Codebreaking
‘The best book on codebreaking I have read’, SIR DERMOT TURING
‘Brings back the joy I felt when I first read about these things as a kid’, PHIL ZIMMERMANN
‘This is at last the single book on codebreaking that you must have. If you are not yet addicted to cryptography, this book will get you addicted. Read, enjoy, and test yourself on history’s great still-unbroken messages!’ JARED DIAMOND is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; and other international bestsellers
‘This is THE book about codebreaking. Very concise, very inclusive and easy to read’, ED SCHEIDT
‘Riveting’, MIKE GODWIN
‘Approachable and compelling’, GLEN MIRANKER
This practical guide to breaking codes and solving cryptograms by two world experts, Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh, describes the most common encryption techniques along with methods to detect and break them. It fills a gap left by outdated or very basic-level books.
This guide also covers many unsolved messages. The Zodiac Killer sent four encrypted messages to the police. One was solved; the other three were not. Beatrix Potter’s diary and the Voynich Manuscript were both encrypted – to date, only one of the two has been deciphered. The breaking of the so-called Zimmerman Telegram during the First World War changed the course of history. Several encrypted wartime military messages remain unsolved to this day. Tens of thousands of other encrypted messages, ranging from simple notes created by children to encrypted postcards and diaries in people’s attics, are known to exist. Breaking these cryptograms fascinates people all over the world, and often gives people insight into the lives of their ancestors. Geocachers, computer gamers and puzzle fans also require codebreaking skills.
This is a book both for the growing number of enthusiasts obsessed with real-world mysteries, and also fans of more challenging puzzle books. Many people are obsessed with trying to solve famous crypto mysteries, including members of the Kryptos community (led by Elonka Dunin) trying to solve a decades-old cryptogram on a sculpture at the centre of CIA Headquarters; readers of the novels of Dan Brown as well as Elonka Dunin’s The Mammoth Book of Secret Code Puzzles (UK)/The Mammoth Book of Secret Codes and Cryptograms (US); historians who regularly encounter encrypted documents; perplexed family members who discover an encrypted postcard or diary in an ancestor’s effects; law-enforcement agents who are confronted by encrypted messages, which also happens more often than might be supposed; members of the American Cryptogram Association (ACA); geocachers (many caches involve a crypto puzzle); puzzle fans; and computer gamers (many games feature encryption puzzles).
The book’s focus is very much on breaking pencil-and-paper, or manual, encryption methods. Its focus is also largely on historical encryption. Although manual encryption has lost much of its importance due to computer technology, many people are still interested in deciphering messages of this kind.
‘Brings back the joy I felt when I first read about these things as a kid’, PHIL ZIMMERMANN
‘This is at last the single book on codebreaking that you must have. If you are not yet addicted to cryptography, this book will get you addicted. Read, enjoy, and test yourself on history’s great still-unbroken messages!’ JARED DIAMOND is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse; and other international bestsellers
‘This is THE book about codebreaking. Very concise, very inclusive and easy to read’, ED SCHEIDT
‘Riveting’, MIKE GODWIN
‘Approachable and compelling’, GLEN MIRANKER
This practical guide to breaking codes and solving cryptograms by two world experts, Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh, describes the most common encryption techniques along with methods to detect and break them. It fills a gap left by outdated or very basic-level books.
This guide also covers many unsolved messages. The Zodiac Killer sent four encrypted messages to the police. One was solved; the other three were not. Beatrix Potter’s diary and the Voynich Manuscript were both encrypted – to date, only one of the two has been deciphered. The breaking of the so-called Zimmerman Telegram during the First World War changed the course of history. Several encrypted wartime military messages remain unsolved to this day. Tens of thousands of other encrypted messages, ranging from simple notes created by children to encrypted postcards and diaries in people’s attics, are known to exist. Breaking these cryptograms fascinates people all over the world, and often gives people insight into the lives of their ancestors. Geocachers, computer gamers and puzzle fans also require codebreaking skills.
This is a book both for the growing number of enthusiasts obsessed with real-world mysteries, and also fans of more challenging puzzle books. Many people are obsessed with trying to solve famous crypto mysteries, including members of the Kryptos community (led by Elonka Dunin) trying to solve a decades-old cryptogram on a sculpture at the centre of CIA Headquarters; readers of the novels of Dan Brown as well as Elonka Dunin’s The Mammoth Book of Secret Code Puzzles (UK)/The Mammoth Book of Secret Codes and Cryptograms (US); historians who regularly encounter encrypted documents; perplexed family members who discover an encrypted postcard or diary in an ancestor’s effects; law-enforcement agents who are confronted by encrypted messages, which also happens more often than might be supposed; members of the American Cryptogram Association (ACA); geocachers (many caches involve a crypto puzzle); puzzle fans; and computer gamers (many games feature encryption puzzles).
