Rating: 
Summary: Experience shows.
Review: A rewarding introduction to this unique and interesting discipline. Using working examples, related mathematics, and subject history, Dr. Hershey illustrates important aspects of effective crypto system design. Part of the how-to is to understand how-not-to and the text uncovers some subtle flaws in crypto design and associated consequences. Connections to other areas in communications engineering and applied number theory make the book valuable for a broad audience. The presentation is insightful, mature, innovative, and enjoyable. Certainly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Cryptography in a format that's understandable and fun
Review: Almost twenty years ago, I was a graduate student of John Hershey's. At that time, and in the classroom (and, oh by the way, the class began at 7:30 AM), John was a magnificent instructor, with an incredibly agile mind, who was able to make even the most bleary-eyed of us understand the basic concepts and complexities of cryptography. Reading this new book for the first time not only brought back the lessons that I'd learned in the classroom, but provided me with new insight and understanding of this subject that has become increasingly important with the ubiquitousness of data communications. Following the model of Nobel Laureate Richard Feynmann whose lectures and class notes provide a meaningful glance into the world of theoretical physics, John Hershey's lectures have been assembled and compiled for this book. "Demystifying Cryptography" provides a clear path for interested students to follow from the most basic introductory concepts to the highly complex topics covered in later chapters. Throughout the book, the explanations are both clear and insightful. The exercises provided at the end of each chapter provide even the most casual of reader with the opportunity to practice and master the concept addressed within the text. Understanding cryptography is a challenging task, even to the most dedicated and gifted student. But this book provides readers with the tools to accomplish that task, and it does so with clarity and simplicity. "Demystifying Crytography" is an excellent source of useful information. It's also a terrific intellectual workout. Like the subject matter itself, the material is challenging, but its mastery is both fun and rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: Experience shows.
Review: As an electrical engineer new to the subjects of cryptography and number theory, I found this book provided a solid introduction to the fundamentals of cryptography. John Hershey conveys the important subtleties and pitfalls essential to evaluating cryptographic systems. He lays out the basic paradigm and takes you step by step through the algorithms and mathematics in a straight forward easy to follow manner. By the end you will have acquired the tools necessary to understand more advanced cryptographic schemes. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to others interested in gaining knowledge about the inner workings behind today's cryptographic systems.
Rating:
Summary: Cryptography Demystified: Solid Introduction to Cryptography
Review: As an electrical engineer new to the subjects of cryptography and number theory, I found this book provided a solid introduction to the fundamentals of cryptography. John Hershey conveys the important subtleties and pitfalls essential to evaluating cryptographic systems. He lays out the basic paradigm and takes you step by step through the algorithms and mathematics in a straight forward easy to follow manner. By the end you will have acquired the tools necessary to understand more advanced cryptographic schemes. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to others interested in gaining knowledge about the inner workings behind today's cryptographic systems.
Rating:
Summary: Great intro to crypto!
Review: Cryptography Demystified is a great intro guide to cryptography, well worth its price.
Rating:
Summary: Cryptography Demystified
Review: Cryptography Demystified reflects refined and fundamental thinking in cryptography. Dr. Hershey's style is enjoyable without compromising subtle points in the field. The book is an excellent reference book or college textbook for teaching Symmetric and Public Key Crypotography. Also, Dr. Hershey's treatment of Channel-based Cryptography is quite amusing and a source for research topics.
Rating:
Summary: Cryptography Demystified
Review: Cryptography Demystified reflects refined and fundamental thinking in cryptography. Dr. Hershey's style is enjoyable without compromising subtle points in the field. The book is an excellent reference book or college textbook for teaching Symmetric and Public Key Crypotography. Also, Dr. Hershey's treatment of Channel-based Cryptography is quite amusing and a source for research topics.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: I took the author's graduate course on cryptography while this book was still in draft form. The material addresses the difficult and essential foundations of cryptography in a way that is accessible to people with a wide variety of backgrounds. Anyone interested in cryptography, from the computer enthusiast to the number theorist will enjoy and gain insight from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A book about Cryptography for everyone
Review: If you are looking to expand your mind, think about learning Cryptography. It is an excellent discipline to help you think in new ways. If you decide you want to learn Cryptography, this is the book for you. The book is written in modules, making it easy to digest. The book is equally suitable for a formal classroom or self-study environment. Using the book for self study is enhanced by the modular format, superb clarity of the teaching, the well-explained answers to the problems, and the appropriately injected humor. People that need to learn Cryptography will undoubtedly have this book on their shelf, whether they are an expert or beginner. I would like to speak to the people that don't need to learn Cryptography - this book is for you too, as you will enjoy learning the thought processes of Cryptography that will enhance your creativity in any field. This book is a gift.
Rating:
Summary: A book about Cryptography for everyone
Review: If you are looking to expand your mind, think about learning Cryptography. It is an excellent discipline to help you think in new ways. If you decide you want to learn Cryptography, this is the book for you. The book is written in modules, making it easy to digest. The book is equally suitable for a formal classroom or self-study environment. Using the book for self study is enhanced by the modular format, superb clarity of the teaching, the well-explained answers to the problems, and the appropriately injected humor. People that need to learn Cryptography will undoubtedly have this book on their shelf, whether they are an expert or beginner. I would like to speak to the people that don't need to learn Cryptography - this book is for you too, as you will enjoy learning the thought processes of Cryptography that will enhance your creativity in any field. This book is a gift.
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