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Shock Induction
From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes a dark, satirical parable about a string of mysterious high school disappearances, the seedy underbellies of billionaires, and the tough choices we make in the face of an uncertain future.In Shock Induction, the best and brightest students at a seemingly reputable high school are disappearing. Every day it seems another overachiever is lost to an apparent suicide. But something far more sinister is lurking beneath the surface. These kids have been under surveillance since birth, monitored and measured by an online service called “Greener Pastures.” It’s here, in Greener Pastures, that billionaires observe and recruit the next generation of talent. The highest test scores, the best grades, and the most niche extracurriculars just might land these teenagers an enticing offer at auction. A couple billion dollars in exchange for the remainder of your life and intellectual labor sounds like a pretty fair deal—doesn’t it? In a high school only Chuck Palahniuk could imagine, students must choose between the risk of following their dreams or the security of money and a lifetime of servitude to the world’s wealthiest and most elite—but how much of a choice do they truly have?
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
399 people are currently reading
19894 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Palahniuk
167 books132k followersWritten in stolen moments under truck chassis and on park benches to a soundtrack of The Downward Spiral and Pablo Honey, Fight Club came into existence. The adaptation of Fight Club was a flop at the box office, but achieved cult status on DVD. The film’s popularity drove sales of the novel. Chuck put out two novels in 1999, Survivor and Invisible Monsters. Choke, published in 2001, became Chuck’s first New York Times bestseller. Chuck’s work has always been infused with personal experience, and his next novel, Lullaby, was no exception. Chuck credits writing Lullaby with helping him cope with the tragic death of his father. Diary and the non-fiction guide to Portland, Fugitives and Refugees, were released in 2003. While on the road in support of Diary, Chuck began reading a short story entitled 'Guts,' which would eventually become part of the novel Haunted.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
October 11, 2024
There’s something about reading a Chuck Palahniuk book that has me saying “Oh Chuck” about a thousand times and the first page had me cackling so much that I had to stop and read it aloud to my partner. I am always enthralled and perpetually floored by the technique and style choices Palahniuk uses to get a point across and that’s the epitome of Shock Induction.
I’ve been a fan of Palahniuk since reading Invisible Monsters Remix and have been die hard ever since, I’m a genuine believer that Palahniuk is a genius writer that few are able to actually grasp. With that being said, especially in comparison to Not Forever, But For Now, this is his most accessible read that he’s released in years.
The plot is easy to follow, the main character is loveable and the stylistic choices are hilarity built out of pure chaos and satire. For fans, Palahniuk pulls no punches but he’s also reigned in enough that the masses can enjoy and follow his commentary on the billionaires that seem to rule our world. Also that cover!
Some of my favourite quotes
“Clarity is paramount. Even when the goal is to create confusion.”
‘“You’re competent but not complacent.”’
“Change one story with another, and you can change all of human reality.”
“… love taken to the next level with gin and melancholy.”
“You can spend your whole life waiting for the pattern to repeat. Jay Gatsby did.”
I’ve been a fan of Palahniuk since reading Invisible Monsters Remix and have been die hard ever since, I’m a genuine believer that Palahniuk is a genius writer that few are able to actually grasp. With that being said, especially in comparison to Not Forever, But For Now, this is his most accessible read that he’s released in years.
The plot is easy to follow, the main character is loveable and the stylistic choices are hilarity built out of pure chaos and satire. For fans, Palahniuk pulls no punches but he’s also reigned in enough that the masses can enjoy and follow his commentary on the billionaires that seem to rule our world. Also that cover!
Some of my favourite quotes
“Clarity is paramount. Even when the goal is to create confusion.”
‘“You’re competent but not complacent.”’
“Change one story with another, and you can change all of human reality.”
“… love taken to the next level with gin and melancholy.”
“You can spend your whole life waiting for the pattern to repeat. Jay Gatsby did.”
