Rating: 
Summary: Excellently Written Book
Review: Kudos to Singh-he wrote an excellent, relatively short book on what could be an incredibly confusing topic. There isn't too much math here, which can make the topic more difficult to understand. I'll admit, the last chapter is confusing (hey, it's on quantum theory, give the guy a break), but the writing style is superior to anything else that I've read on the subject (far better written, shorter, and more modern than David Kahn's 1100 page monolith). Definitely read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Good blend of light science and history.
Review: I consumed the book in two days. Very entertaining and a must read for anyone who is interested in crypto. Outlines nicely the ever changing lines of information security.
Rating:
Summary: A fastinating journey of cryptography
Review: I cannot put it down as soon as I started to read this book. The historical development of cryptography was presented in a highly logical and easy to understand manner. At each stage in history the problem facing codebreakers and codemakers are presented in such a precise way such that when the solution was described, you feel like you would have solved them by yourself. As in most of the problems, when the solution are found it makes the problem looks so trival that you do not understand why you stuck with it at the first place. The technical detail are interwoven with fastinating historical stories. You can read it as a novel or a collection of mind-boggling puzzles. As a person who loves solving puzzles, this is my first book on crytograpghy and it certainly raised my interest to read more about the topic.
Rating: 
Summary: SFBE UIJT CPPL
Review: This book is a eclectic mix of codemaking, codebreaking and the use of ciphers throughout history. For a beginner in cryptography, some of the technical stretches are a bit tough, but well worth the effort. I learned a lot from this book.The first 100 pages cover the history of (western) cryptography from ancient Greek steganography through the end of the 19th century with Marconi & the invention of the Wireless. In between, he speeds through Arab cryptanalysis (a real revelation to me), the Vigenere Cipher, the Great Cipher of Louis XIV (invented by the Rossignols and broken by Bazeries), Samuel Morse & the Telegraph (better communication needed ciphers), Charles Babbage, and the Beale Papers. The author gives equal respect and technical coverage to both the cipher 'creators' as well as the cipher 'breakers'. The next 200 pages cover 20th century topics, events and famous characters in cryptography. The Enigma Machine/Code -- designed by the Germans, then cracked by Poland (Marian Rejewski) on the eve of the German invasion; refortified by the Germans, then cracked again at Bletchley Park during WWII by a wondrous team, including Alan Turing. The Zimmerman Telegram and the Navaho Code Talkers each receive very nice treatment. Even the history of the decipherment of Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Linear B (both, as it turns out, 'phonetic' codes) receive technical treatment. Singh rounds out the historical discussion with the discoveries (or re-discoveries) of 'key exchange' by Diffie-Hellman-Markle, and complex cryptographic systems like DES and RSA encryption architecture. Phil Zimmerman and PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) rate more than a dozen pages, bringing the book right into the Internet age. The author concludes with a discussion of the Future of Cryptanalysis and Quantum Computing (including a brief tutorial on Quantum Physics for Dummies). The book has swell appendices, a glossary, a comprehensive bibliography and an index. The author generously points the reader to David Kahn's mammoth 1200-page The Codebreakers as an "invaluable resource" (pretty classy stuff).
Rating:
Summary: The math of codes is made easy...
Review: Published by Doubleday in 1999, this is an informative book that looks at the evolution of secret writing, from the time of the ancient Greek military codes, right up to our computer-age adventures in privacy and security on-line. A number of interesting code-busting tales are related in eight chapters. Among the chapter heading are: The Cipher of Mary Queen of Scots, The Mechanization of Secrecy, and Cracking the Enigma. Anyone interested in computer privacy, identity theft, government or corporate snooping and the like, will find a lot to think about here. The author, Simon Singh, is worthy of note, too. He has a Ph.D. in physics, and he is a former BBC producer. Singh, also directed a documentary shown on PBS's "Nova" series about Fermat's Last Theorem. Singh, is also the author of the book "Fermat's Enigma". At some points the book gets too elementary. Apparently, the author and the publisher are attempting to appeal to the widest possible audience, ... Simple, obvious points are sometimes pedantically repeated, while repitious, step by step exposition of obvious points occasionally becomes tedious. Don't be put off, though. Despite the obvious fine grinding of the normally chunkey subject matter, for the delicate digestion of students with hyphenated majors and Hollywood hedonists, this is a good read. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition
Rating: 
Summary: OK code book
Review: If you know the history of how codes (and cyphers) were constructed and deconstructed then this is an interesting review of their history. The author is not really clear on some of the details and, in the final chapters, is obviously in way over his head. It's OK but I'd get it out of the library or read a review copy. I don't have it in my library anymore.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and challenging overview of cryptography
Review: This book is a joy to read. It contains a thorough chronological overview of the history of codemaking and codebreaking. Included are numerous exercises for the reader, not least of which is the 'code breaking challenge', which was solved last year but which is still very interesting to try. Singh is very good at writing this type of text, as was already demonstrated by his other book 'Fermats last theorem'. Both books succeed at popularizing the scientific enterprise, and demonstrate that it is possible to explain higher math to the layman.
Rating:
Summary: There are books, and there's The Code Book
Review: Reading a book about cryptography over a weekend that was relegated to the recycle bin thanks to an annoying bout of flu was not something I expect to dream about, leave alone end up actually doing. Well, read that book I did. And how. Friday night through Tuesday morning I looked like a law student cramming for a bar exam, except I was enjoying every moment of it. Rhetoric apart, The Code Book, a well-written chronology of cryptology, is one more of those excellent near-fiction but non-fiction reads on the market today. Simon Singh's alternative profession as a PBS documentarian is betrayed as the book unfolds almost like a televised series on the evolution of cryptography and cryptanalysis. Singh unearths some intriguing stories involving the Queen of Scots, World War II, Hitler, Navajo Indians, and asymmetric key cryptography. The intriguing but heavy social aspect of cryptography is clearly surfaced and is something that is bound to keep the reader thinking about. In summary, this is a reasonably easy read aimed at the average inquisitive reader but there are enough technical details to keep the "power readers" satisfied. In one line: a highly recommended read for anyone who can hold up a book and turn pages.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This is a fascinating history of cryptography and cryptanalysis. Simon Singh has a brilliant talent of bringing numbers and letters to life, concentrating on the stories of brilliant minds, in war and peace, who in their lives contributed significantly to secret writing.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkably easy to understand
Review: The author has done the impossible. He's taken a complex subject and explained it in a clear and often entertaining way. At the same time, he did not oversimplify or water down the material. It has as much information as a textbook, yet I found myself reading it as if it were a novel. If it were possible to give more than 5 stars I'd do it without hesitation.
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