The story of cryptography as told in The Code Book is packed with quirkily brilliant characters.

FORBES: I've got a secret

In his first term, Mr Menem packed the Supreme Court, and pushed through a new code on penal procedure that allowed him to name more than 50 senior judges and prosecutors.

ECONOMIST: Argentina: Death and corruption | The

It is also tricky to capture the data in the field and stick the bar-code labels on the produce as it is picked and packed.

ECONOMIST: Tech.view