Rating: 
Summary: Reads like a novel
Review: This is an excellent history of code breaking during World War II. The majority of the book is from the British perspective. It is action packed. If you are looking for the math behind the code breaking, this is not the book. Some key points are:
-Code breaking of enigma much sooner than I had known. -Steps that the Germans took to "secure" their code often backfired and made it easier to break. -We are all human. Human habits were key to breaking the codes. -The code breaking was a key weapon in WWII. This book whet my appetite. I hope the author writes more. Possible topics include:
-German code breaking. Too many teasers in this book about the German code breakers.. I want more details. -US code breaking of Japan and Germany. -The hints of the French activity left me wanting to know more. Overall I enjoyed the book. I would recommend it to history buffs and math buffs (too few books where mathematics and mathematicians are the heros.)
Rating:
Summary: Reads like a novel
Review: This is an excellent history of code breaking during World War II. The majority of the book is from the British perspective. It is action packed. If you are looking for the math behind the code breaking, this is not the book. Some key points are:
-Code breaking of enigma much sooner than I had known. -Steps that the Germans took to "secure" their code often backfired and made it easier to break. -We are all human. Human habits were key to breaking the codes. -The code breaking was a key weapon in WWII. This book whet my appetite. I hope the author writes more. Possible topics include:
-German code breaking. Too many teasers in this book about the German code breakers.. I want more details. -US code breaking of Japan and Germany. -The hints of the French activity left me wanting to know more. Overall I enjoyed the book. I would recommend it to history buffs and math buffs (too few books where mathematics and mathematicians are the heros.)
Rating: 
Summary: The other story of the breaking of Enigma
Review: Whereas many other books concerned with Enigma have concentrated on the work of the cryptanalysts of Bletchley Park this deals with those other people crucial to the effort. The seamen of the Royal Navy, secret agents, Polish cryptanalysts and ironically the Germans. If you are after the technical details of how Enigma worked and how it was cracked then don't get this book. But if you are interested in reading a gripping account of the events surrounding the Battle for the Code and the consequences thereof then this is a must. Sebag-Montefiore has compiled outstanding source and reference materials to give the human story behind the code breaking efforts by the British. The bravery of the men of the Royal Navy who risked life and limb to steal codebooks and Enigma machines from German warships and submarines. Also covered are the details of the steps that the Germans took to "secure" their code that often backfired making it easier to break and the incompetance of some German radio operators that also compromised security.
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