The Codebreakers: The Comprehensive History of Secret Communication from Ancient Times to the Internet
by David Kahn
book data
57 ratings,
4.16
average rating, 4 reviews
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published
December 5th 1996
(first published 1973)
by Scribner
binding
Hardcover, 1200 pages
isbn
0684831309
(isbn13: 9780684831305)
description
"Few false ideas have more firmly gripped the minds of so many intelligent men than the one that, if they just tried, they could invent a cipher ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 150)
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avg 4.16
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Those with interests in military history, game theory, math, linguistics.
This book contains some fascinating material. The opeining chapter is particularly gripping, dealing with the decryption of the Japanese diplomatic service's codes and ciphers during the run up to Pearl Harbor. The main plotline of the book follows the development of cryptology from antiquity up to the mid 1950's. The parts of this covering about 1300-1940 are very good.
Unfortunately, the beginning deals with some very arcane topics, like Hebrew lyrical poetry. The last few chapters...more
Unfortunately, the beginning deals with some very arcane topics, like Hebrew lyrical poetry. The last few chapters...more
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Read in January, 2003
A great history about codes. If you like puzzles, historical analysis, or strategy, this is definitely a book for you to read.
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06/27/07
Jonathan Katz
is currently reading it
been very interesting thus far...i think cryptology is really cool. this is on the history side, there is very little math in it, but that's okay. there is actually a very rich history in cryptology that came into bloom during the late 1500s to early 1600s, and is still being pioneered even today (esp. 1970s).
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Read in April, 2000
Fairly authoritative and certainly broad in scope.
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