What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devil's Notebook
Wisdom, humor, and dark observations by the founder of the Church of Satan. LaVey ponders such topics as nonconformity, occult faddism, erotic politics, the "Goodguy badge," demoralization and the construction of artificial human companions.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1992
200 people are currently reading
2242 people want to read
About the author
Anton Szandor LaVey
29 books881 followersHigh Priest of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, musician, and actor.
He was the author of The Satanic Bible and the founder of LaVeyan Satanism, a synthesized system of his understanding of human nature and the insights of philosophers who advocated materialism and individualism, for which he claimed no "supernatural inspiration."
LaVey viewed "Satan" not as a literal deity or entity, but as a historic and literary figure symbolic of Earthly values.
He was the author of The Satanic Bible and the founder of LaVeyan Satanism, a synthesized system of his understanding of human nature and the insights of philosophers who advocated materialism and individualism, for which he claimed no "supernatural inspiration."
LaVey viewed "Satan" not as a literal deity or entity, but as a historic and literary figure symbolic of Earthly values.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 31, 2024
If you find yourself imbibing a Dunkin’ Spiked alcoholic coffee beverage because you are hankering after spirits, but are too wearied to quaff some Jack like a man, make sure you shake that shit assiduously—once over and back up again like a rainstick, then vigorously like a maraca for 4.2 seconds—lest what you end up disemboguing from can to glossa tastes like swamp ass feels…and tastes, you dirty bug. But take heed, let settle, or find yourself bedaubed with its vile and viscous emissions.
Why am I reviewing Dunkin’ Spiked alcoholic coffee beverage? Because I happened to find myself under just such a circumstance while sorting my old books and perusing this literature of the Dark Lord and found my palate pummeling to be a far more interesting and noteworthy experience.
LaVey was a covert Christian and The Church of Satan was a PSYOP conjured up by the Archdiocese to make The Devil seem boring as Hell. (Sources infernal, and confidential).
Cute little hymn in here, though.
Why am I reviewing Dunkin’ Spiked alcoholic coffee beverage? Because I happened to find myself under just such a circumstance while sorting my old books and perusing this literature of the Dark Lord and found my palate pummeling to be a far more interesting and noteworthy experience.
LaVey was a covert Christian and The Church of Satan was a PSYOP conjured up by the Archdiocese to make The Devil seem boring as Hell. (Sources infernal, and confidential).
Cute little hymn in here, though.
March 2, 2020
Some interesting observations. Still valid, even today. Maybe even more so than before.
Texthack: If one just skips the religious considerations and concentrates on the rest, the text becomes waay better.
Q:
ECRETS ARE POWER. WHEN YOU DIVULGE A SECRET, YOU BARTER THE POTENTIAL power of your hidden knowledge for the fleeting ego boost that comes with its revelation. (c)
Texthack: If one just skips the religious considerations and concentrates on the rest, the text becomes waay better.
Q:
ECRETS ARE POWER. WHEN YOU DIVULGE A SECRET, YOU BARTER THE POTENTIAL power of your hidden knowledge for the fleeting ego boost that comes with its revelation. (c)
April 14, 2015
This is my favorite Anton LaVey book. I stumbled across it during a really low point in my life. It brought me out of a deep depression, and made me feel like I wanted to live again. That said, it's not, by any means a book for everyone. For me it was the first step on a path to deeper spiritual understanding, and self acceptance. I think many people would just find it offensive, and think the author just wrote it to be shocking. In the end, you can say whatever you want about Anton, but he was one Hell of a guy.
May 28, 2014
A bit out-of-date, but still a hilarious read by one of the most misunderstood personalities in popular culture.
March 11, 2011
Like everything else LaVey has written, not everything in this book is bad or wrong, but none of it is new. The stuff that does make sense is just basic common sense, and the rest is horseshit. This one doesn't even have "Satan" in the title, so it's not really valuable for teenagers who want to carry it around for shock value.
April 1, 2016
Anton LaVey has once again written another powerful, inspiring book!
