The Devil's Notebook

A noir grimoire. The Devil's Notebook is a riveting collection of wisdom, humor and dark observations by the founder of The Church of Satan, Anton LaVey. The High Priest speculates on such topics as nonconformity, occult faddism, erotic politics, the 'Goodguy badge,' demoralization and the construction of artificial human companions. Like P.T. Barnum, Ben Hecht and H.L. Mencken before him, LaVey zeroes in on humankind's limitless capacity for self-deceit and self-denial. Included are instructions for the creation of what LaVey terms 'total environments,' or places of magical evocation, where the enlightened may escape the deleterious effects of contemporary existence. The Devil's Notebook is a true grimoire, as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1992. Introduction by Adam Parfrey. Anton LaVey's sharpest essays on culture, psychology, and the occult - an underground classic of modern Satanic thought. The Devil's Notebook gathers Anton Szandor LaVey's essays on nonconformity, culture, and the psychology of modern life into one of the most accessible and frequently cited books in the Satanic canon. Best known as the founder of the Church of Satan and author of The Satanic Bible, LaVey turns his attention here to everyday behavior, social performance, and the ways individuals construct identity and belief in contemporary society. Written with wit, provocation, and observational precision, these essays explore subjects ranging from occult fads and mass psychology to erotic politics, artificial companions, and what LaVey calls 'total environments' - carefully designed personal spaces meant to shape mood, perception, and ritual experience. Drawing comparisons to satirists and cultural critics such as H. L. Mencken and P. T. Barnum, LaVey examines human self-deception, conformity, and spectacle with a mix of humor and philosophical commentary. First published in 1992, The Devil's Notebook has become a key text for readers interested in modern Satanism, occult philosophy, and countercultural critique. This edition includes an introduction by Adam Parfrey, founder of Feral House, placing the work within the broader history of alternative religion, underground publishing, and late-twentieth-century cultural dissent. A widely read entry point into LaVey's thought and a core title for readers of occult studies, modern Satanism, cultural criticism, and alternative spirituality.