American Psycho
by Bret Easton Ellis
★ Top 5 book of 1991 · #3 on Best Books of 1991
Patrick Bateman, a Manhattan investment banker who is also a serial killer, narrates this notorious novel in his own voice. It has split opinion, with some places selling it shrink-wrapped while critics and academics praise its transgressive, postmodern edge.
Best for: Mature readers drawn to provocative, controversial fiction that divides critics
American Psycho is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 1991, out of 23 1991 books that cleared our data bar.
What American Psycho is about
It is 1989 in Manhattan, and the Wall Street boom is at full volume. Patrick Bateman is a wealthy investment banker in his mid-20s, engaged to Evelyn in a relationship with no real feeling in it. He narrates in the present tense, and his world is made of labels, restaurant reservations and business cards. Between scenes he stops to give his opinions on 1980s pop music. As the book goes on, contradictions and mistaken identities make you wonder how far his account can be trusted, and the people around him seem unable to hear what he is telling them. Ellis writes a cold, satirical portrait of vanity and emptiness. It is also very violent, and it has been censored in several countries, so it is for readers who can handle disturbing material.
American Psycho on the Best Books of 1991
American Psycho came out in 1991. Of the 23 books first published in 1991 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #3 on our Best Books of 1991 list.
Why it made the list: 2,032 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.8 out of 5 (104 ratings); 89 are reading it right now. The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
It earns Being read right now.
Nearby on the 1991 list
- Outlander Diana Gabaldon, #1
- Needful Things Stephen King, #2
- Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, #4
- The Firm John Grisham, #5
See all Best Books of 1991 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 1990 Best Books of 1992.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 1,812 want to read it, 89 are reading it now and 131 have read it, according to Open Library.
- Ratings: 3.8 out of 5 from 104 Open Library ratings.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 100 | 55% |
| Reader love | 22 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 100 | 20% |
Questions about American Psycho
When was American Psycho published?
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis was first published in 1991.
Was American Psycho one of the best books of 1991?
American Psycho is #3 on BookWard's Best Books of 1991, out of 23 1991 books that cleared our data bar. 2,032 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.8 out of 5 (104 ratings); 89 are reading it right now.
Why is American Psycho on the Best Books of 1991 list?
2,032 readers have shelved it on Open Library; readers rate it 3.8 out of 5 (104 ratings); 89 are reading it right now.
More of the best books of 1991
- Outlander Diana Gabaldon, #1
- Needful Things Stephen King, #2
- Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, #4
- The Firm John Grisham, #5
- Reaper Man Terry Pratchett, #6
- Witches Abroad Terry Pratchett, #7
See the full Best Books of 1991, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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