July 26, 2010
The Devils Notebook is a collection of short essays by Anton Lavey. I liked The Satanic Bible better than this but it was a decent read. Most of these are very short. Lavey often writes in a very misanthropic way. Because Lavey in spite of his "scary" image was more or less a oddball nerd type of guy I think a lot of what the root of what he was getting at was instead of having a sense of shame or inferiority about being a weirdo or having odd interests was to turn it around on the sheeple and have a elitist attitude and look at your quirks and oddities as a sign of your superiority and if other people don't get it then thats a sign of their inferiority.
Although it never would have happened in a million years for a myriad of reasons even though over all I'm luke warm to the guy I think Lavey would have been an interesting syndicated newspaper columnist. Laveys opinion pieces would certainly have been more entertaining than the phony system approved left, phony system approved right or the token affirmative action black columnist that every major newspaper has one of that only writes about being black. Lavey if he didn't sell out would have made peoples heads spin. He would have offended the uptight conservatives with his anti-Christianity and pro-sexual freedom stuff and he would have offended the feel good liberals with his misanthropic stance on the masses but I know people would have bought newspapers just to read his columns, even if they wouldn't admit it.
Although it never would have happened in a million years for a myriad of reasons even though over all I'm luke warm to the guy I think Lavey would have been an interesting syndicated newspaper columnist. Laveys opinion pieces would certainly have been more entertaining than the phony system approved left, phony system approved right or the token affirmative action black columnist that every major newspaper has one of that only writes about being black. Lavey if he didn't sell out would have made peoples heads spin. He would have offended the uptight conservatives with his anti-Christianity and pro-sexual freedom stuff and he would have offended the feel good liberals with his misanthropic stance on the masses but I know people would have bought newspapers just to read his columns, even if they wouldn't admit it.
May 19, 2015
I got through a large portion but I couldn't focus enough to finish reading. The beginning was strong and made many really good points but it quickly lost me after that. Not saying its not a good book to read just not one I could personally take interest in. However, I always recommend people at least give it a chance.
July 2, 2014
Somewhere down the line I must have either subconciously or naturally been inclined to most of these observations. It seems I was already born a Satanist or LaVey just knows what hes saying- although not all the time- but he can sure strike composition of notes in my mind everytime I read some of his passages. Great minds think alike!
July 12, 2008
This is a fun book. There is a vein of humor in all of his books, but this one is practically a satanic joke book. Leave it on your coffee table to shock those you wish to shock and make laugh those you know will appreciate it.
July 2, 2018
I've been picking at this book for quite some time, and I have to say that it's very illuminating, although not in a good way. LaVey is clearly one of the first in the relatively modern wave of (cis) men that the internet teems with today who think and publicly write about how just by not wanting to conform, and not wanting to be kind all the time, and trying to flip feminism on its head in order to call it by its name (thereby reducing it once more to being controlled by men), they can get away with anything they want. Several of his more poignant revelations are obviously dead on the nose, but the infusion of overwhelming cynicism and ultimate goal of this collection makes the whole thing seem shady and just reminds one of that friend of yours from high school who changed majors to philosophy in college and you've never been able to speak to him again, because now he's an even bigger asshole. Some sections are amusing, such as the ones on self-induced lycanthropy and creation of humanoid companions (poor attempts to tell readers they can just make them to be pretty and not to be sexy are rampant). Overall, though, this book is just a collection of essays you can probably read more quickly and with quicker anger if you but go to the worst corners of male-dominated subreddits.
November 18, 2021
I know what your thinking
This is not @ alk what I was expecting. It doesnt attack in religion in a straight forward way but instead promotes its own thoughts. More less what Levay is getting @ is that it is standard to be taught & feel guilty for minor sins most commit & some pledge to. Its actually very liberal in that individuality should be celebrated instead of condemned. Should certainly be read by those who feel society doesnt understand them &/or discriminates them for unjust causes
This is not @ alk what I was expecting. It doesnt attack in religion in a straight forward way but instead promotes its own thoughts. More less what Levay is getting @ is that it is standard to be taught & feel guilty for minor sins most commit & some pledge to. Its actually very liberal in that individuality should be celebrated instead of condemned. Should certainly be read by those who feel society doesnt understand them &/or discriminates them for unjust causes
April 27, 2014
I have said before that Anton LaVey was fundamentally not a talented book writer, but an essayist at heart. This book is a collection of his essays. Nearly all of them had previously appeared in “The Cloven Hoof,” the newsletter of the Church of Satan, most of them in the early-to-mid 1970s, although there is some evidence of minor revisions made for this publication.
