The Code Book by Simon Singh tells the history of cryptography, from the first substitution ciphers used in ancient Rome all the way to modern-day ones used in websites and mobile apps. Along the way, it describes the situations these ciphers were used in, and the exhilarating and harrowing situations in which they were cracked and deciphered. You learn the ins and outs of the history of cryptography, all in an easy to read and digestible format. Throughout the book, Singh describes each cipher, its history, its applications, and its downfall without getting into complex mathematical formulas and equations, and even provides step-by-step instructions to follow along and challenges to tackle on your own before continuing to the next chapter.
The Code Book is an excellent treatise on the essence of cryptography. One example that comes to mind is the development of the German Enigma machine. It turns out that the Enigma wasn’t developed for the purposes of World War II but rather as a commercial product by an entrepreneur for businesses to use in their communications. Not only that, the story of how it was ultimately cracked spans multiple countries and at least a decade, making for an intense plotline with multiple twists and turns, all expertly crafted and described. This book is quite an engaging read. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Nitin S., 12th