June 18, 2024
I’ve been a fan of Chuck’s for years. I subscribe to his newsletter, attended several live events and met him a couple of times. He’s always been very fan-oriented and a cool guy in general, and he’s inspired a lot of us to write our own stuff. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I was honored to get an ARC of this for early review.
“Shock Induction” is a bit of a new writing style for Chuck, this one laid out in passages of varying lengths, many of which are only short paragraphs. (Which to me made them punchier and more effective.) I think it’s great that he’s trying more experimental things with his writing these days, but personally I think I will always prefer his more straightforward narratives. There were gems in this book for sure, classic Palahniuk quotes, vivid visuals, dark dark humor and some wonderful ideas. Overall, though, I was mostly lost. I wanted so badly to love it the way I loved his books from “the old days,” but unfortunately this one I think was too over my head. It’s one of those “It’s not you, it’s me” situations.
I can’t go into a lot of specifics for the sake of spoiling things, but I’ll elaborate some. For a large chunk of this book I was thinking, “Where the Hell is this going?” But I couldn’t stop reading it. (Until about halfway through, when I had a tougher time.) I really liked the scene that was referenced by the cover art. (An excellent choice for the cover, BTW, and the narrative even circles back to it later.) As with most of Chuck’s books, many screwed up “facts” were presented that made me wonder if he was making them up or if there might be some truth to at least a couple of them, but I wasn’t about to Google any of that shit. I always “learn” so much from him!
The midpoint of the book was where the problem started, as it stopped making much sense to me. This is essentially a novel about mind control techniques that tries to also demonstrate those techniques in a meta way, but that section of the narrative completely lost me. Many sections of this story were written in a prose that was meant to invoke a certain feeling, either sleepiness or hyper focus or something else, based on how he used language and repeated words/consonants, etc. (IF I’m understanding correctly.) But the problem was that doing so sacrificed the logic of the sentences. (In the afterword Chuck himself mentions a strong “Alice in Wonderland” influence and it definitely shows!)
Related: Chuck was also going for a sort of fever dream/drug trip quality at times, which I’m not opposed to in any way, but the narrative pieces were too scattered. My focus was pulled in too many directions from one passage to the next. (I get that the various methods of “Induction” were being demonstrated, but this didn’t help me understand the story.) There’s also a plot element involving drug infused paper. Reading this on Kindle might have lessened the psychological effect that was supposed to have on me as the reader. (Though that’s a pretty neat idea for anyone reading a physical copy.)
My biggest compliment for the book was that I really liked the main character, Samantha. There’s a line early on about how it’s important that we, the reader, love Samantha before we hate her. Was I supposed to hate her at some point? Because I never did. In fact, despite this being one of my lesser favorites from Palahniuk’s catalog, I’d say that Samantha is one of his most memorable characters!
In the editor’s intro it says that “Passages from classic novels hide in plain sight.” I sort of get why this technique was used given the overall literary themes, but also, these sections just contributed to my overall confusion with the plot. (In case it isn’t clear yet, I kind of felt like a fucking idiot during parts of this experience. I don’t THINK it was the induction technique…)
Sadly, I clearly struggled with a lot of this novel. It might be easier on a second read. There is a really cool concept here, but it also seemed as if a couple of different core story ideas were at play and the one that I really liked was barely explored, and also not resolved at the end. At times the different plot points seemed so far apart from each other that they could’ve been separated into different books. The more I thought about it, also, the plotline that I liked kind of negated the other plotline altogether.
This one was definitely a headscratcher. I’m still a Palahniuk fan, but I have so many questions after reading this. I just realized it’s probably weird that I’ve been calling him “Chuck” in this review, but I don’t think he would mind.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
*Normally I try to mention the biggest trigger warnings in my reviews. If you have any triggers at all, I typically wouldn’t recommend Chuck’s books in general and this one has so many that to list them would take a very long time. There’s definitely some VERY ugly stuff in here.