What makes a great essayist? The ability to boil an idea down to a clear crystallization, and show the reader precisely what it is that makes it important and interesting in a short format. The internet is probably training a great many essayists in the form of bloggers today, but the truly great essayists have been around for a lot longer. LaVey’s ability to present old ideas as if they were new ones may be his greatest strength. He would frequently cut through a great deal of mumbo jumbo and theory to get to the essence of his concepts, making something that drags on for pages when written by Rand or Crowley into something lively and interesting in just a few paragraphs.
Among the subjects tackled in these pages are the reasons for founding a “Church of Satan” in the first place as well as the methodology of Satanic magic as LaVey understood it. The strongest of these articles include “By Any Other Name,” “Erotic Crystallization Inertia,” and “The Law of the Trapezoid.” Other articles are curmudgeonly reflections on the human condition, at their best evocative of Ambrose Bierce, although LaVey sometimes goes too far into his own bitterness. I would nominate “The Good Guy Badge” and “Misanthropia” as the best of these. Then, there are some in which LaVey reveals himself, perhaps unwittingly showing his strengths and weaknesses in the harsh light of his own wit, as in “The Construction of Artificial Human Companions” and “Confessions of a Closet Misogynist.”
It is unfortunate that these essays are presented in random order, with no historical context, because they become far more interesting when integrated into an understanding of LaVey’s biography and the history of the Church. I managed to track down the original publication dates of about thirty of the essays, and I find these dates revealing. Nevertheless, they stand on their own as pieces of interest, a reflection of one the twentieth century’s most colorful characters, and possibly make a better explication of LaVey’s philosophy than the better-known The Satanic Bible.
What makes a great essayist? The ability to boil an idea down to a clear crystallization, and show the reader precisely what it is that makes it important and interesting in a short format. The internet is probably training a great many essayists in the form of bloggers today, but the truly great essayists have been around for a lot longer. LaVey’s ability to present old ideas as if they were new ones may be his greatest strength. He would frequently cut through a great deal of mumbo jumbo and theory to get to the essence of his concepts, making something that drags on for pages when written by Rand or Crowley into something lively and interesting in just a few paragraphs.
Among the subjects tackled in these pages are the reasons for founding a “Church of Satan” in the first place as well as the methodology of Satanic magic as LaVey understood it. The strongest of these articles include “By Any Other Name,” “Erotic Crystallization Inertia,” and “The Law of the Trapezoid.” Other articles are curmudgeonly reflections on the human condition, at their best evocative of Ambrose Bierce, although LaVey sometimes goes too far into his own bitterness. I would nominate “The Good Guy Badge” and “Misanthropia” as the best of these. Then, there are some in which LaVey reveals himself, perhaps unwittingly showing his strengths and weaknesses in the harsh light of his own wit, as in “The Construction of Artificial Human Companions” and “Confessions of a Closet Misogynist.”
It is unfortunate that these essays are presented in random order, with no historical context, because they become far more interesting when integrated into an understanding of LaVey’s biography and the history of the Church. I managed to track down the original publication dates of about thirty of the essays, and I find these dates revealing. Nevertheless, they stand on their own as pieces of interest, a reflection of one the twentieth century’s most colorful characters, and possibly make a better explication of LaVey’s philosophy than the better-known The Satanic Bible.
March 20, 2016
The first literature published in book form by Anton Szandor LaVey was the founding canonical text for Satanism: "The Satanic Bible." In it, he describes the many different stances each individual Satanist might find him/herself taking, why those positions and attitudes that accompany them are Satanic, and why he is justified in calling them such. The book offers a big-picture overview of what is Satanic, and offered the world a glimpse of what real Satanists do, all from the pen of a man who lived it - that is, from the pen of one bold enough to call himself a Satanist.
