The Reading Room

Cryptonomicon
Neal Stephenson
Published: 2000
As the old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover (especially if it is actually a book). On the face of it Cryptonomicon looks like a spontaneous airport purchase of a bog-standard trashy but fun thriller. The provenance of its recommendation suggested otherwise. The story was a favourite of the Paypal founding mafia as revealed in Peter Thiel’s book Zero to One (see my review here) and no doubt amongst the broader tech community during the height of the dotcom bubble when it was published.
Set across two timelines – World War II and the present day (late 1990s) there is plenty of thrilling action based on historic events as indicated by the explosion graphic on the cover. This action is however a backdrop to the more technically inclined protagonists who were called upon to make a difference during the conflict. The main characters rub shoulders with fictional representations of historical figures. For instance Lawrence Pritchard is an American mathematics prodigy who works alongside Alan Turing whilst General Macarthur, Herman Goring and Admiral Yamamoto feature amongst others. There are likeable and detestable characters on both the Axis and Allied sides alongside unlikely friendships such as Sgt Bobby Shaftoe of the US Marines and Goto Dengo a Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army.
Science-fiction is often viewed as a precursor to science-fact and the modern timeline centres around Randy Pritchard (Lawrence’s grandson) and his efforts to set up a data haven in the Pacific as a necessary precursor to establish Government-free digital money or digital gold.
Within the story, the Cryptonomicon has nothing to do with currencies but is a compendium of how to decrypt enemy codes. Once the hard work is done, the book enlightens on the extraordinary lengths the Allies went to ensure that the Axis wasn’t aware that Enigma and Purple had been cracked.
The story is exceptional, moving, and in places very humorous. Stephenson uses the narrative to consider a confluence of subject matters ranging from history (for instance what may have the Nazis and Japanese done with all that gold?), mathematics, cultural traditions, the distinction between free markets and corporatism, strategy (the combination of guile and bravery to overcome raw aggression), and the intersection of technology and philosophy. The chapter on the merits of Athena relative to the broader ancient Greek mythological deity universe is particularly worth waiting for.
One can imagine that the main challenge with writing lengthy novels with multiple characters and interconnecting plots and subplots is avoiding anti-climax. The resolution of Cryptonomicon when both storylines ultimately collide is both satisfying and stimulating. Whilst it has proven difficult to write this review without revealing too much, I hope it has gotten across how excellent the book is. On can see why it appealed to the Paypal mafia amongst others who were no doubt not as quick to judge it by its cover like I was.
Amul Pandya
January 2021
The information contained above and in other entries in the Ocean Dial Book Review Series is intended for general information and entertainment purposes only, and should not be relied upon in making, or refraining from making, any investment decisions. No information provided herein should or can be taken to constitute any form of advice or recommendation as to the merits of any investment decision. You should take independent advice from a suitably qualified investment adviser before making any investment decisions.
Atomic Habits
Published: 2018, Random House Business
People think that when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions: doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call.
Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles
Published: 2020, Cambridge University Press
The avoidance of buying into the peak of booms and selling at the bottom of a bust is one of key skills of any investor. But what causes them? This book attempts to answer that question by a close analysis of historical market manias.
The Election That Changed India
Published: 2014
The 2014 Indian general election has been regarded as the most important in Indian history since 1977, following Indira Gandhi’s imposed state of emergency in 1975.
It starts in 2012, when Narendra Modi won the Gujarat state elections for a third time, but quickly set sights on the bigger prize, then covers the scandals that crippled UPA-II (United Progressive Alliance, the ruling coalition), before moving to the strategies of team Modi, and the extraordinary missteps of Rahul Gandhi.