American Psycho: A Novel

"American Psycho" is a satirical novel by Bret Easton Ellis, published in 1991. It follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy, narcissistic investment banker in 1980s New York City, who leads a double life as a serial killer. The book critiques consumerism, superficiality, and the moral vacuity of society, depicting Bateman's obsession with status, aesthetics, and violence. Its graphic content and dark humor generated controversy, but it serves as a commentary on the emptiness of a culture driven by wealth and appearance, ultimately questioning the nature of identity and sanity in a materialistic world.