"The Devil's Notebook" is immensely personal. LaVey writes for an audience, to be sure, but I often got the feeling while reading it that I was being let in on some of the secrets he'd kept that he'd thought appropriate only a select few to know. Where "The Satanic Bible" offered the framework of Satanism, this volume contains something more akin to LaVey's personal manifestation of Satanism. Subjects range from humor and magic to werewolves and Frankensteining - that's really the best way I know how to put it. Keeping in mind the definition of magic used in "The Satanic Bible," ("change in situations or events in accordance with one's will, which would, using normally-accepted methods, be unchangeable") he spends a lot of time on the concept. The nuances he's noticed over the years regarding what's worked and what hasn't resulted in such pieces as "The Law of the Trapezoid," "Hatha Toilet Seat Meditation," and "The Combination-Lock Principle." These and several other essays build up to sheet music for "The Hymn of the Satanic Empire." From there, he offers observations about people, amusing anecdotes about past de facto Satanists, a description of a ritual a Satanic magician can use if s/he wishes to transform into a werewolf, a deep discussion of emulating Dr. Frankenstein, and several aphorisms, among other things.
For those who have never read LaVey's work before, this may offer a good sense of the way he writes. It feels fairly intimate, and his writing is never too terribly esoteric. If the reader is a Satanist, s/he may find multiple layers of meaning in these texts. For those unfamiliar or new to Satanism, this text may or may not offer the desired overview. It will, however, offer a glimpse into the personal perspective of a Satanic master. He wrote to an audience of Satanists, and understood that contextual power.
Reader beware: You may like what you find more than you thought you would!
"The Devil's Notebook" is immensely personal. LaVey writes for an audience, to be sure, but I often got the feeling while reading it that I was being let in on some of the secrets he'd kept that he'd thought appropriate only a select few to know. Where "The Satanic Bible" offered the framework of Satanism, this volume contains something more akin to LaVey's personal manifestation of Satanism. Subjects range from humor and magic to werewolves and Frankensteining - that's really the best way I know how to put it. Keeping in mind the definition of magic used in "The Satanic Bible," ("change in situations or events in accordance with one's will, which would, using normally-accepted methods, be unchangeable") he spends a lot of time on the concept. The nuances he's noticed over the years regarding what's worked and what hasn't resulted in such pieces as "The Law of the Trapezoid," "Hatha Toilet Seat Meditation," and "The Combination-Lock Principle." These and several other essays build up to sheet music for "The Hymn of the Satanic Empire." From there, he offers observations about people, amusing anecdotes about past de facto Satanists, a description of a ritual a Satanic magician can use if s/he wishes to transform into a werewolf, a deep discussion of emulating Dr. Frankenstein, and several aphorisms, among other things.
For those who have never read LaVey's work before, this may offer a good sense of the way he writes. It feels fairly intimate, and his writing is never too terribly esoteric. If the reader is a Satanist, s/he may find multiple layers of meaning in these texts. For those unfamiliar or new to Satanism, this text may or may not offer the desired overview. It will, however, offer a glimpse into the personal perspective of a Satanic master. He wrote to an audience of Satanists, and understood that contextual power.
Reader beware: You may like what you find more than you thought you would!
November 3, 2014
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I've read The Satanic Bible and while I don't accept the tenets of the Satanic Church wholesale, I do agree with some of what LeVay preaches. And I thoroughly enjoy his style of writing. So I delved into this book with certain expectations.
However, this book was something of a disappointment. I found several gems of brilliance. But several essays left me wondering exactly what planet was this man broadcasting from. And there are times when he reveals the bitter scars of obviously having been a childhood misfit. For someone who espouses strength in character and separation from the herd, he should've concealed these scars much more carefully.
I did manage to pick out some brilliant quotes and even found a mantra for personal strength from the last essay entitled Misanthropia.
All in all an easy and entertaining read, but just not quite what I expected.
However, this book was something of a disappointment. I found several gems of brilliance. But several essays left me wondering exactly what planet was this man broadcasting from. And there are times when he reveals the bitter scars of obviously having been a childhood misfit. For someone who espouses strength in character and separation from the herd, he should've concealed these scars much more carefully.
I did manage to pick out some brilliant quotes and even found a mantra for personal strength from the last essay entitled Misanthropia.
All in all an easy and entertaining read, but just not quite what I expected.
