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Alan Turing: The Enigma

The Enigma

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Alan Turing: The Enigma

By: Andrew Hodges
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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The official book behind the Academy Award-winning film The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications.

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing's far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.©2014 Andrew Hodges Historical History History & Culture Mathematics Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Computer Science Artificial Intelligence U-Boat War Submarine
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sounds like it was written by a Victorians the flowery language is absurd. his father didn't move into a house he 'took a house' normal people just don't talk like that. and he ascribes feelings and opinions to Turing that have no sources to back them up. he's writing about someone he wanted Turing to be rather than who he was.

flowery language

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The story of Alan Turing is told in detail from his birth, through the turns of his life that were put upon him rather than entirely his choice. It’s a story of someone who never quite fit in, and mostly it’s written well. I did really struggle with the physical copy of the book (the length of sentences; choice of words; use of other languages) and couldn’t get invested in some parts of the story, hence downloading the audiobook. It was better, but I think the authors writing is altogether too complicated for a book that already is dealing with so much complex maths and science

Interesting, but difficult

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Turing's life and work seem even more relevant and important today. The book captures his life and work in a very accessible way. Thoroughly enjoyable.

A masterpiece about a grand master

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A troubled and quite brilliant man to whom many owe their lives and who was treated so cruelly by the state he served so capably.

Fascinating biography

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I bought this because the movie "Initation Game" was based on the book. Gave up half way through, too much about maths and ancient mathematicians. That's 8 hours of my life I won't get back.

truly dreadful,

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