An Introduction to Information Theory: Symbols, Signals and Noise [Paperback]

John R. Pierce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1980

Covers encoding and binary digits, entropy, language and meaning, efficient encoding and the noisy channel, and explores ways in which information theory relates to physics, cybernetics, psychology, and art. "Uncommonly good...the most satisfying discussion to be found." — Scientific American. 1980 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; 2nd Revised ed. edition (November 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486240614
• ISBN-13: 978-0486240619
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence > Theory of Computing
  • #4 in Books > Education & Reference > Education > Questions & Answers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still the place to start, November 14, 2000

By 

Ken Braithwaite (inkster, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Information Theory: Symbols, Signals and Noise (Paperback)

Although old this is still the best book to learn the core ideas of this subject, especially what information "entropy" really means. I read Ash's book, and followed the proofs, but I didn't really grasp the ideas until I read this.

The book is geared towards non-mathematicians, but it is not just a tour. Pierce tackles the main ideas just not all the techniques and special cases.

Perfect for: anyone in science, linguistics, or engineering. Very good for: everyone else.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Gem, October 11, 2002

By 

Clark M. Neily (Allston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Introduction to Information Theory: Symbols, Signals and Noise (Paperback)

Claude Shannon died last year, and it's really disgraceful that his name is not a household word in the manner of Einstein and Newton. He really WAS the Isaac Newton of communications theory, and his master's thesis on Boolean logic applied to circuits is probably the most cited ever.

This is the ONLY book of which I am aware which attempts to present Shannon's results to the educated lay reader, and Pierce does a crackerjack job of it. Notwithstanding, this is not a book for the casual reader. The ideas underlying the theory are inherently subtle and mathematical, although there are numerous practical manifestations of them in nature, and in human "information transmission" behavior. On the other hand, this is a work which repays all effort invested in its mastery many times over.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Introduction, April 13, 2000

By 

Chris McKinstry (South America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Information Theory: Symbols, Signals and Noise (Paperback)

Though first printed in 1961 and revised in 1980 this is the best introduction to information theory there is. Very easy to read and light on math, just as an introduction should be. I expect it will be in print for a very, very long time.