“Shock Induction” is a bit of a new writing style for Chuck, this one laid out in passages of varying lengths, many of which are only short paragraphs. (Which to me made them punchier and more effective.) I think it’s great that he’s trying more experimental things with his writing these days, but personally I think I will always prefer his more straightforward narratives. There were gems in this book for sure, classic Palahniuk quotes, vivid visuals, dark dark humor and some wonderful ideas. Overall, though, I was mostly lost. I wanted so badly to love it the way I loved his books from “the old days,” but unfortunately this one I think was too over my head. It’s one of those “It’s not you, it’s me” situations.
I can’t go into a lot of specifics for the sake of spoiling things, but I’ll elaborate some. For a large chunk of this book I was thinking, “Where the Hell is this going?” But I couldn’t stop reading it. (Until about halfway through, when I had a tougher time.) I really liked the scene that was referenced by the cover art. (An excellent choice for the cover, BTW, and the narrative even circles back to it later.) As with most of Chuck’s books, many screwed up “facts” were presented that made me wonder if he was making them up or if there might be some truth to at least a couple of them, but I wasn’t about to Google any of that shit. I always “learn” so much from him!
The midpoint of the book was where the problem started, as it stopped making much sense to me. This is essentially a novel about mind control techniques that tries to also demonstrate those techniques in a meta way, but that section of the narrative completely lost me. Many sections of this story were written in a prose that was meant to invoke a certain feeling, either sleepiness or hyper focus or something else, based on how he used language and repeated words/consonants, etc. (IF I’m understanding correctly.) But the problem was that doing so sacrificed the logic of the sentences. (In the afterword Chuck himself mentions a strong “Alice in Wonderland” influence and it definitely shows!)
Related: Chuck was also going for a sort of fever dream/drug trip quality at times, which I’m not opposed to in any way, but the narrative pieces were too scattered. My focus was pulled in too many directions from one passage to the next. (I get that the various methods of “Induction” were being demonstrated, but this didn’t help me understand the story.) There’s also a plot element involving drug infused paper. Reading this on Kindle might have lessened the psychological effect that was supposed to have on me as the reader. (Though that’s a pretty neat idea for anyone reading a physical copy.)
My biggest compliment for the book was that I really liked the main character, Samantha. There’s a line early on about how it’s important that we, the reader, love Samantha before we hate her. Was I supposed to hate her at some point? Because I never did. In fact, despite this being one of my lesser favorites from Palahniuk’s catalog, I’d say that Samantha is one of his most memorable characters!
In the editor’s intro it says that “Passages from classic novels hide in plain sight.” I sort of get why this technique was used given the overall literary themes, but also, these sections just contributed to my overall confusion with the plot. (In case it isn’t clear yet, I kind of felt like a fucking idiot during parts of this experience. I don’t THINK it was the induction technique…)
Sadly, I clearly struggled with a lot of this novel. It might be easier on a second read. There is a really cool concept here, but it also seemed as if a couple of different core story ideas were at play and the one that I really liked was barely explored, and also not resolved at the end. At times the different plot points seemed so far apart from each other that they could’ve been separated into different books. The more I thought about it, also, the plotline that I liked kind of negated the other plotline altogether.
This one was definitely a headscratcher. I’m still a Palahniuk fan, but I have so many questions after reading this. I just realized it’s probably weird that I’ve been calling him “Chuck” in this review, but I don’t think he would mind.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
*Normally I try to mention the biggest trigger warnings in my reviews. If you have any triggers at all, I typically wouldn’t recommend Chuck’s books in general and this one has so many that to list them would take a very long time. There’s definitely some VERY ugly stuff in here.
November 27, 2024
I’m sure Greener Pastures won’t be chasing me down to be part of their group as I didn’t really get this book! 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️!
