Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S. [Paperback]

Jeremy Leven (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 2000

Alas, poor Satan. He's not happy. No one seems to like or understand him; people have got him all wrong. And his relationship with God is a hostile one. Unloved and misunderstood, he's come back to Earth in search of a psychotherapist; he's prepared- if cured- to deliver the all-important Great Answer.In Jeremy Leven's wildly original comic novel, we follow the Prince of Darkness through his seven amazing therapy sessions. And we watch him grow increasingly well adjusted while his therapist, the unfortunate Dr. Kassler, descends deeper and deeper into hell.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeremy Leven, a renowned screenwriter, was educated at St. John?s College and Harvard. Satan is his second novel. Screenwriting credits include his first novel Creator, Don Juan DeMarco (which he also directed), and, most recently, The Legend of Bagger Vance. He lives in Woodbridge, Connecticut with his wife, Roberta Danza.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059514506X
• ISBN-13: 978-0595145065
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Satan" is heavenly., January 15, 2003

By 

Matthew Weaver "cesarfaison" (Spokane) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S. (Paperback)

Java is filled with unlimited possibilities.

Consider this: I was at a local coffee place with a friend who was leaving town. He ran into the coffee shop's lending library (take a book and either return it or replace it for the other interested readers around you) and came back out with a book that he said had caught his eye during his many excursions for caffeine.

The book was Jeremy Leven's 1982 "Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S."

Quite a mouthful of a title.

I nodded politely and began edging toward the door.

But my friend's description of the book ("Some doctor develops a computer program that believes it is Beelzebub, and proceeds to give it therapy") intrigued me. So, after a few weeks of tossing and turning, I decided to return downtown and check out the book.

The story is a little more complicated than that. Dr. Sy Kassler does indeed see a computer that may or may not turn out to be Lucifer, Prince of Darkness. But there are many hilarious twists and turns to this 500-page tome, and many different aspects to the plot.

SATAN: The computer, if that is what it is, is the brainchild of the genius Dr. Leo Szlyck. Szlyck is called to connect and create a mysterious bunch of wires and synapses to result in ol' Mephistopheles. But it is during the course of therapy that the Dark One asks us to ponder, "Think about what it must take to dare to be God's enemy."

THE UNFORTUNATE DR. KASSLER: Sy Kassler is indeed unfortunate. We first meet him coercing an STD-beleaguered, only-Italian speaking girl into his bed. Then there is his subsequent love affair with and marriage to the commitment-shy Vita, who turns psychotic after the birth of their first child. Kassler leads the life of a tragic figure. And now he's treating Satan? God help him. Literally.

EVERYTHING ELSE: There's Lupa, the beautiful woman who falls in love and has an affair with the computer; Sam Zelazo, Kassler's boss and Szlyck's archnemesis and a multitude of other plotlines and characterizations that make the on-cover comparison to novels like Joseph Heller's "Catch-22" seem very apt.

It is a story that is very much about Satan's psyche and those of the people surrounding him. Leven compiled a classic comedic think piece with "Satan," and philosophers and comedy seekers alike should seek it out.

Author Robert Heinlein has a quote on the back of the book that is so appropriate to the tone and mood of the book that it deserves to be the last word:

"'Satan' is terrific! I could not put it down. However, Jeremy Leven will be lynched if they ever catch him."

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing, and funnier than Hell..., January 6, 2000

By 

"james_t" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S. (Mass Market Paperback)

Can a mere novel completely change your brain chemistry andirreversibly pickle your theology? This one WILL. You'll also laugh,cry and forever rethink what they've always told you about God and Satan. This book's perfectly constructed irony and pit-dark black humor makes it a worthy companion of 'Catch 22', but its characters aren't typical black-comedy pawns. Levin's players are fallible and funny, warm and loving, distinctively-drawn people for whom you'll care deeply. The females are especially strong, sympathetic and distinctive... The book is a hilarious send-up of psychotherapy doublespeak, a surprisingly profound yet entertaining meditation on philosophy and theology (from Satan's side of things), and a tear-provoking tale of Kassler's family, full of love for each other but hopelessly dysfunctional... If Kassler's 1970s-style recap of Job's bad luck streak doesn't plunge him to such wretched depths that he follows through on his planned suicide (and that's a big 'if'), he'll instead plumb the Devil's unhappiness via the strangest psychotherapy ever transcribed. If Kassler makes Satan happy once again, Kassler's reward will be to learn the answer to The Great Question, ''What is life?'' (Yep, the book tells us this cosmic truth, too -- worth the price of admission alone, as the carny pitchmen used to say) .... OK, enough gush. You've GOT to read this. PLEASE. I PROMISE it will be worth every second it takes you to find it. THIS BOOK WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some Books You Just Never Forget..., September 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Satan: His Psychotherapy and Cure by the Unfortunate Dr. Kassler, J.S.P.S. (Mass Market Paperback)

I was an 8th grader in a Catholic school when I found a copy of this lying on a teacher's desk, no doubt confiscated so as to protect some young, impressionable mind... Well, Satan called to me, apparently, and I was compelled to help myself to the book before the teacher returned to the classroom. I started reading it at lunch, and by the time school let out, I was hooked! Even at my young age, I recognized that this was one of the best stories I'd ever read. A great appreciator of sarcasm and dry wit, I often found myself sympathizing more with Satan than that "Poor Schmuck," Jeffrey. (If I were his wife, I would have left him, too!) I must have read it about 10 times. Unfortunately, my dad decided to save me from myself, and the book perished in the fireplace at his hands. Now, at the semi-seasoned age of 26, I want desperately to read it again. I've tried for years to find another copy, to no avail. If anyone can steer me in the right direction (I realize it's out of print, but would gladly accept a used donation!), I'd be immensely grateful!