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Real-World Cryptography Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Wong (Author), Derek Dysart (Narrator), Manning Publications (Publisher)
4.6 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

A practical guide to the cryptography behind common tools and protocols that will help you make excellent security choices for your systems and applications.

In Real-World Cryptography, you will find:

  • Best practices for using cryptography
  • Diagrams and explanations of cryptographic algorithms
  • Implementing digital signatures and zero-knowledge proofs
  • Specialized hardware for attacks and highly adversarial environments
  • Identifying and fixing bad practices
  • Choosing the right cryptographic tool for any problem

Real-World Cryptography reveals the cryptographic techniques that drive the security of web APIs, registering and logging in users, and even the blockchain. You’ll learn how these techniques power modern security and how to apply them to your own projects. Alongside modern methods, the book also anticipates the future of cryptography, diving into emerging and cutting-edge advances such as cryptocurrencies and post-quantum cryptography.

About the Technology

Cryptography is the essential foundation of IT security. To stay ahead of the bad actors attacking your systems, you need to understand the tools, frameworks, and protocols that protect your networks and applications. This book introduces authentication, encryption, signatures, secret-keeping, and other cryptography concepts in plain language.

About the Book

Real-World Cryptography teaches practical techniques for day-to-day work as a developer, sysadmin, or security practitioner. There’s no complex math or jargon. You’ll learn building blocks like hash functions and signatures, and cryptographic protocols like HTTPS and secure messaging. This audiobook is a joy to listen to - and it might just save your bacon the next time you’re targeted by an adversary after your data.

About the Audience

For cryptography beginners with no previous experience in the field.

About the Author

David Wong is a cryptography engineer. He is an active contributor to internet standards, including Transport Layer Security.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 49 minutes
  2. Author
    David Wong
  3. Narrator
    Derek Dysart
  4. Audible release date
    December 8, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Manning Publications
  7. ASIN
    B09N7WFL7F
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 49 minutes
Author David Wong
Narrator Derek Dysart
Audible.com Release Date December 08, 2021
Publisher Manning Publications
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09N7WFL7F
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
86 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book outstanding for understanding modern cryptography, with one review noting how it simplifies complex topics. They appreciate its readability, describing it as a fun read.

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Encyclopedia contentReadability
10 customers mention "Encyclopedia content"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's comprehensive approach to cryptography, with one customer noting how it simplifies complex topics and makes learning straightforward.

"...But this book was a comprehensive and easy to digest content for me to understand the depth of almost all practical applications of cryptography..." Read more

"Love it! Explains everything" Read more

"...illustrations in the book provide valuable information to assist in grasping the concepts...." Read more

"...I can attest to the fact that David has done an outstanding job focusing on what’s important...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and fun to read, with one customer noting it goes well with the course material.

"...I learned all of that and more with this fun to read book. I highly recommend you read it!" Read more

"I really enjoy reading this book. The author David Wong does an amazing job of introducing authentication, encryption, signatures, etc...." Read more

"It’s refreshing how amazing this book is...." Read more

"...which is not directly related to cryptography. However book cover a lot with good and understanable examples." Read more

A must read for software engineers
5 out of 5 stars
A must read for software engineers
I'm a software engineer who deals with SSH, certificates, TLS, keypairs... etc. on an everyday basis. But I never understood the theory and protocols behind them. I always knew TLS had a handshake phase but I never knew what it was. When I connect to a PostgreSQL instance via SSL I used to see "cipher: TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384" but I never really understood what that meant. I learned all of that and more with this fun to read book. I highly recommend you read it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • EminSh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to cryptography for hands on experts and as well as new engineers, pms and tpms
    Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I work in blockchain industry, and I am relatively Technical PM who had worked w cryptographers before.
    But this book was a comprehensive and easy to digest content for me to understand the depth of almost all practical applications of cryptography used in software engineering

    Highly recommend to any engineer, pm, tpm at any level. Cryptography will play even more important role with advent of new LLM systems and knowing the intricacies under the hood is going to be a superpower for professionals
    Helpful
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  • B. Reda
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for software engineers
    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I'm a software engineer who deals with SSH, certificates, TLS, keypairs... etc. on an everyday basis. But I never understood the theory and protocols behind them. I always knew TLS had a handshake phase but I never knew what it was. When I connect to a PostgreSQL instance via SSL I used to see "cipher: TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384" but I never really understood what that meant.

