I haven’t had any formal cryptology or cryptanalysis trainin’ so I’ve had to make do with teh internets and good ole books. Here’s what I’ve read so far and a little blurb that may help you decide if you want to read them as well. At this point I haven’t actually gotten my hand on an actual textbook yet so these are the best an amateur or hobbyist can get relatively easy.
I’ve read a few crypto books and by far the best is The Code Book by Simon Singh. I won’t even review it because it needs no review. Go to the library or bookstore and get it if you haven’t already. Most other crypto books re-hash similar topics so save some time and get the best. It was written in 1999 so there may be something newer but the treatment given by Mr. Singh as fantastic and is worth the risk that it might be a little dated. Until the invention of a functioning quantum computer it is doubtful that DES and RSA will be replaced so I wouldn’t worry.
Burn After Reading by Ladislas Farago
Code Breaking by Rudolf Kippenhahn
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Spycatcher by Peter Wright
The Secret Services Handbook by Michael Bradley
Windtalkers by Max Allan Collins
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
