Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive indeed, but with a few faults
Review: I am in the midst of Kahn's 1000-plus page history of code at the moment, and so cannot provide a complete review here, but I'd like to offer an opinion that balances those of other contributors. Kahn's book is a compelling read, and clearly the product of exhaustive research. He initially captures one's curiosity with a gripping behind-closed-doors account of the days leading up to the attack at Pearl Harbor--an 80-page segment that moves quickly and confidently through a factual narrative rivalling the best war fiction. The next chapter retreats to a history of code and cipher, and this is where the trouble begins. While Kahn's research is superb, he gets bogged down in esoterica, and the book slows. The next several hundred pages are filled with great information, but there is little compelling narrative to drive the story along. Kahn opts instead to indulge in a detailed explanation of cipher--arguably essential to the later chapters--but serves up little of the immediacy and pace of the first chapter. In addition, he's not at all judicious with his use of superlatives; the writing is peppered with far too many statements like '...the most somberly prophetic in the whole history of cryptology'. Kahn hits his stride when he has a strong historical tale to structure his presentation. The descriptions of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scotts, and WW I, for example, are outstanding. If the book were pared down to this type of episode alone, it would be a 'cover-to-cover' experience. As it is, its extensiveness limits its audience to only those already enthusiastic about this arcane field. I came to the book intrigued by the secret goings-on conducted in secret writing, and am tempted to abandon it, or at least skim a generous portion.
Rating: 
Summary: Some commentators want a book different from this.
Review: I appreciate the chance to comment on the posted remarks. Michael Zoglio's comment, which I naturally think is fair, represents the view of the book held by most people. Mr. or Ms. Deak criticizes me for not writing a technical book. But The Codebreakers is a work of history. If Deak needs more instruction, he or she may look elsewhere. Deak criticizes my writing style. Yet one of the compliments that I treasure came from the writer Don Barthelme of The New Yorker, who said, after reading The Codebreakers for just a few minutes, "Well-shaped sentences." Chris from Tokyo accuses me of racism. I reject that. I indeed believe that Japan started the Pacific war, and in a sneaky way, but it is not racist to say that. Several reviewers want a revised edition, with the new material about World War II and about public key cryptography and computer cryptography injected into the older text instead of being appended as an additional chapter. I agree this would be more esthetic. But it would require a great deal of time on my part, which I would prefer to devote to writing new books -- and so perhaps would my readers. Moreover, a revision would require re-setting much of the text and re-paginating the book. This would raise its price, to probably about $100. I doubt that many of the critics would be willing to pay that for the integration of new material, and such a price would repel many new readers. It would make the best the enemy of the good. The Codebreakers is far from perfect. But some people have given it the greatest accolade that an author can receive: they have said that, by impelling them to go into cryptology, it changed their lives.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must For Cipher & Code Hobbyists
Review: I finally broke down and bought Kahn's THE CODEBREAKERS since it was generally recommended as *the* popular book on the topic.I have to say this recommendation is quite accurate, since it is highly comprehensive, at least up to the mid-1960s, and demonstrates an excruciating level of research. It is highly recommended for any cipher and codes hobbyist. Many reviews claim it has no technical content, but this is untrue, unless "content" is defined by the presence of formulas and mathematical analysis, which are absent from this book. While it undoubtedly does not provide much meat for a working modern cryptologist, it does have many useful descriptions of older cryptosystems and codebreaking methods. Anyone who has the 1960s edition does not need to get the 1990s edition, since the updates are minimal, apparently consisting of a single new chapter at the end, and the rest of the text appears to be entirely unchanged. Having said good things about THE CODEBREAKERS, I have to add two negative comments. This book has about 1,000 pages of text. It would be much more readable with about 500 and would probably lose no real information if it were edited down to that, since it is full of nitpicky biographical details of little obvious pertinence. Also, Kahn is not a particularly clear writer. Trying to figure out a codebreaking scheme from his text requires re-read after re-read. That is somewhat in the nature of the thing, but his explanations are also difficult to follow even if you are already perfectly familiar with what he is talking about, which suggests they are not as clear as they might be.
