When I was a teenage edgelord I always wanted to read this book but never found the opportunity since I was a good little noodle that was terrified of what my parents would think if they found this on my shelf. Well many years later I find a copy in a bookstore and here we are.

I'm glad I didn't read it when I was a teenager who already thought better of herself than the other kids (as most teenagers do) cause the first section of the book is pretty cringe with how self-congratulatory it is about not following the common path; dunno how smug and unbearable that would have made me. Then it carries on to the overall philosophy of being a Satanist (which I found comical at points considering it's trying to preach independence but conformity at the same time) and then ends off the book with ritualistic nonsense, or at least nonsense to me as someone who looks into Satanism through an atheistic lens. 

There were some good points made throughout the book. The biggest being to focus on the individual self and celebrate it. Also the total acceptance of all sorts of sexuality (for a book written in 1969 I was very impressed with the approval of homosexuality, bisexuality, and even asexuality mentioned in the book). I also thought the chapter about ignoring psychic vampires was ahead of its time--now it comes across as obvious considering how many social media posts you can come across about now letting toxic people in your life--but definitely worth the read. And I like the fact that it debunks the media's portrayal of satanists or other nonconformists (those ExtremeGoth weirdos who steal babies and sacrifice goats) as just the weirdos they are an not satanists. Nobody wants your babies people.

I was disappointed though I think because young me built this book up so much in my head and it didn't deliver as greatly as I had hoped. A majority of the book was ritual nonsense that I felt took away from the message that "Satanism is what you make it" and became more "this is what a Satanist does." I also hated that in one paragraph LaVey gave kudos to Hitler's philosophy on something small. Like no, we do not stan nazis in this house. I also didn't like that in another paragraph later on LaVey spoke ill of those who commit suicide. Again no, we do not villainize those who have gone through enough to decide that suicide is an option.

Overall this was an okay book that I think anybody wanting to gain a grasp on different philosophies and lifestyles should read; but I'm sure there are philosophers with a much better grasp on individualism than LaVey. And no worries, you will not burst into flames if you touch this book nor send a curse upon your entire linage. It's just the writing of another dead guy who believed his thoughts were important enough to write down and publish to the world.