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Chapter 3: This chapter gave a decent explanation of the mechanics of the Enigma machine, though I found it easier to follow The Code Book. It does explain the method of finding repeating loops within the first elements of a ciphertext from the knowledge that the first three letters should be repeated. This was a major flaw in the German implementation that the Polish codebreakers were able to exploit.

Chapter 2: "Replicators"
This is a well crafted essay on the genesis of "life" on Earth. We like to assign names to abstract things, but Dawkins argues that the semantics don't matter so much as the concept of complex organic compounds emerging from relatively simple initial conditions. The best hypothesis we have today says that life started from a few amino acids and evolved via errors in their replication.

Chapter 2: "The Nature of the Beast"
Finally, some good crypto talk. Machine ciphers - Enigma, "Red", and "Purple" - are discussed with particular attention paid to the method of codemaking performed by the Japanese. They were more apt to use code books since they have so many more symbols than the 26-letter alphabet. Similar methods for cracking a Vigenere cipher could be used to crack the Japanese code books.

Chapter 1:"No Good, Not Even for Intelligence"
I have to do something that I've never done with a book before. After suffering through the tedium of insipid historical facts strewn together in the most convoluted of fashions, I must skip this chapter. There is simply no story being told, just facts. It's 1943 in one sentence, 1913 in the next, and back to 1929 in the next. I'm skipping to the cryptography talk.

Chapter 1: Why are People?
Dawkins defines the terms altruism and selfishness as they apply to biology. Also, he elucidates his main argument presented in the book; that not only do organisms act in their own best interests, but specific genes are driven by their own desire to survive. I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter which will clarify the premises for this argument.

Prologue: Midway.
A bunch of history is jammed into the first few pages making it hard to follow. There isn't a lot of cryptanalysis discussed, but there is mention of the Japanese cipher machine (aka Purple). Despite the detailed discussion of key attacks in 1942, I can't say I'm excited by the intro. Get to the crypto already!

Sagan uses some great bits of rhetoric in his call-to-action for scientific literacy. It's difficult to come across as respectful while demonstrating to somebody that their deeply guarded beliefs are flawed. Rhetoric helps, so long as it carefully implemented.

Interesting history of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), its legalese and societal questions surrounding the human right to cryptography. There are a few things that I would like follow up on, as this book was published at the end of the last millenia. Are there still security strength restrictions on cryptographic software exported from the US? What effect has 9/11 had on the wiretapping policies of government agencies?

Great account of the discovery of public-key encryption highlighting the contrast between the secrecy of military research and collaborative nature of academic research.

I just finished the fascinating segment on the contributions of the Navajo code talkers in the second world war. Also, I gained a much better understanding of how the Enigma machine worked. I want to build one! Simon Singh may be my new favorite author, he explains complicated topics like cryptography in a way that is easily accessible to anyone with a cursory understanding of logic, puzzles and problem-solving.

Can I quote the entire second chapter? Pure eloquence and a fantastic attention to diction on display by the legend himself.

I can't help but read this in my best Sagan voice; articulating key words and shaking or nodding my head every so often.

This book is excruciating. That is all

The casino chapter was a little hard to follow in spots as Oulette tries to jam too many numbers into one paragraph (and I actually love math). However, the chapter on epidemiology and virus outbreaks is absolutely delightful. I love this writing style, where historical anecdotes are peppered with analysis linking two ideas together.

Holy crap! I never realized that Oulette, @JenLucPiquant, was Caltech physicist Sean Carroll's wife until I read the intro. As someone who has long said that the US educational system is in dire need of real life examples to incite scientific curiosity in youths, I am excited to read this. Oulette hits me in my anecdotal sweet tooth right off the bat with a reference to Archimedes' death and discussion of infinity.

So many characters to keep track of. The only thing I've taken away from the first 25 chapters is that this is a Russian soap opera where they speak French.

Holy hell does this guy need an editor that will show up to work. Numerous grammatical errors disrupt the flow of the first edition. I almost want to return it to the library and look for a later edition.

Fantastic read on our growing obsession with time management, multitasking and the quickening pace of our daily lives.