Codes, Ciphers, Secrets and Cryptic Communication: Making and Breaking Secret Messages from Hieroglyphocs to the Internet

by Fred B. Wrixon

Covert communications have won or lost wars, exposed political intrigue, disguised secret religions and societies, and secured financial transactions. This immensely readable world history of clandestine communication--finally in paperback--includes illustrations, diagrams, and puzzles that instruct readers how to become amateur cryptographers. It's the last word on secret languages!

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Mathematics, Reference

704 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like the author did a huge mind map around the word code and decided he had a book. He skipped the part where you hone down to a story or theme. So this book covers everything from the genetic code, secret codes, invisible writing, braille and shorthand. It would have been much improved if he’d chosen to either go down the code / puzzle route - codes and other unknown writing such as hieroglyphics. Or down the secret route - codes and invisible writing, microdots etc. Because it covers so much it becomes uneven in content.
Also I get the impression that the author wondered into areas he didn’t know as much about. Some of the languages section seemed dodgy. I didn’t recognise what he was saying about runes which is a subject I have some knowledge of. Also the bit on sign languages for the deaf while possibly factually correct implies sign languages were imposed on the deaf.
My last issue was the author seemed to have no idea of what level of reader he was aiming at. For example some of the easy codes are explained in excessive detail, but as soon as he reaches the harder codes the explanations suddenly become a lot more technical.

[David W Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a class textbook and it became my favorite Cryptology book.

[Jerry Setty]

Imposing!
Technical!

[Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dont recomend if you dont like cyphers.

[VIXEN · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so glad to be done with that.