sundeviljewels's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely not a book I would have chosen without book club. Very interesting read, rather listen. It is very dense with information. I knew Albert Einstein and his Theory of Relativity, and the atomic bombs đź’Ł would come in to play. I admire all Elizabeth did and her intelligence.
leasummer's review against another edition
5.0
This is so well written and her life is so interesting it is like reading a fiction adventure story. If you enjoyed Code Girls, you will love this book. I highly recommend it.
amiablemath's review against another edition
I'm just not on the mood for a slow paced book right now. Seemed interesting though so will likely try again later.
bramboomen's review against another edition
4.0
I like a lot about this book, but the title is just awful. Everytime I took the book out of my bag it felt like I was being clickbaited (readbaited? bookbaited?).
What I liked very much was that the book read like a novel instead of a biography and got me immediately invested in the subject of the Friedmans and cryptography. Also, I have never been much of a WWII history-buff, but I must say that Fagone really got me interested in this part of the history. There were some minor things that I liked less. First Fagone described William Friedman as a brilliant man who batteled with depression, the fact that he then sometimes put him on the page as a whiny, needy little man felt therefore a little... harsch. Another thing is that I really liked Fagones writing style, but sometimes he felt the need to hype it up with "smashing codes" and his superlative awe for the scientific method. These moments just stood out and kept annoying me once every while.
This was however one of the most fun biographies I've read so far!
What I liked very much was that the book read like a novel instead of a biography and got me immediately invested in the subject of the Friedmans and cryptography. Also, I have never been much of a WWII history-buff, but I must say that Fagone really got me interested in this part of the history. There were some minor things that I liked less. First Fagone described William Friedman as a brilliant man who batteled with depression, the fact that he then sometimes put him on the page as a whiny, needy little man felt therefore a little... harsch. Another thing is that I really liked Fagones writing style, but sometimes he felt the need to hype it up with "smashing codes" and his superlative awe for the scientific method. These moments just stood out and kept annoying me once every while.
This was however one of the most fun biographies I've read so far!
mmk4725's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book. What an interesting life. Enjoyable book.
I didn't realize South America involvement in WW II.
I didn't realize South America involvement in WW II.
momwrex's review against another edition
5.0
Jason Fagone has done good job bringing a strong female figure from the historical shadows. He shares her brilliance with us, while explaining some of the workings of cryptography. (It's fascinating that some minds can solve multiple layers of puzzles). He also exposes more of the history of the F.B.I. while it was run by egomaniacal J. Edgar Hoover.
notoriouszoe's review against another edition
5.0
Really fascinating. I wonder how the “Code Girls” book compares. I’m just disappointed that reading this didn’t automatically turn me into a master code breaker.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
4.0
This was an excellent biography/history of Elizabeth Friedman, "America's first female Cryptanalist." She was a fascinating woman who helped develop the field of cryptography. She started the Coast Guard Cryptology department and trained other cryptologists and worked on deciphering messages during World War I. Between the wars, she worked on smugglers messages and then during World War II, she was instrumental in deciphering the codes of South American Nazis. She did most of her code breaking by hand, including work on enigma machines. If you like books like Radium Girls or Hidden Figures, this is a book for you.