How to Tell a Secret: Tips, Tricks & Techniques for Breaking Codes & Conveying Covert Information

by P.J. Huff, J.G. Lewin

This book explores the ways and means of conveying secret information from antiquity to the present, including physical devices, codes, the mechanics of secret telling, and spy's tradecraft. "How to" directions and historical context are also provided. Although many examples from the military and spy agencies will be given (the authors will enlist the aid of historians at the National Cryptological Museum), the book will also cover the layman's use of technology, e.g., decoder rings and gadgets from movies and TV shows. A fun subject with broad appeal and a strong title for our popular history subject category.

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Bryan Whitehead · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Smithsonian book about codes and code-breaking is absolutely full of fascinating tidbits and entertaining anecdotes about the world of espionage. Unfortunately they’re buried under a thick blanket of some of the most poorly-edited text I’ve ever seen. The writing is choppy, the layout terrible, and in a few places glaring fact errors were missed. While I had fun with the trivia, I would have liked this a great deal more if the authors and their co-conspirators had put more work into it.