Originally developed by Claude Shannon in the 1940s, the theory of information laid the foundations for the digital revolution, and is now an essential tool in deep space communication, genetics, linguistics, data compression, and brain sciences. In this richly illustrated book, accessible examples are used to show how information theory can be understood in terms of everyday games like '20 Questions', and the simple MatLab programs provided give hands-on experience of information theory in action. Written in a tutorial style, with a comprehensive glossary, this text represents an ideal primer for novices who wish to become familiar with the basic principles of information theory.