Rating: 
Summary: Engaging Mathematical Adventure
Review: In 1999, at the age of 16, Sarah Flannery won Ireland's prestigious Young Scientist of the Year Award and a first place in the European Union's Young Scientist Contest for her science project "Cryptography -A New Algorithm Versus the RSA". The RSA is a public key algorithm that is widely used to encrypt data in our high-tech world. Sarah's work in trying to find a faster alternative to the RSA led, not only to a host of awards, but, unexpectedly, to worldwide acclaim and opportunities which she could not have imagined. She was invited to speak at conferences and in classrooms as far away from her native Ireland as Singapore and Milan. She was even a guest speaker at an IBM leadership conference for women when she was only 17 years old. And, at 18, she published "In Code", which is the story of her mathematical life up to that point. Sarah's Father, David Flannery, who writes the introduction to this book, is a mathematician himself and so integrates mathematics into his home life that his five children became accustomed to solving math and logic puzzles from a very young age. Sarah talks about growing up in this environment and includes a smattering of mind-bending puzzles, taken from her Father's collection, for the reader to solve. Then she goes on to explain the basic formulas and concepts behind modern cryptography. Although no math beyond algebra is needed to understand these mathematical chapters, I found that a good deal of effort and persistence is needed. I have a background in calculus, and I found it difficult to grasp the notations involved in cryptography, in particular. Of course, this is probably because I have no discernible talent at number theory. Sarah's explanations of the mathematics of cryptography are as clear as they could be, and her enthusiasm for her subject is infectious. After the mathematical chapters, she tells us how she came to choose and research her science project, her quest for an alternative algorithm, and of her experiences in showcasing her discoveries around the world. Sarah Flannery is, somewhat surprisingly, an engaging and fluid writer. To write such a readable book about mathematics is no mean feat. "In Code" is an interesting and engaging story of discovery. It is perfect for anyone seeking a basic understanding of the cryptography that we encounter in almost every home and workplace today. And it's a winning scientific adventure story that is bound to capture the interest of all the budding young scientists out there.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging Mathematical Adventure
Review: In 1999, at the age of 16, Sarah Flannery won Ireland's prestigious Young Scientist of the Year Award and a first place in the European Union's Young Scientist Contest for her science project "Cryptography -A New Algorithm Versus the RSA". The RSA is a public key algorithm that is widely used to encrypt data in our high-tech world. Sarah's work in trying to find a faster alternative to the RSA led, not only to a host of awards, but, unexpectedly, to worldwide acclaim and opportunities which she could not have imagined. She was invited to speak at conferences and in classrooms as far away from her native Ireland as Singapore and Milan. She was even a guest speaker at an IBM leadership conference for women when she was only 17 years old. And, at 18, she published "In Code", which is the story of her mathematical life up to that point. Sarah's Father, David Flannery, who writes the introduction to this book, is a mathematician himself and so integrates mathematics into his home life that his five children became accustomed to solving math and logic puzzles from a very young age. Sarah talks about growing up in this environment and includes a smattering of mind-bending puzzles, taken from her Father's collection, for the reader to solve. Then she goes on to explain the basic formulas and concepts behind modern cryptography. Although no math beyond algebra is needed to understand these mathematical chapters, I found that a good deal of effort and persistence is needed. I have a background in calculus, and I found it difficult to grasp the notations involved in cryptography, in particular. Of course, this is probably because I have no discernible talent at number theory. Sarah's explanations of the mathematics of cryptography are as clear as they could be, and her enthusiasm for her subject is infectious. After the mathematical chapters, she tells us how she came to choose and research her science project, her quest for an alternative algorithm, and of her experiences in showcasing her discoveries around the world. Sarah Flannery is, somewhat surprisingly, an engaging and fluid writer. To write such a readable book about mathematics is no mean feat. "In Code" is an interesting and engaging story of discovery. It is perfect for anyone seeking a basic understanding of the cryptography that we encounter in almost every home and workplace today. And it's a winning scientific adventure story that is bound to capture the interest of all the budding young scientists out there.