The book’s focus is very much on breaking pencil-and-paper, or manual, encryption methods. Its focus is also largely on historical encryption. Although manual encryption has lost much of its importance due to computer technology, many people are still interested in deciphering messages of this kind.
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Reviews
Easy to grasp, amateur-friendly, full of real-life examples of encryption and systematically surveys the main encryption methods in a fresh way. A lovely starting manual for any crypto novice.
Riveting. Dunin and Schmeh show us that we each have our own inner codebreaker yearning to be set free. Codebreaking isn't just for super-geniuses with supercomputers, it's something we were all born to do.
Cryptography is but a game of secrets - who better than a game developer to walk you through the science, art, and history of this remarkable field?
Two well-known code-breaking experts have joined forces and produced a book that takes a very practical look into how one solves historical ciphers, with a lot of useful theory along the way.
A comprehensive, yet accessible resource for a contemporary understanding of the past and present of codebreaking. The kind of resource that is useful for beginners, yet encyclopedic for more experienced readers.
Quite the best book on codebreaking I have read: clear, engaging and fun. A must for would-be recruits to GCHQ and the NSA!
The crypto explorer's Baedeker. It introduces you to a variety of both famous and lesser known cryptograms throughout time, while it guides you carefully through the various processes of unraveling their secrets.
An encyclopedia of practical code breaking with a variety of high-profile, real-life encrypted messages. It teaches everything from how to solve parts of the famous CIA <i>Kryptos</i> sculpture to encrypted prisoner messages and other crime mysteries. The book takes a firm position that such puzzles can actually be solved and decrypted, and provides expert guidance, methodology and examples. It is superbly illustrated and written, once you start reading, it is very hard to stop! It provides solid historical and cryptanalytic and linguistic background knowledge and it has great educational value.
Wow! A book that promises to break the code to codebreaking itself. For more than a decade, I led a team of experts trying to decipher the levels of meaning in the pop-culture works of Dan Brown. Through the publication of several such guidebooks, Elonka Dunin stood out as primus inter pares among our experts on codes. I am putting this book on gift lists for many occasions and for numerous people!
Another kind of Applied Cryptography.
Codebreaking is a remarkable treatment of the art of decoding of hand-created codes. Clear and conversational in tone, it transforms a sometimes daunting topic into an approachable and compelling story. Its comprehensive survey of manual codes and techniques for cryptanalyzing them is thoroughly illustrated with real historical examples, from the Voynich Manuscript to the Zodiac Killer's encrypted messages. An excellent book for starting a deep-dive into cryptanalysis.
Elonka and Klaus are two of today's leaders in the analysis of unbroken ciphers, and with their book, you'll have the tools to join them. Codebreaking: A Practical Guide is a fantastic resource that describes not only the means and methods to break what once were considered unbreakable ciphers, but also contains intriguing histories and tales of how they've used these tools to attack real-world ciphers that have held their secrets for years. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's interested in learning the combination of deduction, intuition and perseverance involved in codebreaking.
A treasure chest with a plethora of historical illustrations and photos chronicling cryptography dating from centuries ago all the way up to today.This is a great gift book for young and old, and a fitting augmentation to any library's collection.
Makes it easy for the reader to do a deep dive into the many codes and ciphers still unsolved. This is a fantastic guide to cryptography, Dunin and Schmeh do a masterful job of explaining most known methods complete with historical commentary.
A celebration of historical ciphers and codes - from how they work to how they can be broken. A gentle and enthralling introduction for the novice with scores of challenge problems, a guide for the student of classical cryptology, and a delight for the expert with dozens of unsolved problems to attack.
Qvjuh huqtydw jxyi reea, yj'i xqht je ijef coiubv vhec mhyjydw uluhojxydw yd syfxuhi! Vehjkdqjubo, Y qc qrbu je huiyij.
What a terrific cognitive romp through some of the most important cognitive puzzlers, challenges, sizzlers and stumpers throughout history, written by two of the brightest minds alive! Highly recommended for taking out one's aggression on cerebral challenges rather than, say, Twitter and Facebook friends. I cannot wait to curl up on the couch with this book and a strong cup of coffee.
