which the late Otto Neugebauer -- probably then the world's leading expert on Babylonian Cuneiform and no slouch himself -- told me made his work look like "child's play." (Neugebauer's popular "The Exact Sciences in Antiquity" is still in print, too.) It would have been nice to see some discussion about the success with which cryptanalytic techniques similar to those used in connection with Linear B have been applied within just the last few years to Mayan inscriptions, but one cannot have everything. The tie-in between Linear B and Navajo "code talkers," both of which depended upon cultural influences, was a most unusual perspective. Interestingly, there is some hint at the same basic issue in connection with Judaism, where Martin Hellman's experiences with anti-semitism are discussed and it is noted that the critical insight which led to the RSA cryptographic system occurred immediately following a Passover seder where Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adelman were all present together. Ultimately, the approach of the book is, in "human drama" television documentary style, to choose some story or person as respresentative of each aspect of cryptography in history, including some of world-making historical importance such as the execution of Mary Queen of Scots or the breaking of German ciphers in WWII, some of great importance within their field such as the work on Linear B, and some of entirely marginal importance other than as curiositis such as the Beale letters. The technical explanations of cryptographic systems such as the Vignere Cipher are excellent and should be clear to anyone, and are much better done than in the average book on the subject. Where the explanation would be so involved as to be distracting to the reader, the technical issues are relegated to one of the many appendices as is appropriate. Even the discussions of speculative techniques such as quantum-state transmission are relatively easy to follow. Overall, I cannot recommend this book as a serious history of the subject -- read Kahn for that -- but it is a fun and entertaining read for someone knowledgable and a respectable introduction for anyone else fascinated with cryptography and cryptanalysis.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautifully written exposition of a fascinating topic.
Review: This book is a page turner. The explanations of the Enigma Solution and Public Key Cryptology were most clearly written. The section on Linear B was also beautifully written; especially memorable is when Singh talks of "ancient languages once again whispering their messages to us...". Even in sections where one can disagree with the viewpoint of the author, such as how credit for cryptologic advancement should be allocated, or the absolute value of who knows what when (especially as it relates to World War II), the sheer interest in the topics keeps one riveted to the text and eager for more. This book is certainly comparable to David Kahn's masterpiece The Codebreakers, and in some respects more up to date, though hardly as comprehensive. This book has more traction to it than Mr. Singh's book on Fermat's Last Theorem, but this might be due to the very nature of the subjects involved. Certainly that book aided in the desire to read this one, which proves more rewarding from an intellectual vantage point. This can be compared to a book such as "The Universe and the Teacup" which has so turned me off to that author that I can't imagine ever wanting to read anything from her again. All in all, I must say that this book is a beautifully written exposition of a fascinating topic.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent overview of cryptanalysis
Review: The beauty of this book is that it presents problems which baffled some of history's greatest minds in an understandable, enjoyable way. The explanations are clear and concise and the ample use of real-world analogies allows this book to be accessible to any reader. If you are interested in cryptography, cryptanalysis, mathematics, or puzzles, you will thoroughly enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Great historical perspective of cryptography
Review: Gives a good history of cyptography and cryptoanalysis with just the right technical bent (although could delve just a bit deeper in some areas) and the $15,000 contest adds a bit of fun.
Rating:
Summary: I wonder who is reading this review?
Review: As he did in Fermat's Enigma, Singh succeeds in communicating recondite mathematical concepts to the non-mathematician in The Code Book. But the plot thickens in Singh's second; what if being the first to find, "The Proof," meant having the upper hand in matters of terrorism, or the key to victory in World War? Singh shows that cipher-math has played an important role in historical events, and will continue to play a role in the security of individuals, corporations, and countries. While I won't be losing sleep trying to win the book's $15,000 Cipher Challenge, (I've got a Pentium II) I will now think hard about how cipher technology is used and regulated. Should the government be allowed to prohibit absolute cipher-security to protect citizens from harm, or does the right to privacy outweigh the risk of computer-aided crime and terror? I'm not the one with the recipe for Coke under his pillow, but if I were, thoughts of cipher legislation would keep me from resting easily. I really enjoyed The Code Book, but it should have been thicker with the stories for which Singh suggested there wasn't enough room. I hoped for more stories about the race between cryptographers and cryptanalysts, desperate to gain any intelligence advantage, holding the future of the free world in their hands; as a diversion from the objectives of the book, Singh chose only to relate the cracking of Linear-B. (Not quite "The Day of the Jakcal.") Otherwise, however, The Code Book is, "Uif Tiju!"
Rating:
Summary: A great book about the history of cryptography!
Review: This book really explains everything about cryptography; not just the inner workings, but the history behind it and its real like applications. It's a great book, I hope everyone can get a chance to read this and see how cryptography changed the world.
Rating:
Summary: incredibly interesting
Review: Simon Singh has a true gift for writing. In the wrong hands the material presented in this book could have been dull. Mr. Singh, however, turns this material into what reads likes a page-turning novel. This book is loaded with fastinating information presented in clearly written manner. If you have even the slightest interest in the subject matter, I promise you that you will love this book. One of the things that makes it great is that it looks as deeply at people as it does at the science and math involved. You will find yourself getting attached to the men and women who were so heavily involved in the developments in this subject matter throughtout history. For a top-notch learning and entertainment experience, go read this book now.
Rating:
Summary: Missing History
Review: I saw a book, Fermat's Enigma, many times at the store. Many times I saw it, and walked right by it - not interested. The best thing I can say about "The Code Book" (by the same author) is that before I even finished it I went back to that store and bought Fermat's Engima, not wanting to risk it being sold out.
The Code Book was that good of a read.
Why? It is because it took a subject I knew almost nothing about, and by time I was done made me feel like an expert. In the process I got a precious insight into many historical events I had read about my whole life but, in some part, I had only a superficial understanding.
For example, in College we studied the execution of Mary Queen of Scotts. Our professor told us that the conspiracy was suspect at best and probably was just the result of a vindictive Elizabeth trying to secure her throne. Really? Mr. Singh explains how the Queen's servants broke a code being sent to the Mary and how she authorized an assassination of Elizabeth. By authorizing the assassination, she justified her own execution. An execution which sounds much more rational then "vindictive." At the end, Mr. Singh describes the great dignity Mary displayed at her death and a particularly pathetic scene as her little dog was searching through Mary's effects for Mary, not realizing that she was dead. I can somehow still hear that little dog barking.
This is but one of many stories in this book from Ancient Greece to Modern Washington where Mr. Singh shows (1) the importance of ciphering (2)and its great effect on world history. I almost felt like the FreeMasons were right, there is history and "history." By reading this book, you get a first hand tour of "history" while, at the same time, learning about the incredible changes in the science of spys.
I only had one criticism, which is quite small. Towards the final chapters the author seems more negative as he discusses the tragic ends to many great minds connected to ciphering. I guess there are few nice ways to say bad things but the tone of the book does change. Still, all in all, this is an excellent book which you should read.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting book.
Review: I was just on a 8-hour flight that turned into a 13-hour flight with delays.
I was able to read the Code Book in it entirely. This is the only time I did not mind the delays, since it is such a interesting and captivating book.
Rating:
Summary: Fun read, don't expect technicals.
Review: Read this a couple years back and I remember I could not put it down. Singh is a great writer and knows how to tell a story.
The strongest point of the book is that it is NOT meant to be a technical learning device. It's nice to see the historical background in which a particular cryptographic method evolved for a change. The Mary Queen of Scots and Enigma sections were particularly well written.
Highly recommended.
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