Rating: 
Summary: With plenty of math insights and theory
Review: In January 1999 a sports-loving teen from Ireland won the coveted Young Scientist of the Year award for her discoveries in Internet cryotography. Her discoveries earned her the acclaim of a mathematician at just sixteen: In Code: A Mathematical Journey tells how she moved from a family intrigued by math puzzles to a life involved in creating theories and tackling scientific challenges. Anticipate a personal biography juxtaposed with plenty of math insights and theory.
Rating:
Summary: A Girl's Guide to Cryptology and More
Review: Number theory is the branch of mathematics that deals with counting numbers, 1, 2, 3... Sarah Flannery, born in 1982, entered that world because her father was a mathematician. What happened to Sarah is that she entered the number theory and cryptology world at age 16 with a science project that was new and original, and was a challenge to the way prime numbers were being used in the most popular of encryption systems. She has written _In Code: A Mathematical Journey_ (Workman Publishing) about how this happened, and its aftermath (or After Math, as a final section of the book is called). It is a delight. It is a book of mathematics, it is true, but it is also an inspiring look at a girl who had an exemplary upbringing and a strong streak of intellectual curiosity. Central to Sarah's story is the blackboard in the dining room of her home. She grew up in the shadow of Blarney Castle, she and her four brothers raised by an independent-thinking pair of parents. At meals, the blackboard would be the focal point for discussion of puzzles. She gives plenty of these for the reader to work on. Some are familiar, like, "Given a five-liter jar and a three-liter jar and an unlimited supply of water, how do you measure out four liters exactly?" Some got into more difficult concepts: "How might you determine the average earnings of a group of people in a room (at a class reunion, perhaps) without any individual's divulging his or her salary?" This second puzzle gives a clue into getting information and hiding information, a theme throughout the book. (All the puzzles are left for the reader to work on, and such work will repay effort in understanding the book, but answers are given.) Sarah repeatedly and sweetly apologizes for digging deep into number theory; before explaining matrices, she writes, "I promise that from then on there will be no more explicit mathematics, only light explanations of mathematical ideas." The main mathematical parts of the book are restricted to two chapters which she invites those who just can't stand the math to skim, and then there are appendices available for those who want to learn more. Sarah's project explained how the most famous current encoding system works, but before she was done, she had invented one of her own. She explains both systems and a lot of number theory along the way. She tells about her interactions with the judges for the competition, and the pressures that eventually resulted in her winning a silver trophy, a cash prize, fame, travel, and interactions with the media. Her lively descriptions of what happened after the newspapers got hold of the story of the genius girl are among the most amusing parts of the book; she and her family turned down a contract with Pepsi, but she did help in an article about herself which appeared in the Spice Girls pop magazine. Here is a book full of mathematical ideas that are worth knowing about, and a bright, funny, modest young woman to lead us through them; Sarah denies that she is a genius, saying that she has met geniuses and that she does not have the spark that distinguishes genius from mere intelligence. Maybe so, but she is a likable author, and it is a delight to hear her describe with affection her parents who obviously know what they are doing. But perhaps the most inspiring part of the book is how well the mathematical community came together to nurture this newcomer. Time and again, experts who worked in the cryptology field were eager to help out. When it seemed that her new code system was patentable and might even make her a millionaire, Sarah got advice even from the mathematicians who might have shared in the bounty that, as one wrote her, "Mathematics should be above such mercenary nonsense!" Mathematical ideas should be freely shared by all, she agreed. It turns out that her system eventually proved vulnerable to attack, thus not quite as secure as the first system, but it doesn't matter. Sarah's book can easily be enjoyed by those who don't like math at all, and would be especially good reading for young people. It is full of happy discoveries in math, and discoveries about people, and it is wonderfully optimistic.
