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.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasing Episode of Life's Journey
Review: Sarah Flannery's story, as set to words with In Code, is a delight to read. Besides her talent and perseverance that exceeds anything I was doing at that age, she's written a wonderful book, covering everything from the kitchen table brain teasers she was brought up on to her from-the-heart recounting of her first exposure to global fame, and with as much skill in authorship as she shows in mathematics. Despite the co-authorship, I think Flannery is primarily responsible for the writing here - it just reads too much like the heartfelt words of a teenaged girl to have received too much 'help' from outside. So what will you get from In Code? First is Flannery's childhood, with a math professor father who rears all of his children on puzzles and tricks and lessons in clear thinking. This is interesting on its own, and if you like math puzzles the early chapters are worth something on their own. From there we get a couple chapters on math, and number theory in particular. This is where we see a real talent for Explaining Math. In my case it's not a problem, but since this is not a textbook, Flannery does a wonderful job of presenting what needs to be said, reassuring the more timid reader that for the purposes of reading the book, following the details is not so important, and still conveying her enthusiasm. Moving into cryptography and her own project that won her such fame, we get to the heart of In Code. I can honestly state that I've never understood what public key cryptography is or particularly how it works. This section, more than any other, is why I've stated that Flannery can explain math. There's not much call for number theory in physics, so I actually learned something here. Finally, we get to hear of her contest entries, leading up to her awards and publicity, and also to learning that her Cayley-Purser algorithm turned out to be vulnerable. Since that fact didn't prevent Flannery from winning the European Union Young Scientist Contest, I won't let it prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this work. Whether you want to learn something about cryptography or just read an engaging story, In Code is a fine choice.
Rating:
Summary: Love, learning and crypto book
Review: Sarah wrote a very inspirational book about her project in cryptography which earned her the 1999 Ireland's young scientist award. Most of all I liked the passion and love shown in those pages, and how family love helps when endeavouring challenging projects. Sarah makes it simple and beatiful.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful!
Review: This book was such a delight to read! I'll admit, I am fascinated by mathematics, so it was right up my alley. But mathematics aside, it was still a refreshing read of stories of Sarah's youth and her family, and an entertaining account of her preparation and performance in competitions. I loved reading of how her father inspired her family to love mathematics through brain teasing puzzles and how she was enticed to want to learn more and more about the mathematics behind cryptography. She includes several puzzles that she enjoyed growing up, and those were very fun to figure out.
There are a couple chapters that are heavy on mathematics, but someone who does not enjoy this subject could easily skip over them and still enjoy the rest of the book without feeling as they are behind and in the dark. In this mathematical section she does a great job of "teaching" the concepts in a way that keeps the readers attention and curiosity peaked. I wish in my math classes I would have had a teacher with the same type of style rather than the dull non-exciting teaching that seems to be more typical!
She also gives some great history behind cryptography and the work that lead up to our cryptographic systems today. I learned quite a bit in that area.
I do recommend the book, especially if you have any type of interest in math or cyptography. It is not the dull dry read you might be used to in other math books. It is an honest account and journey told by a sincere and bright young lady. I've already passed my copy along to someone else to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Good narrative about Scientific Discovery
Review: This is a remarkable book about the process of Scientific Discovery. I'm not sure what drew me to this book in the first place, but once I started reading Sarah's story, I found it hard to put the book down. I liked how she explained the process of her learning about Cryptography, starting with simple Cyphers and working up to the RSA Algorithim. While the learning topic might not be one's particular area of interest, the process of gradually improving ones skill and revising and building upon previous bodys of work is something that anyone should take away from this book. The mathematical examples included were refreshing memories of my Mathematics courses taken in college, with one exception. I actually paid attention this time through. Happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring and encouraging book
Review: This is an inspiring book, telling the story of a young woman's introduction to, and enamourment with, of all things, mathematics. In an era where enthusiasm for the sciences is often seen as "uncool", it is delightfully encouraging to read the story of a family, and in particular the author herself, who understand both the value and the pleasure of such interests. The book balances two quite separate elements. On the one hand there's the story of how Sarah became interested in mathematics, did an interesting science project, and got a lot of attention when as a seventeen year old Irish girl she nearly invented a powerful new cryptographic system. On the other hand there's a very clear introduction to the mathematics underlying modern cryptography, presented using a range of interesting examples, puzzles and clear explanations. After an introduction to Sarah, her family, and the intellectual training methods of her parents, the first two thirds of the book focus mainly on the mathematical background, interspersed with regular anecdotes explaining how Sarah came to understand and use different skills and areas of knowledge. If you want an introduction to this area of mathematics you could do a lot worse than this book. The last third of the book focuses on how she did her science project, and what happened when she won a major prize in the annual Irish Young Scientist competition, including how she and her family dealt with quite unexpected fame and media attention. What is interesting is how seriously the Irish establishment and media seem to take these things. Finally a couple of appendixes present answers to the puzzles, and a few key pieces of mathematical background in more detail.
