He and his coworkers are all “ strictly conformist in their superficiality”, to the point that they are often mistaken for each other. Indeed, he is obsessed with image: “ American Psycho is one man’s ultimate series of selfies” said Ellis on the book’s 25 th anniversary. His workout and beauty routines are impeccable. He only cares about expensive clothes, watches, restaurants and skincare products. A man and a society without valuesīateman is materialistic and narcissistic. Leading publishers Alfred J.Knopf, however, went to print with the paperback edition under the Vintage imprint.

After an enormous number of complaints and petitions to ban the book, Simon & Schuster dropped Ellis before the publication of the hardback.

The book is written in the present-tense and first-person, compelling the reader to see things from Bateman’s standpoint and to reflect upon the society we live in. By night, he is a sadistic serial killer who rapes, tortures, dismembers, and even eats his victims: women, colleagues, children, homeless men, and dogs. He goes to the most exclusive parties, clubs, and restaurants in Manhattan, with his equally rich coworkers and girlfriend. American Psycho portrays the darkest side of society through the disturbing story of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New Yorker who leads a double life.īy day, he is a successful Wall Street yuppie.

In 1991 there appeared the controversial novel American Psycho, the third book by the American writer, director, and screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis, one of the group of late-eighties-early-nineties New York literary starlets dubbed ‘ The Brat Pack,’ which included Jay McInerney and Tama Janowitz.

Patrick bateman american psycho book