I read it when it first came out in 1983, and immediately formed the ambition to write something similar about ludwig wittgenstein. Alan turings impact on computer science at princeton. The enigma of alan turing alan turingan english mathematician, logician, and cryptanalystwas a computer pioneer. The book that inspired the film the imitation game updated edition kindle edition by hodges, andrew, hofstadter, douglas, hodges, andrew. Alan turing 191254 was a british mathematician who made history. His breaking of the german uboat enigma cipher in world war ii ensured alliedamerican control of the atlantic. The book also tells how this work was directly related to turings leading role in breaking the german enigma ciphers during world war ii, a. But it is meant to be a definitive biography so such is to be expected. And to the relief of many, because turing was a difficult person. A new york times bestseller the official book behind the academy awardwinning film the imitation game, starring benedict cumberbatch and keira knightley. Taken on by british intelligence in 1938, as a shy. The enigma by andrew hodges, the code book by simon singh, codebreakers by f.
A brief panic over running out of things to read led me to poll my twitter followers for suggestions, andrew hodges biography of alan turing, alan turing. The enigma, is the indispensable guide to turings life and work and one of the finest biographies of a scientific. The enigma formed the basis of hugh whitemores 1986 stageplay breaking the code, which was adapted by for television in 1996, with derek jacobi as turing. Jun 30, 2015 a new york times bestseller the official book behind the academy awardwinning film the imitation game, starring benedict cumberbatch and keira knightley it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall before his. The enigma is written by mathematician andrew hodges and is narrated in this biographical audiobook edition by gordon griffin. Alan had proved that there was no miraculous machine that could solve all mathematical problems, but in the process he had discovered something. The book that inspired the film the imitation game by andrew hodges. The important story is that alan turing essentially came up with the concept that has lead to my reading this book on a compact electronic pad. Turings rehabilitation from over a quartercenturys embarrassed silence was largely the result of andrew hodgess superb biography, alan turing.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Hinsley and alan stripp, the 39 steps by john buchan and from russia. Alan turing was the mathematician whose ciphercracking transformed the second world war. Alan turing the enigma book pdf download ebook pdf, epub. A new york times bestseller the official book behind the academy awardwinning film the imitation game, starring benedict cumberbatch and keira knightley it is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall. Alan turing died in 1954, but the themes of his life epitomize the turn of the millennium.
Queen elizabeth ii granted turing a posthumous pardon in 20. The enigma, is the indispensable guide to turings life and work and one of the finest biographies of a. I did not understand all of the ins and outs of the mathematics discussed but that is okay. The book that inspired the film the imitation game updated edition hodges, andrew, hodges, andrew, hofstadter, douglas on. Biography audiobooks andrew hodges alan turing the enigma part 02. Alan turing, the inventor of the abstract turing machine, was an incredible individual who is still underappreciated for his accomplishments. He worked for the british government during world war ii, when he succeeded in breaking the secret code germany used to communicate.
The book could be simpler and could meet the need of a great biography. The enigma of alan turing central intelligence agency. Hodges tells how turings revolutionary idea of 1936 the concept of a universal machine laid the foundation for the modern computer. The book that inspired the film the imitation game updated edition paperback november 10, 2014. Thanks to the movie the imitation game, alan turing has emerged from historys shadows, where his memory had languished for decades. Click download or read online button to get alan turing the enigma book pdf book now. Alan turing a new york times bestsellerthe official book behind the academy awardwinning film the imitation game, starring benedict cumberbatch and keira knightleyit is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall. Alan turing book king county library system bibliocommons. This book follows his struggles through early life all the way to his death. The middle sections of the book, explaining first alans pioneering work as a young mathemetician, then his contribution to cracking the enigma system, and then his diversion into the design and operation of early computers, were a really interesting read. Hodges tells how turings revolutionary idea of 1936 the concept of a. The book also tells how this work was directly related to turings leading role in breaking the german enigma ciphers during world war ii, a scientific triumph that was critical to allied victory in the atlantic.