The book is co-written by Sarah's father David. He's a mathematics lecturer, and on the evidence of both the explanations in the book, and the way he inspired his children it appears he's a very good one. Between the father's very strong skills in presenting mathematics, and the daughter's refreshing simplicity and honesty about all that's happened to her, they make a very powerful team. I would definitely recommend this book to any youngster interested in the sciences, or any sort of academic endeavour. I'd also recommend it to older readers, an encouraging proof that such interests have not been entirely abandoned.
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring and encouraging book
Review: This is an inspiring book, telling the story of a young woman's introduction to, and enamourment with, of all things, mathematics. In an era where enthusiasm for the sciences is often seen as "uncool", it is delightfully encouraging to read the story of a family, and in particular the author herself, who understand both the value and the pleasure of such interests. The book balances two quite separate elements. On the one hand there's the story of how Sarah became interested in mathematics, did an interesting science project, and got a lot of attention when as a seventeen year old Irish girl she nearly invented a powerful new cryptographic system. On the other hand there's a very clear introduction to the mathematics underlying modern cryptography, presented using a range of interesting examples, puzzles and clear explanations. After an introduction to Sarah, her family, and the intellectual training methods of her parents, the first two thirds of the book focus mainly on the mathematical background, interspersed with regular anecdotes explaining how Sarah came to understand and use different skills and areas of knowledge. If you want an introduction to this area of mathematics you could do a lot worse than this book. The last third of the book focuses on how she did her science project, and what happened when she won a major prize in the annual Irish Young Scientist competition, including how she and her family dealt with quite unexpected fame and media attention. What is interesting is how seriously the Irish establishment and media seem to take these things. Finally a couple of appendixes present answers to the puzzles, and a few key pieces of mathematical background in more detail.
The book is co-written by Sarah's father David. He's a mathematics lecturer, and on the evidence of both the explanations in the book, and the way he inspired his children it appears he's a very good one. Between the father's very strong skills in presenting mathematics, and the daughter's refreshing simplicity and honesty about all that's happened to her, they make a very powerful team. I would definitely recommend this book to any youngster interested in the sciences, or any sort of academic endeavour. I'd also recommend it to older readers, an encouraging proof that such interests have not been entirely abandoned.
Rating:
Summary: Gobsmackification (p. 190)
Review: This is one heck of a good book. It is unusually well written for any book and exceptionally so for its genre. In Code is clear, informative and, as John Naughton (A Brief History of the Future) writes, it is "...engaging, almost playful." I hope I am a member of the Flannery's target audience. Although competent in basic mathematics and statistics, I know nothing about numbers theory and the other seemingly esoteric principles and concepts presented. Yet, for some time, I have been fascinated by information processing and cryptology. This book speaks to the reader as if (s)he were in a classroom with a gifted presenter as well as a gifted mathematician who, as we Americans say, "gets" the value of practical examples. Beyond the above, I am better able to practice my trade as a result of reading this book; that very seldom happens. I have an MA, am a member of MENSA and teach applied behavioral science in business settings. Among the subjects I address are problem solving and critical thinking. I am humbled by the use of puzzles to encourage thinking and inquiry beginning with Chapter 2. I wish I had David Flannery's gift of mentoring. I am revising my teaching to include as many individual and group challenging puzzles as I can get away with to accomplish what the Flannerys have done so admirably: teach in an applications-oriented, playful, genuinely enthusiatic and therefore memorable way. I take the word "gobsmackification" to mean something like "it hit me right in the chops." JBD, Folsom CA 8/4/2001
Rating:
Summary: Could not drop it till have read it all
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read -- I would compare the quality and flow to Dostoyevski's Brothers Karamazov. If you have some basic interest in math, the book becomes even better of a read. If not, it is still a great read on a young (an extremely attractive) girl's challenge with success and her feelings -- similar to Searching for Bobby Fischer. Way to go!
Rating:
Summary: Sweet, inspiring, stimulating read
Review: What can I say which hasn't been said already by my fellow reviewers! This is a heart-warming, mind-forming read of the first kind! I am writing this review as I prepare to read it for the second time in two years. This time I intend to solve ALL the puzzles and math problems, in a separate notebook. As a software programmer and math and cryptography aficionado, I have read Simon Singh's and Bruce Schneier's books, but I have never actually carried out any of the practical problems thereof other than in my head, skipping over most of the material I don't understand. Sarah Flannery's book has the advantage of being accessible and nicely graduated. To say nothing of the admirable human experience interspaced with the more intellectual stuff. I am giving this book away to all my nieces as they come of age 16! I am hoping they will obtain as much pleasure as I have from reading this uplifting, well-written story.
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