Rating:
Summary: The layman's standard reference on cryptology
Review: I first came across "The Codebreakers" in the original edition, published in the 1960s. It was a massive read, and one which I never finished in one sitting; however, a love of history, the romance of espionage and the fascination of working with mysterious information kept me going. It is a pleasure to see the book has been reissued. Kahn does not create a textbook for the serious cryptologist; such a work would be more mathematical in approach. What he does is give, from a layman's view, a good mid-level history of the art/science of cryptology. The first chapter, covering the cryptanalytic events of Pearl Harbor, brings you in; then he goes over the history of secret writing from the days of Egyptian hieroglyphics to roughly the present day. Interesting areas include the discussion of the European "black chambers" of the 1600s and 1700s, a good talk about how rumrunners in the Prohibition days used complex code/cipher combinations to thwart the Noble Experiment, and a highly entertaining chapter on the "ciphers" that proved Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's works. The updated edition falls short in its attempt at updating, which is why I don't give another star to the book. The discussion of cryptography in the world of the Internet is far too thin to satisfy. This, of course, could be a function of the beast; the Internet and electronic cryptology changes faster than any book could keep up with. In addition, information on the Enigma and other areas of World War II cryptology, declassified since the previous edition, could have been added to increase understanding of this critical time. However, the remaining "classic" text is still excellent, and has served as the layman's reference on cryptologic history for thirty years.
Rating:
Summary: Best book on the subject
Review: I highly recommend this book. It is an incredibly thorough and complete description of cryptology history. I disagree with some previous criticisms about writing style and racism. I do not find the style difficult in itself, there are maybe too much details given on every historical bits... but this may as well be appraised! I cannot find any racism in Chapter 1, describing the US deciphering efforts of the japanese exchanges just before Pearl Harbor. There are hints of the US (allied actually) superiority in cryptography, but this is a plain historical fact. There is a criticism of 1940's Japan, but I cannot find this objectionnable... (the same is true about Nazi Germany). I could find nothing in the book against Japanese people or today's Japan...
Rating: 
Summary: The most in-depth Crypto Book I've Read
Review: I was amazed at the amount of information that David Kahn put into this book. Originally written in the 60's, he updated the book about five years ago to include the internet and such. Eventhough this books is over 1,000 pages long, you will find it very interesting. Any aspiring tech guru, hacker, cryptologist, security agent (FBI, NSA, etc.), and the list goes on will love this book and it is definately a must read.
Rating:
Summary: The most in-depth Crypto Book I've Read
Review: I was amazed at the amount of information that David Kahn put into this book. Originally written in the 60's, he updated the book about five years ago to include the internet and such. Eventhough this books is over 1,000 pages long, you will find it very interesting. Any aspiring tech guru, hacker, cryptologist, security agent (FBI, NSA, etc.), and the list goes on will love this book and it is definately a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Not out-of-print or unavailble
Review: My previous review, "terrible prose," refers to the 1996 SCRIBNER edition. How can you assume, and incorrectly inform readers, that it refers to some other edition? The book has some excellent sections, but most of it reads more like a rough draft than a second edition. The pretentious style doesn't help, either. The 'notes', provided at the end (from page 989) do not refer to sentences, or even specific passages, but vaguely refer to page numbers.
Rating:
Summary: Good reprint of a classic, but not updated to 1990s
Review: The 1967 edition of this book is and always will be a classic. What a disappointment to find that this new edition offers such a poor updating of new information which has come to light over the last the 30 years. If the revelations of the 1970s about the Enigma decrypts and the Bletchley Colossus machines did not warrant at least a major chapter, what does? (They get only brief treatment in the new 15 page addendum.) Numerous other omissions come to mind. This book deserved better for its new edition
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive
Review: The Codebreakers provides an excellent thorough history of cryptography. (Keeping in mind that it was written in the 1960's.)
I tried to read this book straight through. In retrospect that wasn't the best idea. The writing is very dry. I got through it by stopping to work out the cryptographic systems described with pencil and paper. I guess I understand cryptography better but it took lots of paper and time (well that's cryptography for you;). Well actually I started skimming after a month of that so I didn't quite get through it. What I am trying to illustrate is that the writing is very dry. I'm interested in the subject and I had trouble slugging straight through. Be forewarned.
So what to say what to say? If it happened in cryptography before the 60's then its in here, or at least I don't know the subject well enough to notice omissions. If you are into cryptographic history then get your hot little hands on this book.
I recommend this book highly for university libraries (you need it) and maybe for some public libraries (just so someone can get to it with interlibrary loan). The Codebreakers is great as reference material. Anybody writing a paper on cryptography is going to want it if they are doing a good job with writing that paper. If you are the type of person who would benefit from owning such a reference then you already know who you are and you might just own this book already too.
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