The Code Book
The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
by Simon Singh
Recommended by Linda Xie and Stephen Kinsella
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Should I read this?
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Network Security, Cyber Security, and Cryptography.
In his first book since the bestselling 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, t...
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Why recommended
Recommended by 2 sources and appears in Network Security, Cyber Security, and Cryptography.
Recommended by notable people
People and public figures who have recommended this book.
Recommendation Signals
Recommendation proof is sourced from public posts, interviews, reading lists, and cited references.
Linda Xie
“@gavreilly @SLSingh Love that book | Adding some history of science and tech books that I enjoyed this year: Skunk Works The Code Book How Music Got Free The Infinite Machine A Crack in Creation Working in Public No Filter Super Pumped Losing the Signal Autonomy How Innovation Works”
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Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Complexity by Roger Lewin. Recommended by 3 sources.
“Roger Lewin writes in an accessible, narrative-driven style that surveys the rise of complexity across biology, physics, and computation. What works best is broad synthesis—Lewin stitches stories, models, and historical episodes into an intelligible map for curious, science-literate readers. Main limitation: depth varies; technical passages and metaphor-heavy sections coexist, so the book won't satisfy those wanting rigorous math or step-by-step methods. Some case studies and examples can feel dated, reducing immediacy for readers seeking current follow-ups.”
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Each recommendation is collected from a public source — interviews, articles, or curated lists — and linked to its original URL. Books with many verifiable recommendations from respected people rank higher.
The Code Book
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