Cryptanalysis: A Study of Ciphers and Their Solution

by Helen Fouche Gaines

Book Overview

Gaines's Cryptanalysis (formerly published as Elementary Cryptanalysis ) is a standard elementary and intermediate text for persons seriously interested in modern science methods for enciphering and deciphering cryptograms. It does not simply repeat older material, but contains much about modern cryptanalysis that is not generally known except to experts. It is especially strong in modern forms of cipher solution. This clear and thorough text also...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486200973
• ISBN13: 9780486200972
• Release Date: April 1989
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

absolutely essential

This appears to be a reprint of the little book by the same title that utterly consumed me, probably for hundreds of hours, in the 1970's. It was old then, and looks even older now. And yet, pushing letters around on a page is timeless. It's laughably low-tech and yet, utterly modern, all at the same time. Some of the tricks and techniques described are so profound and clever, they are reminiscent of calculus in how they demonstrate the power of the well-applied human mind. This book can be an absorbing hobby all by itself. Plus when I found a coded note written by some girls in my junior high school, I was able to read it...

Best Book for Manual Ciphers

As a former codebreaker with the ASA/NSA during the VN war, I often found it helpful to have a copy of Helen's book handy, and spent many enjoyable hours solving the sample ciphers provided. This valuable book not only describes many historically significant encipherment methods, but also goes into detail about how to break them. Afficianados of manual ciphers might also wish to contact others with similar interests and can do so through the American Cryptogram Association at www.cryptogram.org.

Best source for pre-computer decryption techniques.

I bought this book over 40 years ago... It is, by far, the best book for pen-and-pencil cryptogram solving that I have found. It gives sufficient information to allow attacking any pen-and-pencil cryptogram. If it is followed by Bauer's "Decrypted Secrets," one would have a very thorough introduction to methods of solutions (Bauer is quite mathematical, but also recommended to the mathematically inclined). An excellent introduction with a great deal of useful information that is probably the best available source for pre-computer techniques.

A great introduction to classical cryptography

I bought this book after becoming interested in cryptanalysis from reading The Code Book By Simon Singh. Wow! This book is chock full of information considering its age. Not only does it give great analyses of classical ciphers, it has loads of useful information about various languages in the appendix. This data is indispensable when trying to crack a cipher. Loads of solved exercises complete a very enjoyable book that will suck many hours of your time if you're interested in cryptography at all.

fantastic instructional manual for classical ciphers

Simply the best manual for learning basic cryptanalysis of classical ciphers. Very easy on required math knowledge (unlike many of more recent books!) If you really want to learn a working knowledge of ciphers and cryptanalysis this is the book!