The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages: An Illustrated Guide to Signs, Symbols, Ciphers, and Secret Languages - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0520260139 ISBN 13: 9780520260139

Publisher: University of California Press, 2009

Synopsis

The art of the code—code making and code breaking—remains shrouded in mystery and seems locked away in the murky realms of military intelligence, spies, and secret services. Yet codes affect virtually every area of our lives, providing security, protecting identity, and enabling us to connect via the Internet across global boundaries. This lavishly illustrated encyclopedia surveys the history and development of code making and code breaking in all areas of culture and society-from hieroglyphs and runes to DNA, the Zodiac Killer, The Da Vinci Code, graffiti, and beyond. Beginning with the first codes, including those found in the natural world and among ancient peoples, the book casts a wide net, exploring secret societies, codes of war, codes of the underworld, commerce, human behavior, and civilization itself. Editor Paul Lunde and an extraordinary group of specialists have compiled the most comprehensive and complete collection of codes available. Visually stunning and packed with fascinating details, The Book of Codes tells the complete story of codes at a time when they have become fundamentally important to our lives.

About this title

About the Author

Paul Lunde is the author of Islam: Faith, Culture, History and Organized Crime: An Inside Guide to the World's Most Successful Industry and the coauthor of A Land Transformed, a history of Saudi Arabia.

Review

“Has value even for those with only casual interest. . . . Illustrated with an abundance of vintage and new imagery.” (New York Times Book Review 2009-12-06)

“A marvelously enlightening book, impressively organized and highly recommended for all curious readers.” (Library Journal 2009-11-15)

“Codes takes us from petroglyphs to genes-with hundreds of truly fascinating, sometimes disturbing, excursions en route.” (Foreword 2010-01-01)

“Densely researched, beautifully illustrated.” (St. Louis Post – Dispatch 2009-12-13)

“This is a fine book to bring reflection on just how secret or hidden or taken-for-granted codes run our lives.” (Rob Hardy Commercial Dispatch 2009-12-30)

“A really fascinating read, accompanied by detailed and labeled illustrations and photographs.” (KALX Radio / Calliope 2010-07-20)

Edition details

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0520260139
• ISBN 13: 9780520260139
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Lunde Paul