Rating: 
Summary: A Clear and Concise Guide to Complex World of Cryptogrophy
Review: I became a fan of Singh when I read Fermat's Enigma and I believe he has outdone his previous work with The Code Book, partly because he has a deeper subject to mine but also because he has found a comfortable space in which to write. The Code Book is a wonderful tour of encryption, codes, and the importance of secrecy interwoven with seemingly well researched historical examples from Mary Queen of Scots to the Navajo Talkers. The book brings into great relief the important role encryption and particularly decryption play in world events, particularly wars. He offers sufficient examples and science to make the work informative but not so much as to overwhelm. This is "the book" we all find that displaces all others until we are finished. Good work.
Rating:
Summary: And easily read, informative history.
Review: Singh has put together a wonderful history of cryptography in this book. It includes examples and stories of the earliest, most primitive cryptography, to a discussion on what the future holds (e.g., the effect of quantam computers on code-making and -breaking). Most importantly, however, Singh has made this book very easy to read. Singh is a very effective teacher, breaking down the complicated aspects of cryptography into step by step processes, requiring a very limited background in mathematics to be understandable. Anyone curious about cryptography or espionage, or any other subject of that sort should make this book their starting point, from which they will develop a very good background for cryptography and cryptanalysis.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is an incredible book that speaks on all major subjects concerting cryptography. Buy it today!
Rating:
Summary: Another great popular science book from a succesful author
Review: Following his excellent book on Fermat, Simon Singh has done an excellent job writing a second popular science book explaining a complex mathematical subject, to laymen like me. The book tells the history of cryptology (the science of secret communication) from ancient time to the present day with a look into the future of the subject. Simon Singh takes a few detours into neighbouring subjects, such as the understanding of Hieroglyphs and the Rosetta stone and the Linear B greek writing. The book is written in a clear language, without any mathematical complexities (high-school math would suffice to understand it, and those who wish to understand more can go to the appendice to find more detail), covering the subject, and making for an easy and interesting reading. I like this book a lot - it presents the material in a readable and enjoyable way, making this scientific subject accessable to everybody.
Rating:
Summary: compelling, informative, possibly addictive
Review: Another book from Simon Singh that successfully combines history and mathematics. The Code Book delivers on its promise to tell the science of secrecy (secret messaging) from ancient times to the present. It does so in clear, understandable prose. The continual struggle between cryptographers (those encoding messages) and cryptoanalysts (those decoding them) engages the reader's interest and heightens intensity. A subject worth reviewing in present times, with the threat of terrorism and war in the air. The book includes some very specific mathematics, in easy to follow format. (I love math, but am quite rusty; I found this aspect refreshing because the author assumes we're all intelligent.) I almost took off a star, however, in my rating, because of the contest at the end of the book. About ten coded messages are given and the reader is invited to decode them and send responses to the contest address. After reading the book, I was so enthralled with the subject, that I immediately took up the challenge, cracked the first two codes in record time and then, buoyed by this success and feeling confident, worked through the night and day on the third code--totally absorbed. I forgot what day it was (it was Sunday and I missed church), I let my daughter fix her own meals (she's seven!)--and suddenly realized I would just have to put the book away and NEVER look at the contest puzzles again. I didn't take off the rating star, though, because I remembered in retrospect that the book includes a story of a man who likewise was consumed by a coded message he intended to decipher. So fair warning!! Enjoy the read, enjoy the challenge of the puzzles, be prepared to deepsix your copy to return to more mundane work and life!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction
Review: I picked up this book before a term in which I was planning to do a course in Cryptography. This book got me into the groove, so to speak. A very easy read and an excellent introduction to the field of Cryptography for the layman.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent look into the history of cryptography
Review: This is the most thorough and enjoyable book I've read on the history of cryptography. It's such an easy and captivating read, as entertaining as any novel. Singh also details the creation of public key cryptography and RSA ciphers. Included toward the end of the book is the idea of quantum computers. A must read. Also check out Singh's other book, on Fermat's Enigma!
Rating:
Summary: makes math exciting
Review: I've been interested in cryptography for a while, but always a little overwhelmed. A friend recommended this as an explanation of PGP; I was interested but sceptical. Mr. Singh blew me away. He has written an incredibly engaging book by combining the theory, practice, history and mystery of codes and code-breaking. It is an excellent introduction to cryptography. It starts with simple ancient methods and then explains their strengths and weaknesses politically and mathematically using historical examples. Then we learn more advanced methods with their reasons and histories. I was actually day-dreaming about being a mathematician. Who would have thought. Wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: It's a great book.
Review: I'm a software programmer and I enjoy reading scientific journals from time to time. This book combines both: deep scientific understanding of the problem and very nice style of describing complicated things in plain language.
I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: I didn't know what I didn't know
Review: Very interesting reading. I expected a book that would end with a basic lesson modern in cryptography, and instead got a wonderful history of all forms of secrecy and information hiding. The best part is that it was fun too! This book will interest amateur linguists, computer programmers, mathematicials, historians, and policitians. There's just so much perspective and insight here. The book gets a little slow at times, but if you make it all the way to the end you'll find your self equipped to talk about a whole range of topics you never knew existed.
| 
