Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Fight Club

Fight Club
Fight Club
Author: Chuck Palahniuk
An underground classic since its first publication in 1996, Fight Club is widely recognized as one of the most original and provocative novels of the last decade. Now the author adds his own voice to the critical debate he generated. In a new Introduction, he discusses the various interpretations in the popular media of Fight Club <...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780393327342
ISBN-10: 0393327345
Publication Date: 10/17/2005
Pages: 224
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 193

4.2 stars, based on 193 ratings
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Fight Club on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Although I loved the movie, this is a classic case of the book being better than the flick. Fans of the movie owe it to themselves to read this book!
candieb avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I have passed up reading this on my shelf at least 50 times. I absolutely LOVE the movie. It's one of the few that I consider to be nearly perfect in it's execution. I figured the book would be so good that I would forever not like the movie... well, I was wrong. The book is good, but the movie adaptation was such a clustering "screw with your mind" visual medium, that it blows the book away. Without giving away any spoilers, the thing you find out at the end of the movie, I thought was pretty obvious in the book - BUT that could be because I knew the ending, I don't know... the book was "good" but the movie is better - wow, I think I've maybe said that twice in my life!
reviewed Fight Club on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Great book...makes a strong social statement of misguided, disgruntled and disaffected youths of the country. The author writes in such a way that will keep you as confounded as the main character...he bends time writes scenes within scenes. This contributes greatly to the huge plot twist revealed at the end.

As brilliant as the books is, the Brad Pitt/Ed Norton movie actually conveys the passion of Tyler(Pitt) and the bitterness of the main character (Norton) a lot better than the book does. Also , the plot and flow of the story came across much clearer to me on film than in the book (I saw the movie first).
mistysmere avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 140 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I could not finish this book. My brother recommended this book to me. I have never seen the movie. While I can understand why my brother loves this book and why it appeals to so many people, I just could not stomach any more. The plot seems fascinating, but the author has some horrible stomach flipping descriptions. I do most of my reading at meals or before bed. I could not read during these times, because the descriptions were so vivid that I was losing my appetite. And it was causing surreal nightmares. Don't get me wrong. This book has some good writing in it. It just upset my personal sensabilities too much to continue. This book is NOT for the squeemish.
Leeankh avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 139 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
It is hard to write a comment on this book. It is similar to the film, but with fantastic differences too. I like them both for different reasons. The movie was a fantastic adaptation, in my opinion. But the book was fabulous in it's own right. It is dark and seedy and funny all at once. Definitely a good read.
Read All 37 Book Reviews of "Fight Club"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

kellilee avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 66 more book reviews
This novel embodies the nineties by magnifying its mistrusting, rule-rejecting, self-reliant characters - all members of Generation X. It is a dark, twisted tale of self loathing and self destructive behavior which culminates in a surprise revelation that makes you want to start the book again. I saw the movie 15 years ago and then promptly forgot the plot (but managed to not forget Brad Pitt) so the movie did not spoil the book for me. I was impressed with the author's quirky writing style and there is no doubt that this style of writing has contributed to the many lines of this book now embedded in pop culture: "The first rule of Fight Club is..."
reviewed Fight Club on + 5 more book reviews
I haven't read all of Palahniuk's work since I kind of felt the latter stuff like Snuff kind of just delved into his literary pattern of finding small tidbits of information about life and somehow weaving them into a tawdry storyline wasn't all that interesting after he's done it a few times. This, however, is Palahniuk's first book, the fourth chapter of which was just written on it's own and later turned into a novel.

The book I liked a lot for it's edgy, fast moving, stream of consciousness format. I think the difference between his "good" and "bad" books is that books like Choke or Fight Club actually have a tangible, moving story which gets your invested in the characters and storylines more. The little info tidbits like "Here's how you make dynamite" and "Baggage handlers are called throwers" seem incidental and add to the story, vs the later books like Snuff where the story seems incidental to him telling you interesting factoids and anecdotes. Just FYI the book is pretty descriptive in it's violence and language and sex. Definitely for the on board R-X adult reader.

Second, since there's no way to untether this from the movie of the same name, they are different animals. The book/movie relationship reminded me in many ways of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Both books contain similar elements, characters and situations with some changes between the book and movie. In both cases the books are actually edgier and delve more into adult subject matter. One thing I do enjoy more about books and these authors is they can and do tackle subject matter darker than you could in a mass marketed Hollywood film. Palahniuk in this version actually writes an epilogue that details many of the stuff that has arisen since the book was originally published ranging from the movie to the real life "fight clubs" that were inspired by or preceded the book. I found that actually pretty insightful for him to write about his experience going from an unknown author struggling to find an audience to his work to being world renowned and copycatted almost overnight. I suspect other bibliophiles will enjoy it as well.
MNagiliMom avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 27 more book reviews
This is the debut novel of Chuck Palahnuik. I read it when it first came out in PB in 1997. I remember it was wildly different and I liked it very much.
reviewed Fight Club on
I saw the movie before I read the book and I have to say I'm impressed with how faithful the movie was to the source. I really enjoyed it.
insertcoin25 avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 2 more book reviews
Hands down one of the best books I have read. There are parts of the book that the movie left out and I now wish the movie had included. Chuck Palahniuk creates a disturbing individual/individuals that at some point in our lives we can all relate to. Must read!!!
reviewed Fight Club on
I loved the movie "Fight Club", so I decided to read the book. The movie followed the book with only a few exceptions (the most notable being the ending). When Palahniuk describes the fights, they are just so much more vivid than the visuals in the movie. There are some things that just can't be described in film. I was satisfied with this novel.

I would not recommend this to many people because it's just so controversial, but it's a real eye opener.
reviewed Fight Club on + 34 more book reviews
This book rocks. It's written in a simplistic format, but with a very deep story.
scrapbooklady avatar reviewed Fight Club on + 472 more book reviews
"Fight Club" is about the conflict within us for acceptance from our peers, our loved ones and ourselves, as well as, the struggle for complacence, satisfaction and feeling of self worth. If you've seen the movie and decide not to read the book, you're doing yourself a disservice


Genres: