In his debut novel, Chuck Palahniuk showed himself to be his generation's most visionary satirist. Fight Club's estranged narrator leaves his lackluster job when he comes under the thrall of Tyler Durden, an enigmatic young man who holds secret boxing matches in the basement of bars. There two men fight "as long as they have to." A gloriously original work that exposes what is at the core of our modern world.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Diabolically sharp and funny.”
- Washington Post Book World

“An astonishing debut.... ?a dark, unsettling, and nerve-chafing satire.”
- Seattle Times

“A noir fable with a potent punch.... A genuine, two-fisted talent.”
- Katherine Dunn

“Amazing and artful disturbance. ?Fight Club ?is for everybody who thinks and loves the fine American language.”
- Barry Hannah

About the Author

Chuck Palahniuk is the best-selling author of more than seventeen fictional works, including Fight Club Invisible Monsters, Survivor, Choke, Lullaby, Diary, Haunted, Tell-All, Damned, Doomed, Beautiful You and, most recently, Adjustment Day. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Product details

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton (October 17, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393327345
ISBN-13: 978-0393327342
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
Customer Reviews: 2,362 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,390 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #427 in Self-Help & Psychology Humor
- #337 in Fiction Satire
- #627 in Men's Adventure Fiction (Books)

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5 star		77%
4 star		13%
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2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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Compelling

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018

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I'm a grandmother and watching the movie didn't appeal to me because I don’t like violence until two male friends and my son insisted I had to see it. I was completely drawn in, especially when the real relationship between the protagonist and Tyler was revealed. To me, it was more of a psychological story. The musings about consumerism, the downward spiral of the main character, the creation of something that spins out of control, and the followers willing to do anything to be part of something were fascinating. His complicated relationship with the only female character who confounds, irritates and draws him is woven into a brilliant story. So I had to read the book. It’s a little different and the ending is different. But I was as drawn in to the book as the film. I also enjoyed the Afterword, which gave some background to the creation and aftermath of this book. Great writing and a compelling plot.

45 people found this helpful

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We've All Seen the Movie...Here's Why you Should Read the Book

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2018

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It was nearly impossible for a movie or television show to upstage the book. With Chuck Paluhniak’s “Fight Club,” it was definitely a close battle.

As usual, though, the original product won. Nothing against the movie, which is one of my favorites, but there is no way to inject the rawness of Mr. Paluhniuk’s prose into the entire film.

The writing contains the power of this book, a first-person tale of one man’s battle with the futility of a life that is good, just not good enough. The author brings us into the story just as the main character begins his fall into the rabbit hole, dragging the reader along. It is interesting that the main character never uses his name, though as a plot device this reinforces the characterization.

For those wondering if the book can pull off an ending that can compete with the movie, I can attest the final chapter is very satisfying and is one more reason to pick up the print version. Five well-deserved stars.

30 people found this helpful

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Steve S.

A great read! Completely changed my Perspective!

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2018

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The central idea of the novel, “Fight Club”, is that aggression is an expression of the repressed subversion of the individual against systematic violence in a society where economic exploitation of the section of society has become institutionalized. Indeed, this literary work has affective appeal and quintessence of portrayal since Chuck Palahniuk shows how violence can truly be liberating as an experience. This cult novel goes on to utilize plot, characters, setting so as to bring out the effect of the story and the portrayal. The author uses the theme of the novel to engage the audience and portrays the central content in the face of systematic violence of society. The author portrays duality of human existence via the characters and society so as to present the intertwined relationship between violence and peace.

“Fight Club” is one of the most significant works of literature that resonates in the minds of the readers with the sheer idea of radical societal transformation. This transformation could bring immense change in global society where people presently suffer from the economic hardships and economic system. The author goes on to intertwine the plot, characters and setting so as to manipulate the readers into getting totally engaged to the narrative of the story only to understand how radical the film is in its idea and portrayal of the potential of inner duality of a common man. The cinematic adaptation has only worked to popularize the work of art to the world audience transcending the barriers of culture and communities. Indeed, “Fight Club” is one of finest works of art that talks about societal issues, seeks the identity of the individual, and dares to empower the commoner to be subversive about the entire societal system that is in prevalence. The literary work is truly an exploration of human identity.

