Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Denise Sutherland (Author), Mark Koltko-Rivera (Author), Christopher L. Hodapp (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Computers) | Publication Date: November 2, 2009

The fast and easy way to crack codes and cryptograms

Did you love Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol? Are you fascinated by secret codes and deciphering lost history? Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies shows you how to think like a symbologist to uncover mysteries and history by solving cryptograms and cracking codes that relate to Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and other secret societies and conspiracy theories.

You'll get easy-to-follow instructions for solving everything from the simplest puzzles to fiendishly difficult ciphers using secret codes and lost symbols.

• Over 350 handcrafted cryptograms and ciphers of varying types
• Tips and tricks for cracking even the toughest code
• Sutherland is a syndicated puzzle author; Koltko-Rivera is an expert on the major symbols and ceremonies of Freemasonry

With the helpful information in this friendly guide, you'll be unveiling mysteries and shedding light on history in no time!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Solve compelling and challengingpuzzles to uncover secrets andconspiracy plots

Fascinated with the culture of conspiracy? Uncover the mysteries and test your knowledge of secret societies by solving cryptograms and deciphering codes that not only unveil historical fact and fiction but entertain you as well. Walk in the footsteps of a symbologist by solving everything from the simplest puzzles to fiendishly difficult ciphers, using secret codes and lost symbols.

• Think like a symbologist — discover a variety of codes and wordplay and the strategies for solving each one
• Build your code-cracking skills — work your way from solving simple cryptograms to difficult Masonic and double level ciphers
• Uncover a bigger mystery — use the answers you discover to solve three conspiracy stories contained in the book
• Appreciate the history of code and encryption — reveal the secret world of Freemasonry, the Illuminati, and the Knights Templar
• Check your work — find hints and answers for all the book's puzzles

Open the book and find:

• Over 350 handcrafted cryptograms and ciphers of varying types
• Tips and tricks for cracking even the toughest code
• An introduction to the history and relevance of using code
• Puzzle strategies and hints to help nudge you in the right direction
• Fun and intriguing anagrams and story wordplay puzzles
• Fascinating number ciphers that reference the keypad letters on your cellphone
• Puzzles of all levels: Easy, Tricky, and Treacherous

Learn to:

• Expose conspiracies like the characters do in Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
• Decipher cryptic puzzles
• Understand the role coded messages play in secret societies
• Use encrypted alphabets to unveil secrets of the past

About the Author

Denise Sutherland is a syndicated puzzle author. Her puzzles appear in a range of publications, including the Reader's Digest Mind Stretchers series, and she is the author of Word Searches For Dummies.

Mark E. Koltko-Rivera, PhD, is a 32degree Freemason and expert on the major symbols and ceremonies of Freemasonry. Using this expertise, he analyzed prepublication clues to uncover and blog about key elements of The Lost Symbol. He co-hosts the weekly podcast Masonic Central.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470591005
• ISBN-13: 978-0470591000
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Logic & Brain Teasers
  • #100 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Logic & Brain Teasers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what you might think, October 22, 2010

By 

Johnbo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

I purchased this book looking to get something that would give me basic understanding of many different types of codes and cryptograms. But what I ended up with instead was more of a workbook made almost entirely of puzzles using various different cryptology methods. Out of 336 pages, there are exactly 37 pages on history and code descriptions. The rest of the book consists of puzzles that have to be figured out by using what was written in the first two chapters.

If you are wanting something simply to add to your collection of sudoku and crossword books, you might enjoy this for a decent mental workout. But if your goal is to learn a little something about all the different codes that are out there, you may wish to look somewhere else.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, November 13, 2009

By 

N. Coleman (Annapolis, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book. I bought it so I could write messages to my students in code and found that it is sooo much more. It is very easy to read and really hooks you in right from the beginning.

There is a lot more to this book than first glance. It explained a lot about how to do codes & cryptograms and write them as well for me (at a beginners level), but it was also really interesting for my husband who has studied formal logic & loves these sorts of brain twisters.

This one is worth buying - I'm thinking of buying another one so we aren't fighting all the time over who gets to read it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking Codes & Cryptograms for DUMMIES, November 17, 2009

By 

David S. Brockman "Choklittshipp" (Clarksville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking Codes and Cryptograms For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

Having read "Cracking Codes and Cryptograms for Dummies" I believe that the book has a great deal of historic information. It also gives a lot of general information on how ciphers are made and used from when to now. The book also has a large amount of practice ciphers to help with understanding. I found the book to be extremely enlightening and would recommend it for anyone interested in cryptology.