Codebreaking: A Practical Guide

by Elonka Dunin, Klaus Schmeh

A practical guide by two world experts to codebreaking and solving cryptograms. There are tens of thousands of such cryptograms, both modern and historical, many of which remain unsolved. The guide is complemented by both success stories and details of unsolved encryption mysteries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Programming, Technology, Reference, Computer Science

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's Get Cracking

If you're looking for a book that combines the thrill of hacking with the intellectual stimulation of mathematics, then this the book for you. This is a book that doesn't shy away from complex topics but is accessible enough for anyone to understand.

Dunin's book provides readers with an eye-opening insight into the world of cryptology and cryptography. She explains how patterns and codes are made and how they can be cracked. The book is filled with interesting examples and historical anecdotes, making it an engaging read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Although it's a substantial book, with lots of technical detail, it's written in an engaging way that makes it an easy and enjoyable read. Dunin is a great author and her passion for the subject matter shines through on every page.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in cybersecurity or mathematics. Whether you're a professional in the field or just a curious reader, it is an informative and entertaining read that will leave you wanting more.

It's an excellent resource for those looking to dive deeper into the world of cryptology and cryptography, and Dunin's writing style makes it accessible to all readers.

4.4/5

[David Thornley · Rating 4 out of 5]

To make it clear, I love codes and ciphers. The author has taken a tour of various systems, pointing out strengths and weak points, and suggestions on breaking them. There are sample cryptograms to try to solve. However, what makes the book so interesting is the large number of real-life cryptograms that we see. This includes relatively well-known ones like the Zodiac ciphers (from a serial killer) or the Kryptos problems on sculpture outside the National Security Agency headquarters, and unknown ones that cropped up on a wide-ranging German blog. Some are solved, and some are not.

If the book had been delayed a little longer, it would have presented the Zodiac ciphers differently. In the time between when the authors were finished with it and when it reached the public, the author, along with blogger Klaus Schmeh, solved the second Zodiac cipher.

[Evan Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, fun and challenging.

This book looks like a beast when you pick it up at over 400 pages, but the way the authors have broken it each chapter up into and explanation, how to use a type of encryption, how to break said encryption, success stories, the challenges is very smart!

That strategy makes every chapter feel like 4 mini stories.

Then by the end of the chapter you feel empowered to tackle some other ciphers on your own.

Overall a book that has the power to surprise and delight.

[Liza Konovalova · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in cryptography and you want to actually learn how to solve cryptograms, read this book. That said, this is the first book of this kind I read and definitely colors my perception of it.

I liked how applicable this book is but it does end up a bit dry. I had trouble concentrating on it for long and it took me a while to get through it.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read! This is a book I plan to go back to and try the challenges when I have a clear head and some quiet time so I can do some of the challenges.

[Carol & Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF but very interesting topic.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, but I was hoping for more historical background about various codes and codebreaking. It was more of a technical, how-to manual.