Approachable, accessible, this book brings back the joy I felt when I first read about these kinds of things as a kid.
I hope this book will inspire more people to take an interest in the exciting hobby of cryptology. Well, at least that one prodigy who finally decodes the Voynich manuscript . . .
This is the book of my dreams: A super-clear, super-fun guide for solving secret messages of all kinds, from paper-and-pencil cryptograms to Enigma machines. With deep knowledge and skillful storytelling, Dunin and Schmeh capture the joy and power of codebreaking.
This brilliant, passionate, irresistible book has it all: twisty mystery, codebreaking, secrets, encrypted messages! What's not to love?
A hands-on, roller-coaster ride through the cunning world of ciphers and codes.
It was time for a book like this. This masterpiece is both an extension as well as a successor of the existing and nowadays partially outdated works about (unsolved) codes and cryptography - from Helen F. Gaines to David Kahn.
Takes a fresh approach to the art of codebreaking, providing many historical examples, each with a complete backstory. This book treats each cipher as a mystery waiting and wanting to be solved, and eagerly invites the reader to share in the excitement of cracking ciphers.
Essential reading for anyone interested in solving ciphers. Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh have well-established reputations as skilled writers about cryptology. This book excels, with over 100 examples of historical ciphers. Dunin and Schmeh explain how many were solved, while leaving others for enthusiasts to unravel.
I'll say it in cleartext: This is the most useful book on codebreaking you can have in your library.
If you ever wondered about secret messages on old postcards and tombstones, in newspapers and telegrams, or are fascinated with famous unsolved riddles like the Voynich manuscript and the Kryptos sculpture, this book is for you. Dunin and Schmeh are two internationally known experts on cryptology, and here they show you step by step how to crack codes and ciphers from long before the earliest radio transmissions and interceptions to long after the commercial union of military technology and entertainment in networked computing.
Cryptography can seem like a daunting subject, but in this book Elonka and Klaus have made it understandable, approachable, and most of all: fun! Filled with many real-world examples of the use of classical cryptography techniques, the book successfully conveys the authors' contagious passion for the art of uncovering hidden messages. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of applying the skills described in this book to unlock the mysterious secret messages. After reading this book you will be equipped with many tools to help you do it, too!
One of the most helpful guides outside the National Security Agency (NSA) to cracking ciphers. But even if you don't become a codebreaker, this book is full of fascinating crypto lore.
A wonderful mix of ciphers. Beginners will be hooked on exploring the world of encryption, and those who are experienced will find much that is new.
This book not only breaks down the art of codebreaking in a manner comprehensible to a layperson like myself, but it contextualizes it in a series of compelling vignettes; recounting encrypted secrets, schemes and mysteries woven into a history of human dramas, great and small. This combination of puzzle and story makes for an eminently devourable read!
If you're looking for a source book to learn the art and science of cracking codes, it's hard to find a better collection than the deep and well-documented collection in this book. The original cryptext is there along with the mathematical and practical tools for stripping away the layer of secrecy to read the information hidden inside.
A book with many interesting stories behind real historic cryptograms. These are clustered according to the ciphers behind. And the best thing: You are introduced to free and modern software to break them yourself.
THROW YOUR OTHER BOOKS AWAY! This book goes well beyond the "how" by including historical examples, practical attacks and challenges to solve. This high-quality cryptography resource is all you need to truly understand many ciphers.
Elonka and Klaus have created an incredible resource in this guidebook to codebreaking. In essence they found a code that needed breaking and solved it for us since a practical, up-to-date source like this did not yet exist. I cannot wait to use this book, not only to solve any cryptograms I might stumble across, but also to build new ones in my own works. An incredible, practical, up-to-date resource for codebreaking which has not existed up until now.
This is THE book about code breaking. Very concise, very inclusive, and easy to read. Good references for those who would make a code like Kryptos.
Pure genius meets joy in this truly one-of-a-kind compendium . . . This book will reward everyone from the curious novice to the invested researcher . . . all the while providing tools for readers to do their own explorations into the field.
A fun book telling the neat and weird secret histories, plus a practical guide to solving most any cipher. I wish that I had had a book like this back when I was in high school.
A fascinating glimpse into the world of ciphers, codes, and secrets. It works equally well as a primer for the novice and as a reference for the enthusiast. Nznmvat!
