The Code Book

The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography

By: Simon Singh

Narrated by: Patty Nieman

In his first book since the best-selling Fermat's Enigma, Simon Singh offers the first sweeping history of encryption, tracing its evolution and revealing the dramatic effects codes have had on wars, nations, and individual lives. From Mary, Queen of Scots, trapped by her own code, to the Navajo Code Talkers who helped the Allies win World War II, to the incredible (and incredibly simple) logistical breakthrough that made internet commerce secure, The Code Book tells the story of the most powerful intellectual weapon ever known: secrecy.

Throughout the text are clear technical and mathematical explanations and portraits of the remarkable personalities who wrote and broke the world's most difficult codes. Accessible, compelling, and remarkably far-reaching, this book will forever alter your view of history and what drives it. It will also make you wonder how private that email you just sent really is.

©1999 Simon Singh (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"In a concise 10-and-a-half hours, this fascinating history of secret writing advances step-by-step from ancient hieroglyphics to the vastness of computerized encryption.... The narrative covers all the landmarks in the history of code breaking, the downfall of Mary, Queen of Scots and the capture of the Enigma machine most prominent among them. But even the most devoted thriller fan will learn something new from each chapter." (AudioFile)

Great overview of the history of cryptography and code breaking

The book handles this complex topic well and I thoroughly enjoyed learning how methods for protecting communications has evolved over time.

An Intriguing History Lesson on the Field of Cryptography!

This book is a fascinating exploration of the history and practice of cryptography, the art and science of securing information. I chose to read it because I wanted to learn more about how cryptography has evolved over time and how it is used in various fields and applications.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is how it shows the dynamic relationship between cryptographers and cryptoanalysts, who are both experts in breaking codes but have different perspectives and goals. The book describes how they often communicate with each other through puzzles, challenges, and games, creating a fascinating dialogue that reveals their personalities and motivations.
The book helped me understand how secrecy is essential for protecting national security, diplomatic relations, and personal privacy. It also showed me how cryptography can be used for both good and evil purposes, depending on who is using it and why. The book made me appreciate the complexity and diversity of cryptography as a discipline that has many implications for our society.
In conclusion, this book was a great introduction to cryptography for beginners as well as an enjoyable read for anyone interested in history, culture, or mystery. I learned a lot from reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to discover more about this fascinating topic.

D jrrg errn rq frghv << you can break this

A very informative read about the history of codes and cryptography through the ages. It delivers on exactly what it promises in a well explained and organized manner. It is part history and part explanations of techniques, I'd say 3/4 vs. 1/4 respectively.
Published in 1999 this book is getting a bit old but it is still remarkably current with a surprisingly good section devoted to quantum cryptography. (I hadn’t realized how far it had been developed back in 1999)