Covers encoding and binary digits, entropy, language and meaning, efficient encoding and the noisy channel, and explores ways in which information theory relates to physics, cybernetics, psychology, and art. "Uncommonly good...the most satisfying discussion to be found." — Scientific American. 1980 edition.
An Introduction to Information Theory
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By JA Foxton
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent introduction to Information Theory for the layperson. I often started with the intention of reading just a single chapter and found myself drawn into continuing onto the next chapter. It is unusual to find a technical book to be a page-turner!
The first four chapters set the scene and build towards a consideration of entropy. This chapter is quite heavy going but we are then rewarded with two rather easier chapters which allow us to catch our breath. The author then turns his attention to the problem of noise. We are also given a glimpse of how n-dimensional geometry was used by Claude Shannon to prove an important theory on the effect of noise on signal transmission.
There are chapters on the application of Information Theory to physics, cybernetics, psychology and art. Since the book was published in 1961 and revised in 1980, some of this is rather dated now - anyone still using cassette tapes to store their computer data?
I came to this book simply wanting an introduction to the subject. The early parts of the book were excellent and far exceeded my expectations. Others may subsequently review this book from the perspective of being well-acquainted with the subject and being more familiar with recent developments. My perspective relates to its accessibility.
If someone has a reasonable mathematical background they should find this book very approachable. To get the most from this book, the reader should probably be familiar with logarithms, indices, 3-D geometry and the sigma notation for summation. For those who aren't, the author does provide an appendix which gives a brief introduction to most of the relevant background mathematics.
The first four chapters set the scene and build towards a consideration of entropy. This chapter is quite heavy going but we are then rewarded with two rather easier chapters which allow us to catch our breath. The author then turns his attention to the problem of noise. We are also given a glimpse of how n-dimensional geometry was used by Claude Shannon to prove an important theory on the effect of noise on signal transmission.
There are chapters on the application of Information Theory to physics, cybernetics, psychology and art. Since the book was published in 1961 and revised in 1980, some of this is rather dated now - anyone still using cassette tapes to store their computer data?
I came to this book simply wanting an introduction to the subject. The early parts of the book were excellent and far exceeded my expectations. Others may subsequently review this book from the perspective of being well-acquainted with the subject and being more familiar with recent developments. My perspective relates to its accessibility.
If someone has a reasonable mathematical background they should find this book very approachable. To get the most from this book, the reader should probably be familiar with logarithms, indices, 3-D geometry and the sigma notation for summation. For those who aren't, the author does provide an appendix which gives a brief introduction to most of the relevant background mathematics.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
40 reviews
89 of 90 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still the place to start
14 Nov 2000
By Ken Braithwaite
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Although old this is still the best book to learn the core ideas of this subject, especially what information "entropy" really means. I read Ash's book, and followed the proofs, but I didn't really grasp the ideas until I read this.
The book is geared towards non-mathematicians, but it is not just a tour. Pierce tackles the main ideas just not all the techniques and special cases.
Perfect for: anyone in science, linguistics, or engineering. Very good for: everyone else.
67 of 71 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Absolute Gem
11 Oct 2002
By Clark M. Neily
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Claude Shannon died last year, and it's really disgraceful that his name is not a household word in the manner of Einstein and Newton. He really WAS the Isaac Newton of communications theory, and his master's thesis on Boolean logic applied to circuits is probably the most cited ever.
This is the ONLY book of which I am aware which attempts to present Shannon's results to the educated lay reader, and Pierce does a crackerjack job of it. Notwithstanding, this is not a book for the casual reader. The ideas underlying the theory are inherently subtle and mathematical, although there are numerous practical manifestations of them in nature, and in human "information transmission" behavior. On the other hand, this is a work which repays all effort invested in its mastery many times over.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Introduction
13 April 2000
By Chris McKinstry
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Though first printed in 1961 and revised in 1980 this is the best introduction to information theory there is. Very easy to read and light on math, just as an introduction should be. I expect it will be in print for a very, very long time.
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