by Simon Singh
First published 4200
From ancient Rome to World War II, this gripping tale charts the evolution of cryptography. Follow the ingenious codemakers and codebreakers who used cunning and intellect to hide—and uncover—the most closely guarded secrets. With each advance, the stakes grow higher: power, revolution, even life or death. But at the heart of this high-stakes game lies a timeless human need to communicate in confidence.
Genres: science, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, history-of-science
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, informative
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
432 pages · Paperback · Vintage