The Devil's Notebook (Paperback)

by Anton Szandor LaVey (Author) "AT NO TIME IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION HAS MAN ACCEPTED SO WILLINGLY contrivances calculated to weaken and destroy him..." (more)
Key Phrases: occult movement, Church of Satan, New York, Reginald Marsh

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A collection of essays, lectures, short stories, and exhortations from the Church of Satan's "Black Pope," whose defiant hedonism and indulgent rituals have sold over a million books--The Satanic Witch, The Satanic Bible, and Satanic Rituals. La Vey was featured in Rolling Stone in September 1991.

Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Feral House (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0922915113
• ISBN-13: 978-0922915118
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,598 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I know it's Satanism, but shouldn't it be called humor?, December 18, 2000

By	Chiron (....) - See all my reviews

As any Satanist can tell you, LaVey was a man full of biting wit, iconoclastic insight and, above all, a most astute and adroit observer of human folly and misinterpretation, himself being subjected to the latter more than anyone in recent memory.

In this book, published after two decades of inactivity (to the world of print), LaVey sheds light on many interesting topics, bringing his usual dose of sardonic humor to the printed page.

A particular essay comes to mind when I think of this book- it's called "Hatha Toilet Seat Meditaion," and if it doesn't solicit laughter from you, nothing will. For those of you who are familiar with it, I'm certain you're grinning right now. For those who aren't, read the book and find out why.

Other essays focus on some pretty forbiding topics, and the level of candor expressed by LaVey never lets us forget that while the media may have portrayed him as several things- none of which were especially flattering- we will continue to respect him for the insight he shared with us, remembering the first time we read the "Satanic Bible," a book that for many of us described the thoughts we'd always thought, but never knew anyone else did.

So, when you read this book, say to yourself with a sigh of gratification, "Hail Satan!"

If you'd like to contact me, you can do so at [e-mail]

If you're a recently self-discovered Satanist, you have my best wishes for your continued learning and exploration.

HS!

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Collection of Satanic Essays, November 14, 1999

By	Richard Ballard "rjballard" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a well-written collection of Mr. LaVey's essays. For the most part this book is not required to understand The Church of Satan. The book does highlight Mr. LaVey's unique philosophy and various related topics. The range of topics is too broad to summarize, so I'll list several highlights:

"Ravings From Tartarus": Why ritual spells do not work, and how to accomplish your goals.

"The Importance of Keeping a Secret": Types of secrets, and methods to ensure secrecy.

"Nonconformity -- Satanism's Secret Weapon": The Satanist as Master in a throng of weak-willed slaves.

"Let Me Entertain You": Techniques for maintaining your Satanist identity of dominance. "Responsibility for the responsible..."

"The Construction of Artificial Human Companions": Building android companions. "Read between the 'lie-ons'" concerning android joint construction, then re-read "Nonconformity -- Satanism's Secret Weapon".

"Misanthropia": The psychology of Satanists and their android companions. "Read between the 'lie-ons'", then re-read "Nonconformity -- Satanism's Secret Weapon".

Keep your ice open.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've all got it wrong..., May 26, 2006

By	Daemon Darkmage (The Unholy City of Dis) - See all my reviews

Everyone, listen. Realize that when you are talking about Satanism you need to know that it is not about conjuring "demons", killing Christians, and the "occult." It is about living your life to the fullest without any stupid religious restrictions, "rejoicing life in the carnal, the mundane, the flesh." Stop looking at it from a "Christian" point of view. This book is good, yes, but of course it's not the first book you want to get if you want to be a Satanist. If you want to do it right, GET THE SATANIC BIBLE 1st! You need to already know this. If you read The Devil's Notebook first, you won't get the right understanding. And enough of the LaVey insults. If you're a Satanist you should have more respect for the man. Nuff said.