An inspiring, profusely illustrated encyclopedia of challenges, set in their original cultural and historical context. A delight for experts and beginners. A thoughtful workbook companion to David Kahn's classic, The Codebreakers.
Cryptography? Ciphers? I thought this would be an easy book to put down.
I was very wrong.
Fills a gap and is very welcome . . . Strongly recommended for anyone interested in classical ciphers.
A great resource for all types of codes and ciphers, and covers different parts of history and cultures with the respect that is deserved, including for Native Americans.
What could be more exciting, challenging, mysterious, and important in war than codebreaking? What could be a safer way to send a compromising message to your secret lover than to encrypt the message? If you already love spy stories and tales of business skulduggery in supposedly unbreakable ciphers, this is at last the single book that you must have. If you are not yet addicted to cryptography, this book will get you addicted. Read, enjoy, and test yourself on history's great still-unbroken messages!
I don't know if it's talent or genius . . . but these people are in a different world when it comes to good old logic and brains. It seems that codebreaking requires imagination, stamina and courage to follow its path to wherever it leads. Pure brilliance is barely enough to qualify for this gig. I could never decipher or encrypt anything in this category. I will never be solving cryptograms. But this book will take you on an amazing journey through an incredible maze. Darn exciting, I must say!
Filled with over 200 classic and little-known enciphered documents and puzzles, this book guides the reader through the underlying principles of encipherment, the principles and processes involved in deciphering, and the ultimate outcome.
A fascinating collection of the world's most interesting codes and ciphers and how to break them. Full of facts and fun. A must for anyone who enjoys solving quirky puzzles.
At last a comprehensive book guiding readers through the world of codes and ciphers. Lots of general information for the casual reader, plus plenty of worked examples for enthusiasts.
A practical and engaging guide to the codes and ciphers that have been used throughout history. The story behind a code is often as important and compelling as the code itself, and Dunin and Schmeh never fail to deliver with each one they examine.
A fascinating look into the hidden world of making - and breaking - secret codes and ciphers, filled with intriguing stories of urgent messages sent by criminals, spies, and even lovers throughout history.
Codebreaking: A Practical Guide is an extremely well-documented and enjoyable book written by Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh. The book provides an overview of all classical ciphers and explains with exemplary clarity how to solve them. Entertaining examples are given at each stage and challenges are presented to the reader. A long time has passed since we last saw a book dealing with the solving classical ciphers. This book is a must have in any amateur cryptographer's library. The historical perspective of the book is also extremely important as essential background to the rich history of our field for new students who will later specialize in the more mathematical aspects of modern cryptology. An excellent book!
The enthusiasm of the writing will likely pull the reader through the book . . . a good introduction to cryptology.
I dare you to find a more diverse, a more mind-blowing, a more intriguing collection of stories about codes and code breaking. This isn't just a book about cryptography and cryptanalysis, it's a fascinating glimpse into humankind's use of secrecy and deception to serve a variety of interests.
I have been a creator and solver of puzzles both virtual and physical my whole life, I even gave my wife a GPS-enabled puzzle box as a wedding present to lead her to our honeymoon. That being said, I could hardly imagine even approaching the problems Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh have tackled. Fortunately for my ego, there remain a few even Elonka has not yet solved. However, if you wish to start down the rabbit hole, there is no better place to start than Codebreaking: A Practical Guide. I even hear that there are a few other hidden secrets embedded in this book! Good luck!
Plainspoken and informative, Codebreaking: A Practical Guide shows the incredible depth of knowledge of the two authors while retaining a clarity most books of this sort have trouble duplicating. Both experts and novices will enjoy exploring the pages of this wonderful tome.
Best suited for those who want to read about codebreaking with actual examples. Many specimens with images, ranging from encrypted postcards to historical messages, are conveniently classified in chapters and their solutions are explained.
This is the book we've all been waiting for, a page-turner packed with intrigue and mystery - the first practical book on codebreaking for the digital age. Code experts and enthusiasts Elonka Dunin and Klaus Schmeh patiently explain the basic types of codes and ciphers, and how to detect which scheme is being used. Say you discover an aged letter covered with mysterious symbols tucked into an old book in the attic. An encrypted communication from a long-dead relative, no doubt. But what does it say? Fear no more. With over a hundred cloak-and-dagger examples, ranging from the Emperor Ferdinand II, the Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Habsburg in the 1640s; to the Zodiac Killer in northern California in the 1960s, this is what you need. What a great way to introduce a new generation to the romance of mathematics!