Read
March 27, 2014More ecclectic reading for me. Not up my alley, but I just finished reading The Devil's Notebook by Anton Szandor LaVey (author of the Satanic Bible). This is Kind of a collection of humorous essays about non-conformists; one essay was even about The Construction of Artificial Human Companions. Bizarre.
September 15, 2008
if you've never read lavey because of the whole satanic thing, then you've done yourself a disservice. if this book had a different title the majority of people would absolutely love 75% of this book. the man was a great writer and a philosopher that deserves credit as such.
November 13, 2008
This is where the man's real wit and insight comes to light. While The Satanic Bible was merely a stylized amalgamation of others' works, The Devil's Notebook is a collection of LaVey's essays. This is a required read for everyone.
September 18, 2013
I have picked this book in search of controversial and simply intelligent read. I was not a mistaken.
This is my first book of A.S. LaVey and to be honest I am highly impressed.
Great and very deep ideas are to be found in this book.
Indeed a book of wisdom, humor, and dark observations
This is my first book of A.S. LaVey and to be honest I am highly impressed.
Great and very deep ideas are to be found in this book.
Indeed a book of wisdom, humor, and dark observations
Read
March 5, 2014This book further reveals LaVeys' brilliants of not only as a philosopher but as an author. Here he writes on subjects such as The Good guy Badge, The Church of Satan, Cosmic Joy Buzzer. and the Combination Lock Principle.
September 24, 2007
I actually loved this book, witty and acidic, LaVey's portrayal of humankind's double standards had me smiling all the way to work, while guaranteeing that I got a seat to myself.
December 22, 2008
LaVey was an interesting character, and if you can get past the Satanic schtick, his ideas were often interesting and provocative (if not necessarily orginal).
Read
July 2, 2010The book was an extravagent struggle for ecstacy.
May 15, 2013
I'm not a Satanist but I found this would rather interesting. I didn't Satanists were so amusing and funny. You would think they would be all dark and unhappy. Haha 5 star
December 11, 2018
Interesting...
April 26, 2016
Very Nice book
The Devil's Notebook
The Devil's Notebook
June 15, 2016
Some of the best observations on the nature of modern man I've read in a while. Reminder to not feel ashamed for being a conscientious objector and to never be apathetic. Sheeple. They suck :p
May 19, 2025
Not a Satanist, just wanted to learn from the author.
September 20, 2010
I found this novel to be quite informative and it definitely opened my eyes about many things.
March 7, 2025
This review is longer than some of the chapters in this book (2min read) showing Anton's inability of having deeper thoughts.
After reading the first chapter, I put the book down, gave a sigh, and took a fair amount of time to process what I had just read. I surely must hate myself for trying to read it (I know, truly unsatanic of me) because, oh boy, I am in for a ride, and it's not a good one.
I haven’t read many books in my life, but this one is probably the worst. It certainly evokes a strong emotion: embarrassment. It’s no wonder no one wanted to publish this, it would be a certain suicide. I felt so much second-hand embarrassment that I questioned whether I should remove it from my Goodreads. Did Anton really write this? Is this truly the best—or rather, the worst—he could do?
After reading the satanic bible, which was not good but at least had some redeeming qualities, this one did not. Mind you, I am more of a temple of Satan Satanist rather than LaVey-satanist. When I found this title, I expected the worst, as in, the most evil thoughts, words, sentences or paragraphs one could imagine. Instead, I got word salads and the ramblings of a man stuck in the primitive past, unable to comprehend scientific advancements. While Anton appeared relatively modern in his thinking in The Satanic Bible, The Devil's Notebook portrays his cognitive decline, showing his inability to keep up with the times.
Some men will do anything to not go to therapy and Anton chose to write this book instead. 'The Threat of Peace' is a prime example of Anton’s flawed logic—I don’t even know where to begin unpacking it. It’s clear that Anton has a deep need to be seen, heard, and remain the centre of attention. He seems quite obsessed with people talking about Satanism.
While Anton criticises (quite rightfully) Christianity's hypocrisy, Satanism has plenty of these too. Why are my rituals not working? In one chapter, it’s because you want something too much; in another, it’s because you don’t want it enough. How convenient.
