Our review of : The Woman Who Smashed Codes

A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies

Written by : Jason Fagone

Release date : 09-26-17

4.5 out of 5 - Based on 4,877

Retail price : $31.93

Category:

The Woman Who Smashed Codes is the incredible true story of Elizebeth Friedman, a codebreaker who helped defeat the Nazis during World War II. Working with her husband, William Friedman, Elizebeth developed groundbreaking techniques for deciphering secret messages that were crucial to the Allied war effort. But her contributions have largely been forgotten history—until now. Jason Fagone brings Elizebeth’s story to life in riveting detail, exploring both her remarkable achievements and the fascinating personal drama behind them. Drawing on extensive original research and interviews with surviving family members and key players in American intelligence circles, The Woman Who Smashed Codes is an intimate portrait of a brilliant woman whose legacy has been undeservedly overshadowed by her male counterparts .

For who is this book for ?

This book is for anyone who enjoys a good biography or memoir. It tells the story of Elizebeth Friedman, a codebreaker during World War II who helped defeat the Nazis. The author does an excellent job bringing her story to life and exploring her remarkable achievements as well as the personal drama behind them.

Pros :

  • The Woman Who Smashed Codes tells the incredible, forgotten story of Elizebeth Friedman, a codebreaker who helped defeat the Nazis during World War II.
  • This book is well-researched and rich with detail, providing readers with an intimate portrait of Elizebeth’s life and work.
  • The Woman Who Smashed Codes is an important contribution to the historical record, and it should be read by anyone interested in women’s history or World War II cryptography

Cons :

  • The author’s writing style is dry and not particularly engaging.
  • The book lacks focus, jumping back and forth between Elizebeth’s personal life and her professional achievements.
  • The story feels repetitive, as the same events are retold multiple times with only minor variations.

Learn more about the author

Jason Fagone is a journalist and author. He is the national technology correspondent for Scripps Howard News Service and has written for The Atlantic, GQ, Wired, Time, and other publications.

Reader Reviews

“This is a thrilling story about a woman who was an unsung hero of World War II. Elizebeth Friedman was one of the first codebreakers, and she changed the course of history. Jason Fagone tells her story beautifully in The Woman Who Smashed Codes.”

“The Woman Who Smashed Codes is an outstanding work of biography and historical writing. Fagone has brought to life a remarkable woman whose contributions have, until now, been overlooked. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in World War II history or the role of women in science and mathematics.”

“This is a spectacular book—a page-turner and also an important piece of history. I can’t recommend it enough.”

“I absolutely loved this book! I have always been interested in code breaking and was fascinated by Elizebeth Friedman’s story. This biography does a great job of telling her story while also painting a picture of the time period and the people involved.”

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