Turing brought the idea to practical realization in 1945. University of cambridge ba, ma princeton university phd cryptanalysis of the enigma. He chronicled how french, british, and polish spies and. Aug 27, 2019 alan turing still wasnt famous in 1981 when i started studying simple programs, albeit in the context of cellular automata rather than turing machines. Alan turing enigma by hodges andrew, first edition abebooks. Andrew hodges a gripping story of mathematics, science, computing, war history, cryptography, and homosexual persecution and liberation. This is a comprehensive biography which attempts to document the private and professional life of a truly complex individual. The american 2014 film the imitation game is loosely based on the book, with dramatization. The enigma, is the indispensable guide to turings life and work and one of the finest biographies of a scientific genius ever written. Its subject, the british mathematical genius who contributed to the cryptanalysis of the nazi enigma code and to the beginnings of the computer, was not an easy subject. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall before his.
The enigma 1983 is a biography of the british mathematician. The book went on to be inspiration for the 2014 academy awardnominated film the imitation game. The technical material presented was not too deep nor too shallow for me an electrical engineer and programmer. Alan turing still wasnt famous in 1981 when i started studying simple programs, albeit in the context of cellular automata rather than turing machines. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall. I think the aspect of the book that i most grasped and that was the most thoughtprovoking was turings ideas about machine intelligence. Sep 30, 2018 biography audiobooks andrew hodges alan turing the enigma part 02. The alan turing law is now an informal term for a 2017 law in the united kingdom that retroactively pardoned men cautioned or convicted under historical legislation that outlawed homosexual acts. Alan turing the enigma is long, very detailed and is some places drags. He made major contributions to the fields of mathematics, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Turing is most famous for his cryptanalysis work at bletchley park during the second world war. Scott, new york times one of the finest scientific biographies ever written. He was already working parttime for the british governments code and cypher school before the second world war broke out. Apr 10, 2015 the enigma of alan turing alan turingan english mathematician, logician, and cryptanalystwas a computer pioneer.
The enigma by andrew hodges is an enigma in its own right. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the british mathematician alan turing 19121954 saved the allies from the nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decadesall before his suicide at age fortyone. During wwii alan was the man who created the machine which cracked the german enigma. Hodges tells how turing s revolutionary idea of 1936 the concept of a universal machine laid the foundation for the modern computer. If one has seen the movie and liked it, one is going to love this too. Turing brought the idea to practical realization in 1945 with his. A gripping story of mathematics, computers, cryptography, and homosexual persecution. It is a bit ironic that a book whose title implies that alan turing himself is the biggest enigma manages to leave him still an enigma in many ways, but that is the case. The author has obviously spent a lot of time researching many facets of alan turings life and work. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jim holt, new yorker andrew hodges 1983 book alan turing. Alan turing and the invention of the computer david. Andrew hodges alan turing the enigma part 02 audiobook youtube. This is a book that should be read by anyone with an interest in the history of mathematics, computer science or the second world war.
Often remembered for his contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and modern computer science before either even existed, turing is probably best known for what is now dubbed the turing test. If i had to describe this book in one word, it would be. Born in london in 1912, he studied at both cambridge and princeton universities. It was a pity that i missed this source, but i was able to include it in the 1992 vintage edition and in all 2012 editions. How alan turing cracked the enigma code imperial war museums. Despite that, if you only read one book from this list, alan turing. Kasparek drew on rejewskis 1975 recollections and gave a very striking passage describing turings table talk. A book from alan turing and a mysterious piece of paper. Andrew hodges alan turing the enigma part 02 audiobook. Benedict cumberbatch as alan turing in the imitation game, 2014. The book also tells how this work was directly related to turing s leading role in breaking the german enigma ciphers during world war ii, a scientific triumph that was critical to allied victory in the atlantic.
Kasparek drew on rejewskis 1975 recollections and gave a very striking passage describing turing s table talk. What the imitation game didnt tell you about turings greatest. But a book i wish i had written, and one that was a big inspiration for the things i have written, is alan turing. The book was later made into the 2014 film the imitation game directed by morten tyldum, starring benedict cumberbatch as alan turing. A pure mathematician from a tradition that prided itself on its impracticality, turing laid the foundations for modern computer science, writes andrew hodges. But looking through the card catalog at the caltech library one day, i chanced upon a book called alan m. Hodges examined available primary sources and interviewed surviving witnesses to elucidate turings multiple dimensions.