'Let Me Entertain You' is actually the only entertaining chapter in this book. Well done, Anton—you did it. You made me giggle. For this very chapter, this book manages to earn one star I am forced to give.
One of the chapters that fascinated me was 'the law of trapezoids'. I never thought that Anton's biggest fear was trapezoids. So much so that the book's chapters are generally short but this one is the second longest (if you also consider page length), right behind 'How to Become a Werewolf...'. I suppose that's a complex process.
How to Become a Werewolf reads like a chapter of wicked furry mindfulness meets water infection.
Anton’s belief that Satanism could make it big is somewhat admirable. However, anyone with an ounce of critical thinking (or just not being gullible) can see that this branch of Satanism has very little to offer. It's quite juvenile, edgy and lacks nuance, logic and academic knowledge (because Anton did voice some anti-scientific views). Anton tries to sound philosophical, to have answers and rules for life but there is nothing one can get from this book.
The lack of research on topics Anton talks about confidently is jarring. Odd edgy language is a rotten cherry on top. The book brought up a wide range of emotions but for the majority, I cringed. Apparently, Satanists are on another level of unfuckable—they need a whole chapter with instructions on making a sex doll. With the views illustrated in the book, I am not surprised there is a need for sex dolls.
After reading the first chapter, I put the book down, gave a sigh, and took a fair amount of time to process what I had just read. I surely must hate myself for trying to read it (I know, truly unsatanic of me) because, oh boy, I am in for a ride, and it's not a good one.
I haven’t read many books in my life, but this one is probably the worst. It certainly evokes a strong emotion: embarrassment. It’s no wonder no one wanted to publish this, it would be a certain suicide. I felt so much second-hand embarrassment that I questioned whether I should remove it from my Goodreads. Did Anton really write this? Is this truly the best—or rather, the worst—he could do?
After reading the satanic bible, which was not good but at least had some redeeming qualities, this one did not. Mind you, I am more of a temple of Satan Satanist rather than LaVey-satanist. When I found this title, I expected the worst, as in, the most evil thoughts, words, sentences or paragraphs one could imagine. Instead, I got word salads and the ramblings of a man stuck in the primitive past, unable to comprehend scientific advancements. While Anton appeared relatively modern in his thinking in The Satanic Bible, The Devil's Notebook portrays his cognitive decline, showing his inability to keep up with the times.
Some men will do anything to not go to therapy and Anton chose to write this book instead. 'The Threat of Peace' is a prime example of Anton’s flawed logic—I don’t even know where to begin unpacking it. It’s clear that Anton has a deep need to be seen, heard, and remain the centre of attention. He seems quite obsessed with people talking about Satanism.
While Anton criticises (quite rightfully) Christianity's hypocrisy, Satanism has plenty of these too. Why are my rituals not working? In one chapter, it’s because you want something too much; in another, it’s because you don’t want it enough. How convenient.
'Let Me Entertain You' is actually the only entertaining chapter in this book. Well done, Anton—you did it. You made me giggle. For this very chapter, this book manages to earn one star I am forced to give.
One of the chapters that fascinated me was 'the law of trapezoids'. I never thought that Anton's biggest fear was trapezoids. So much so that the book's chapters are generally short but this one is the second longest (if you also consider page length), right behind 'How to Become a Werewolf...'. I suppose that's a complex process.
How to Become a Werewolf reads like a chapter of wicked furry mindfulness meets water infection.
Anton’s belief that Satanism could make it big is somewhat admirable. However, anyone with an ounce of critical thinking (or just not being gullible) can see that this branch of Satanism has very little to offer. It's quite juvenile, edgy and lacks nuance, logic and academic knowledge (because Anton did voice some anti-scientific views). Anton tries to sound philosophical, to have answers and rules for life but there is nothing one can get from this book.
The lack of research on topics Anton talks about confidently is jarring. Odd edgy language is a rotten cherry on top. The book brought up a wide range of emotions but for the majority, I cringed. Apparently, Satanists are on another level of unfuckable—they need a whole chapter with instructions on making a sex doll. With the views illustrated in the book, I am not surprised there is a need for sex dolls.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews