American Psycho
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
American Psycho is a polarizing work of dark satire that explores the shallow and violent world of 1980s Manhattan through a reprehensible first-person perspective. While many readers appreciate its social commentary and the "perfect" narration of the audiobook version, it is notorious for extreme graphic violence and body horror that frequently exceeds the intensity of its film adaptation. Opinions are mixed regarding its pacing, with some finding the focus on wealthy socialite culture tedious, while others view the repetitive descriptions as a purposeful satirical device.
Pros
- Highly effective social satire and commentary on 1980s consumerism
- Excellent audiobook narration that enhances the character's perspective
- Memorable and visceral scenes that leave a lasting impact on horror fans
- Compelling use of an unreliable narrator to create ambiguity
Cons
- Extreme graphic violence and body horror can be overwhelming
- Specific scenes involving animal cruelty (harming a puppy) are dealbreakers for many readers
- Heavy focus on the mundane lives of "boring rich people" can feel tedious
- Significantly more disturbing and graphic than the movie version
Caveats
- The book is meant to be read as satire, which may be missed by those expecting a traditional horror novel
- The narrator is highly unreliable; readers should not assume every event described actually occurred
- Not recommended for the faint of heart or those sensitive to animal abuse
Best for
- Readers who enjoy dark satire and social commentary
- Fans of extreme horror and body horror
- Audiobook listeners looking for high-quality narration
- Those interested in deep dives into reprehensible characters
Avoid if
- You are sensitive to depictions of animal cruelty
- You prefer the more restrained tone of the movie adaptation
- You find repetitive descriptions of wealth and fashion boring
- You want a protagonist you can root for
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a set of 16 mentions with a median age of approximately 423 days, primarily from horror and book recommendation communities.
Sentiment
12 positive (46%) · 7 mixed (27%) · 7 negative (27%)
Trust + time weighted score: +19% · raw score 19%
What redditors said (10 of 26)
At the end, it left me feeling the same way Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho affected me. Another book that I actually physically threw away several times, then dug out of the trash because brilliant writing always wins over content to me.
My most hated is American Psycho
American Psycho. The only book that's ever made me feel physically ill.
Some examples from what I’ve read: The Grapes of Wrath, American Psycho, Bonfire of the Vanities, My Antonia, Private Citizens by Tulathimutte.
American Psycho Patrick Bateman
American Psycho for sure.
I dnfed American Psycho.
American Psycho, by Brett Easton Ellis. The moment from the end of the ATM chapter to the start of the next is amazing.
A book like American Psycho relies on the fact that it's a book and that it does not have to describe every object in the scene
It feels a little cliche, but American Psycho.
Compare
American Psycho vs Dark MatterAmerican Psycho vs MiseryAmerican Psycho vs Books of Blood
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