Massimo Introvigne is professor of Sociology of Religions at Pontifical Salesian University in Torino, Italy, and founder and managing director of CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions. He is the author of some sixty books on new religious movements, sociology of religions, and esotericism.

"This is a work with a truly fascinating collection of absorbing stories, but it is not just that. Introvigne combines his impressive knowledge of facts, allegations, and pure fabrications with a skilful, and oft-times playful, blending of theoretical analysis and understanding of both the foibles and the extraordinary reaches of the human imagination." - Eileen Barker, in: Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe, Vol. 9 No. 1"There is much to praise here and, in summary, Introvigne’s book is the best, most detailed, and broadest overview of Satanism produced thus far." - Per Faxneld, Mid-Sweden University, in: Reading Religion"Introvigne provides an encyclopedic summary of virtually every writing about Satanism and every group associated with it in Western Europe and the US from the later 17th century to the present. [...] Sixty-plus pages of bibliography offer readers tools for further study. Of interest to students and scholars of new religious movements, the occult, and current religious phenomena." - C. H. Lippy, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, in: Choice Connect"Because of its encyclopedic scope and detailed analysis, this volume will be an essential reference work for anyone interested in Satanism and its history, anti-Satanism and the general social fears of deviant individuals and groups, and broader issues concerning the interaction of marginal religious groups and their social environments." - Eugene V. Gallagher, Connecticut College, in: Nova Religio, Vol. 21 No. 4

Massimo Introvigne is professor of Sociology of Religions at Pontifical Salesian University in Torino, Italy, and founder and managing director of CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions. He is the author of some sixty books on new religious movements, sociology of religions, and esotericism.

"This is a work with a truly fascinating collection of absorbing stories, but it is not just that. Introvigne combines his impressive knowledge of facts, allegations, and pure fabrications with a skilful, and oft-times playful, blending of theoretical analysis and understanding of both the foibles and the extraordinary reaches of the human imagination." - Eileen Barker, in: Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe, Vol. 9 No. 1"There is much to praise here and, in summary, Introvigne’s book is the best, most detailed, and broadest overview of Satanism produced thus far." - Per Faxneld, Mid-Sweden University, in: Reading Religion"Introvigne provides an encyclopedic summary of virtually every writing about Satanism and every group associated with it in Western Europe and the US from the later 17th century to the present. [...] Sixty-plus pages of bibliography offer readers tools for further study. Of interest to students and scholars of new religious movements, the occult, and current religious phenomena." - C. H. Lippy, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, in: Choice Connect"Because of its encyclopedic scope and detailed analysis, this volume will be an essential reference work for anyone interested in Satanism and its history, anti-Satanism and the general social fears of deviant individuals and groups, and broader issues concerning the interaction of marginal religious groups and their social environments." - Eugene V. Gallagher, Connecticut College, in: Nova Religio, Vol. 21 No. 4

Massimo Introvigne is professor of Sociology of Religions at Pontifical Salesian University in Torino, Italy, and founder and managing director of CESNUR, the Center for Studies on New Religions. He is the author of some sixty books on new religious movements, sociology of religions, and esotericism.

"This is a work with a truly fascinating collection of absorbing stories, but it is not just that. Introvigne combines his impressive knowledge of facts, allegations, and pure fabrications with a skilful, and oft-times playful, blending of theoretical analysis and understanding of both the foibles and the extraordinary reaches of the human imagination." - Eileen Barker, in: Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe, Vol. 9 No. 1"There is much to praise here and, in summary, Introvigne’s book is the best, most detailed, and broadest overview of Satanism produced thus far." - Per Faxneld, Mid-Sweden University, in: Reading Religion"Introvigne provides an encyclopedic summary of virtually every writing about Satanism and every group associated with it in Western Europe and the US from the later 17th century to the present. [...] Sixty-plus pages of bibliography offer readers tools for further study. Of interest to students and scholars of new religious movements, the occult, and current religious phenomena." - C. H. Lippy, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, in: Choice Connect"Because of its encyclopedic scope and detailed analysis, this volume will be an essential reference work for anyone interested in Satanism and its history, anti-Satanism and the general social fears of deviant individuals and groups, and broader issues concerning the interaction of marginal religious groups and their social environments." - Eugene V. Gallagher, Connecticut College, in: Nova Religio, Vol. 21 No. 4