The Devil's Notebook by Anton Szandor LaVey Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.35 You Save: $4.60 (42%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.68 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Devil's Notebook
Book Review: An Entertaining Read
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is a collection of essays, written by Mr. (pope?) Lavey. Judging by the introduction, written by Adam Parfrey, it is some sort of tribute to him - though I am not for sure. It is good for entertainment, though not a whoooole lot else... but then again, books are a form of media, and the whole purpose of media is to entertain, so...Alright, this is deffinatly a great read! I totally, TOTALLY loved the Diabolica, Duck-Billed Platitudes, and How to Be a God! They are all very entertaining and humorous (though I'm not sure whether or not they're supposed to be). Also, the whole book is pretty motivational for that little screaming, raving satanist in all of us.
That's about all there is to say about it. I mean, honestly, at only 147 pages, it's not a huge chunk of reading. I read it over one weekend. Not great, but not bad - not by any means bad - hence three stars.
Book Review: An interesting read, no doubt. However...
Summary: 4 Stars
I feel kind of put off, if only because I have trouble giving this work more credit, simply because I find myself wondering how much was actually LaVey's own work. Run a google search on "LaVey", and you'll come across many websites, and many articles noting the fact that ASL was apparently quite a habitual falsifier. According to testimonies, research, and official documents, much of the life LaVey played up to the public, was built around tall tales. Everything from his name, to his personal holdings, to many of his "infamous" life experiences, were all made up or heavily exaggerated (apparently much of "The Satanic Bible" was just lifted from previous works, with no credit being given to said volumes.) Not to say that he isn't still an interesting individual from a psychological standpoint- it must have taken quite a sense of character for him to build up such a lifestyle, and, maybe he did indeed have a reason for all that carrying-on? Anyways, read this book for a collection of interesting, and sometimes thought provoking essays, whether they were all written by him or not.Book Review: Awe inspiring to this teen.
Summary: 5 Stars
When i was a child I was pretty much a loner & a book-worm. Coming across 3 books (The Devil's Notebook[my fav], The Satanic Bible & Satanic Rituals) opened my eyes & I won't say taught but showed me why the world was so backwards at times. I really enjoyed this book & the other 2 I found so many years back. I recommend reading them to anyone. I'm going to read Satan Speaks next & i hope I enjoy it as much as those.Book Review: Babble of a bitter man
Summary: 3 Stars
Anton LaVey was an intelligent man. This book however has sparse intelligent thoughts amidst a book full of babble by an angry man turned bitter by age. Often I found myself skimming thru pages wondering if Anton was simply trying to fill this already thin book. Most of the paragraphs are noticeably elongated as if he were being paid by the word. The problem is this book has little to say. While there are some very good thoughts in this book there are simply to few to justify the printing process. Like his past works, he often falls into his own traps. Most of the points he makes in this book could easily be turned upon himself. Any religion is simply a point of view and Satanism is no different. I think Mr. LaVey started believing his own hype.Book Review: Black Left Hand
Summary: 5 Stars
Great book. Not The Satanic Bible, better in some cases. Knowledge always seems to lurk in dark places.