19 people found this helpful

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John Barber

Fight Club - Red Pills before Red Pills

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2019

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Fight Club in 1997 was a book way ahead of its time. It was the beginning of blowback against material excess, what it means to be a Gen X man, and the big questions of, “Why are we doing what we do? Even after figuring that part out, why do we continue? What is the point?” It’s funny and satirical. It may not be 100% relatable for those not appreciating sarcasm. Even tougher, relating to the characters in this strange new world we all now inhabit. One of the many lessons of the book, you can’t make your own reality. Gen X tried. Boomers before us. The ether is starting to wear off our Millennial friends. Life has repercussions that affect others and ultimately society itself.

5 people found this helpful

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Alex Bush

Top Five Favorite Novels of All Time

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2015

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Let's talk about Fight Club. I was borderline unhealthily obsessed with the movie version of Fight Club when I first saw it at 16. In many ways, the book is better. Fight Club deals with self-loathing, repressed impulses, and the hypocritical and meaning-starved existence many of us in the developed world feel we live in a manner which never fails to be fun, engaging, and artistic. In addition to the message, as I've gotten older and read more novels I've come to appreciate the style in which Fight Club is written more and more.

PS if this book ends up resonating with your latent aggressive impulses, try boxing, kickboxing or Jiu Jitsu. (But please don't blow stuff up)

22 people found this helpful

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Top international reviews

Denno

It's not about fighting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2019

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This is one of those books that had me constantly thinking "what is this really about"? Yes, it's about blokes that fight but it's not REALLY about that. Some reviewers Seem to think it's about the rise of the lad culture, or that only blokes will understand it, that the author hates women or some other (to me) strange theory. What I think I took from it was disillusionment, shallowness, consumerism, cynicism, angst, confusion, displacement, humour, love, religion.....and fighting, on he's and rules. So, just a few things. I think the important thing to remember it's that once this book, this story, the film didn't exist and that somebody thought about this in their imagination, and that is simply breathtaking when you think about it.

7 people found this helpful

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Neil Lennon

You Must Not Write About Fight Club

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2014

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"Fight Club" has become a hugely influential book, examining what it is to be a modern man. It's theme of mankind being unhappy because they are suppressing natural instincts for violence will strike a chord with fans of the anthropologist Desmond Morris.

Many people will know of "Fight Club" because of the film with Ed Norton and Brad Pitt. The movie does an excellent job of capturing the story and much of the dialogue is taken from this book. In written form though you get further insight into the mind of the unnamed narrator and his views on the world.

As a novel "Fight Club" explores a number of themes as its narrator struggles to regain his sense of identity in the modern world. There are a number of scenes of fairly shocking violence and criminality as the novel tries to break away from societal norms. As such the movie has attracted some mindless fans of anarchistic behaviour but reading the novel you see that while not encouraging such behaviour in the context of the novel it seems entirely justified.

This is a really important novel for the 21st Century as the media around us continues to tell us who we are and how we should behave. "Fight Club" is not telling people to copy its standards of behaviour but it is saying that people should think for themselves and re-evaluate what is important in life.

I am Jack's profound sense of unease.

15 people found this helpful

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Felicity Bookwise

Such unusual structure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2019

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It’s impossible, having seen the film, not to constantly compare the two. Truth is, I really like both. Yet the story and characters come across so differently. My hesitation about it is only the following: Tyler is less defined, more vague than I’d have expected. There are a few plot holes in some of the details of how things really work, that you’d only know from working in a specialist field. And the final impetus in the story seems quite random and disconnected from all the other characters. That aside, it’s a great tale of self-loathing and unlike anything else out there.

2 people found this helpful

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MissEmzilinie

The first rule of Fight Club is don't talk about Fight Club

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2018

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... But if everyone had followed that rule I wouldn't know how much of an amazing novel it is!

The writing is refreshingly poetic for a novel with such violent themes and, even though I knew the film and the "twist" I was instantly hooked always wanting to find out the next moment in the narrator's story.

Graphic? Sometimes but not in an off-putting way. It's raw and its real and its human. It calls to that bit of me, of us all I think, who sometimes just want to feel and be known for a bit more.

A triumph!

One person found this helpful

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A. Quinn

Excellent book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2013

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I watched the film before the book (as I didn't know it originated from a novel at the time) and loved the movie, so I was a little uncertain with reading this as I tend to prefer reading the book before seeing the movie, and vice versa has on occasion ruined a book for me.

However, this was not the case, I loved the book as much as the film, which did this text justice. It's exquisitely written, very cleverly crafted and achieves exactly what it was meant to do - which Palahnuik describes in an extra piece at the end.

If you've seen the film before reading this then you will probably find Edward Norton's voice playing in your head as you read it lol.
If you've not watched the film yet, read this first - you will probably enjoy building your own image rather than having the actors imposed on the characters.

