title: Practical way of explaining "Information Theory"
body: <p>Information theory comes into play where ever encoding &amp; decoding is present. For example: compression(multimedia), cryptography.</p>
  
  <p>In Information Theory we encounter terms like "Entropy", "Self Information", "Mutual Information" and entire subject is based on these terms. Which just sound nothing more than abstract. Frankly, they don't really make any sense.</p>
  
  <p>Is there any book/material/explanation (if you can) which explains these things in a practical way? </p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT:</strong></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><a href="http://amzn.com/0486240614" rel="noreferrer">An Introduction to Information Theory: symbols, signals &amp; noise by John Robinson Pierce</a> is <strong>The Book</strong> that explains it the way I want (practically). Its too good. I started reading it.</p>
  </blockquote>