Fight ClubFight Club
Score Modern
What it's about
The nameless narrator, trapped in a dull job and suffering from insomnia, falls under the spell of Tyler Durden, a charismatic young man who starts secret after-hours boxing matches in the basements of bars. Fight club grows into something much darker.
Why it's worth reading
Chuck Palahniuk's debut became a cult classic and, through the 1999 film, a cultural touchstone.
You'll love it if you liked
American Psycho
A Clockwork Orange
TrainspottingGood to know
It's violent and satirical. The film follows it closely but changes the ending.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller37 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #135 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #641 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1204 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Gripping, Moving, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The Secret History
Bel Canto
The White Tiger
Arthur & George
DeliveranceExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is Fight Club worth reading?
Yes. Chuck Palahniuk's debut became a cult classic and, through the 1999 film, a cultural touchstone. It ranks #1,204 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Fight Club about?
The nameless narrator, trapped in a dull job and suffering from insomnia, falls under the spell of Tyler Durden, a charismatic young man who starts secret after-hours boxing matches in the basements of bars. Fight club grows into something much darker.
How long does it take to read Fight Club?
About 6 hours (224 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Fight Club?
If you liked it, try American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess or Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh.


