    I learned all of that and more with this fun to read book. I highly recommend you read it!
    Customer image
    B. Reda
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A must read for software engineers

    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
    I'm a software engineer who deals with SSH, certificates, TLS, keypairs... etc. on an everyday basis. But I never understood the theory and protocols behind them. I always knew TLS had a handshake phase but I never knew what it was. When I connect to a PostgreSQL instance via SSL I used to see "cipher: TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384" but I never really understood what that meant.

    I learned all of that and more with this fun to read book. I highly recommend you read it!
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Val R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written and explaining
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Love it! Explains everything
    Helpful
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  • Lewis Let
    5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I really enjoy reading this book. The author David Wong does an amazing job of introducing authentication, encryption, signatures, etc.
    David Wong is definitely an expert in the field of cryptography. The illustrations in the book provide valuable information to assist in grasping the concepts.
    I hope David Wong continues to write more books that enlighten us on the field of cryptography. His knowledge provides lessons to beginners like myself.

    Thank you!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best practical crypto book out there
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It’s refreshing how amazing this book is. As an engineer who works in a big tech company I can attest to the fact that David has done an outstanding job focusing on what’s important.
    If you want to read one book on crypto, this should be it.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Sergei Polshin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Very good with details. Maybe even covered topics which is not directly related to cryptography.
    However book cover a lot with good and understanable examples.
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book for Understand Modern Cryptography
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    David's book is very well written and structured in a way that makes learning cryptography very straightforward and logical. Whether you have a cursory interest in cryptography, want to understand more about the technologies that underpin modern day digital currencies, or are an active, practicing cryptographer, this book is for you!
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  • Raoul Duke
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok , not great
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I feel something about the authors writing style makes the book difficult to digest. At times he is trying to explain things in layman’s terms and then unnecessarily do a deep dive on fairly obscure aspects of technology then back to comic strips to explain TLS. For these reasons , it’s unclear who the audience is. He does cover a very wide variety of subjects in the real world but something about the rhythm of his writing makes the book feel ‘out of tune’ or ‘off tempo’ to use musical analogies. It’s not a book I would use as a reference and even though the author clearly knows his stuff and is very thorough he fails , in my opinion, to succinctly and clearly translate his knowledge to the page in a way that is enjoyable to read. Instead I found myself having to go back and re-read paragraphs simply due to the strange sentence structure used.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Christian Schuhegger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I needed
    Reviewed in Germany on March 7, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is really well written and understandable. I was looking for a book that explained in a way a developer can understand the different types of cryptographic primitives and how to combine them. The book delivers that and more. Thanks a lot to the author!
    Report
  • Iago Passos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Straight to the point
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 19, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    You get a digital version of this book, when you buy a physical copy.

    After reading it cover to cover, I use the digital version to Ctrl+F through it as I need to touch up on something.
    Report
  • Raja Nagori
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important topic in easy way understand
    Reviewed in India on June 14, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Hi David,

    I’m currently reading your book, Real-World Cryptography(one of my colleagues suggested me to excel in cryptography), and I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Your clear explanations and practical insights have been incredibly helpful in getting the topics. I appreciate the effort you put into making complex topics accessible and engaging.😊
    Report
  • CHEN HE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best cryptography book explained
    Reviewed in Singapore on October 17, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Author use a layman language and comics to explain one of the most complex topics in computer science-cryptography. I am highly recommend this book to readers we have interested in cryptography and it’s practical use in the real world. No pre-requisite CS knowledge required!
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  • Robin Sarfati
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very educative
    Reviewed in France on October 31, 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A great way to learn about cryptography, taught in a unique straightforward and constructive approach.
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