Rating:
Summary: A Family Story
Review: Prior to my daughters graduation and a vacation planned to Hawaii I picked this book up to read on the plane; not realizing how this book is about a father-daughter relationship. Sarah tells a fascinating story on how she was drawn to the topic of public key cryptography. There is some basic introductory mathematics that explains the mechanism behind public key crytography but nothing overly complicated. Sarah provides the point of view from a young adults perspective in very clear way. You soon realize that she has a solid understanding of the concepts involved. Great family photos of Mom,Dad and the kids helps get a better feel for her family life; this idea had to come from Dad. After reading this book all parents may want to consider having a blackboard installed in the kitchen. I await the next book hopefully written by her Dad on mathematical puzzles.
Rating:
Summary: How it feels to discover mathematics
Review: Rob Hardy's review does the best job of capturing this book. Although it does have a fair bit of technical detail that anyone can understand if they have the patience, the real charm of the book is Sara's enthusiasm, her descriptions of epiphanies, her reaction to contest stresses and contest judges, her bouts with keeping herself human. For someone interested in education or the growth of a young intelligence, this book is a wonderful refreshing look at what can happen.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read
Review: Sarah and her father do an excellent job of explaining modern cryptographic techniques in understandable terms. Although I have enjoyed cryptography and it's associated mathematics for quite some time, I can't wait for my wife to read this book so she can begin to understand why I get so excited over "number theory". Great job!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant book.
Review: Sarah Flannery does an amazing job with this book. As a female with an interest in math, it was a nice opportunity to read about a fellow female making some groundbreaking algorithims and at her age! The book revolves around how one like herself gets fabulously interested in math to begin with...via puzzles and the like. She is enthsiastic and very enjoyable to read. Even beginning mathematicians can enjoy the book and puzzles. For those who don't know, there is a more recent interview with her at the NPR website.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting and very readable.
Review: Sarah Flannery is a most remarkable young woman. The story of how she approached her mathematics project and how she was able to discover the Cayley-Purser algorithm is fascinating. Instead of giving the Reader's Digest version of the book, I will just say that she wrote the book in the same manner in which she approached her work, with a lot of vim and vigor. One can not but get excited with her as she felt her way through the mathematics and learn as she did, step by step the methods of cryptography. Not being one who is familiar with crytography per se but an amateurish afficionado of Number Theory, I found her explanations of the pertinent mathematics charming, refreshing and stimulating. Her intermittent puzzles were fun and illustrative. I recommend this for anyone wishing to inspire curious youngsters with mathematics. The only quibble anyone could have with this book is the honesty and naivete exhibited by young Sarah, but then again, that is what is so attractive about this gem of a book that stands out amongst the jaded sea of mathematics book being cranked out by authors too cynical to be excited by the mathematical ideas they are writing about. Be forewarned however, you must be atleast a bit amused by mathematics or you won't get the maximum pleasure out of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Entertaining!
Review: Sarah Flannery is a young girl who overcame all the odds and won international recognition at a young age through her amazing research in cryptography. This book, In Code, is not really about her research project (although I can see how some would be misled by the title). Instead, it serves as a charming account of her childhood and young adult life: some of the puzzles and problems she worked on, the things she was thinking while working on her research project, her reaction to success, and more. After finishing the book I felt as if I'd known Sarah Flannery personally. I found the riddles and puzzles sprinkled throughout the book to be very entertaining, and I learned a few things about mathematics I didn't already know while reading. The problems each served to show that even things that seem difficult can be very simple if you change your way of thinking. For me, the toughest part of working through the puzzles was resisting the urge to peek at the answers in the back of the book. What I most liked about this book is the positive role model it provides for aspiring young mathemticians, particularly girls (who have historically been underrepresented in the field.) Overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone who has any appreciation for a good puzzle. This book would also be good for parents of young children and older children who are interested in mathematics.
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