Overall a brilliant piece that lives up to it's reputation.

7 people found this helpful

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A. Majeed

An imaginative satire with so many quotable bits.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2018

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Different in a few ways to the movie this book hasn't disappointed. I found all the familiar characters and quotes from the film which made the plot differences in the book all the more interesting. Not too long fight club achieves its goal of being something not easily defined. Additionally the afterward in this book is a nice touch.

One person found this helpful

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John Tierney

Yes - you can read this after watching the film first

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2010

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In common with numerous early reviewers, the essential question here is "Can I enjoy this book even though (a) I saw the film first and (b) I thought the film was one of the best I have ever seen"?

The answer is "yes". However, you will hear the voices of Norton, Pitt and Bonham-Carter so clearly, because clearly Fincher took the book, expanded on it in very visual and inventive ways, but kept to the narrative (and indeed the spoken lines, extremely faithfully.

Having said that the book does add to the story by adding depth in the way only books can i.e. by stimulating our imagination.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the film - it's a quick read anyway, only around 200 pages. I wonder how fertile Fincher's imagination is to have created so densely imaginative a film.

Even the afterword, which describes how the book was conceived, initially as a short story, is well worth a read - consider it a DVD extra. It shows how an initial unenthusiam grew to a global obsession and ends with the following very perceptive line, which I will paraphrase as I don't have the book in front of me: "Sometimes you don't have to be rich - sometimes being tired is enough."

6 people found this helpful

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potatoes351

Fight Club (It's okay to talk about it)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2014

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Fight Club tells the gritty and disturbing story of our nameless protagonist. A man who suffers from severe insomnia and who's only way to sleep requires him to attend support groups for the sick and dying. Once he meets fellow support group impostor Marla Singer and soap salesman Tyler Durden though, his world is turned upside down as the titular Fight Club is born. As Tyler becomes stronger and seeks out the destruction of capitalism, the narrator must fight his own inner demons.

3 people found this helpful

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Was a great idea

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2020

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Was a great idea, and could have been so much better. I did find it wandering pointlessly at times. Doubt I would have been able to finish it if it was any longer

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K. L. P

Where it all began....

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2015

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Great book. Had to buy another copy because someone permanently borrowed my original years ago !

If you have seen the movie - the book is better. If you have not seen the movie - the book is better ! Much prefer the way the story reads over the movie, the ending is so real (or unreal ?) you feel you are right in amongst it all. A modern classic, but not Palahniuk's best, in my opinion Survivor is a better story and Choke is creapier !

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Jim Roberts

Visionary Piece of Work

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2018

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Gritty and colloquial style that takes some getting used to but a truly visionary piece of work. Looks at the fragmentation of the human mind and the struggle to find meaning in modern society. Not for the faint-hearted!

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Dan Cross

Down with the Man! Power to the people, dude!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 5, 2012

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Fantastic! Pure and simple!

For those few of you who haven't seen the film; this book (which came first, by the way) is original, exciting and profound. Well-written with a unique, matter-of-fact style. A modern classic! The plot serves as a medium to communicate the futility of materialism and it's damaging effects on our character. You can see Chuck talking directly to the reader through the characters of the unnamed narrator and Tyler Durden.

For those who have seen the film - it is exactly like the book...and this is a very, very good thing indeed! Almost lifted off the page and put on the screen, it serves to show just what a masterpiece the book is. The film must have been the easiest film to make, because the director didn't have to change a thing. Even the dialogue is lifted from the pages almost word for word.

Read it. Love it. A literary and entertaining must. Then sell it...cause like, you know, possessions are bad and stuff...(I'd put in the obligatory and obvious quote from the book here...but it's already been done to death)

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Stranger

Great book so I bought the kindle version

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2020

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I love this book so I bought it for kindle, I do find kindle prices quite steep but I made an exception for this

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Jess

Well, we all know the first rule...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2014

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... but I'm going to break it anyway. This book is amazing, it is so well written, so intricate I can only imagine the time and thought that went into this piece. After watching the film I was interested to see how Palahniuk went about writing some particular parts of the novel (I don't want to give any spoilers!) and this book has revealed him to have a true skill in writing. It messes with your head, it makes you uncomfortable, you can empathise with the narrator but more of all it keeps the reader interested and with such a complex story line that would be difficult to achieve. Palahniuk is brilliant and I look forward to reading more of his work.

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TW286

Somewhat disappointing........

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2019

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I read it because my stepson loves the film. I could see the energy in the writing but the story line didn't really do it for me

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