September 30, 2024
In Chuck Palahniuk's latest literary rollercoaster, "Shock Induction," we're plunged headfirst into a world where the American Dream has mutated into a nightmarish auction block of young souls. It's a place where your SAT scores might just land you a billion-dollar bid from a faceless oligarch, eager to snap up the next world-changing prodigy. But at what cost? Palahniuk, the maestro of mayhem who gave us "Fight Club," is back with a vengeance, serving up a cocktail of dark satire, biting social commentary, and enough plot twists to give you whiplash.
The Premise: Welcome to Greener Pastures (It's Not What You Think)
Picture this: You're a high school kid with a 4.0 GPA and a knack for solving differential equations in your sleep. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. In Palahniuk's twisted vision, you're not dreaming of college acceptance letters – you're waiting to see how much your life will fetch at auction. Welcome to Greener Pastures, a shadowy online marketplace where the best and brightest are sold off to the highest bidder.
Our protagonist, Samantha Deel, is just such a commodity. Smart, talented, and with a voice that could melt hearts (if only she hadn't deafened herself in a misguided act of rebellion). Sam's journey from potential Queen of England to anarchist hellbent on toppling the system is a wild ride that'll leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about success, free will, and the true price of ambition.
Style and Structure: A Mind-Bending Maze
If you're familiar with Palahniuk's work, you know he's not one for linear storytelling or hand-holding. "Shock Induction" is no exception. The narrative bounces between past and present, reality and drug-induced hallucination, often leaving the reader (and Sam herself) unsure of what's actually happening. It's disorienting, sure, but it's also brilliant – mirroring the confusion and chaos of Sam's world.
Palahniuk's prose is a fever dream of pop culture references, medical jargon, and biting one-liners. He weaves in snippets of classic literature, creating a patchwork quilt of intertextuality that'll have English majors salivating. It's dense, it's challenging, and it's absolutely worth the effort.
Key Themes: The Dark Side of Ambition
1. The Commodification of Talent
- Kids as products to be bought and sold
- The pressure to perform and "increase your value"
2. The Illusion of Choice
- Are we really free to choose our paths?
- The manipulation of desire and ambition
3. The Cost of Success
- What are we willing to sacrifice for "greatness"?
- The hollow victory of achieving someone else's dreams
4. Rebellion and Its Consequences
- The allure and danger of bucking the system
- Can true change come from within a corrupt structure?
Characters: A Rogues' Gallery of the Brilliant and Broken
- Samantha Deel: Our protagonist, a reluctant prodigy with a self-destructive streak
- Mrs. Terry: The Red Death herself, a recruiter for Greener Pastures with ice in her veins
- War Dog: Sam's mysterious "bodyguard" in the dreamscape – is he friend or foe?
- The Director: The mastermind behind Greener Pastures, a chilling vision of capitalist excess
Standout Scenes: When Palahniuk Goes for the Jugular
- The Paris "Date": A fever dream of romance, deception, and stolen innocence
- The Stavros Family Septic Tank Saga: Dark comedy at its finest (or most nauseating)
- The Orphanage Gala: A decadent dance of the damned
- The Limnic Eruption: Nature's revenge in a stunning climax
The Good, The Bad, and The Utterly Deranged
The Good:
- Razor-sharp social commentary
- Mind-bending narrative structure
- Unforgettable imagery and set pieces
- A plot that keeps you guessing until the very end
The Not-So-Good:
- Can be difficult to follow at times
- Some readers may find the content disturbing
- Characters can feel more like mouthpieces for ideas than fully-realized people
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of Palahniuk's previous work
- Readers who enjoy challenging, experimental fiction
- Anyone interested in scathing critiques of late-stage capitalism
- Those who don't mind their satire with a hefty dose of the grotesque
Final Verdict: A Twisted Triumph
"Shock Induction" is not an easy read, but it's an important one. Palahniuk has crafted a nightmare vision of meritocracy gone mad, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition, free will, and the true cost of "success." It's a book that will haunt you long after you've turned the final page, leaving you questioning the very fabric of our achievement-obsessed society.
Is it perfect? No. Is it messy, confusing, and occasionally infuriating? Absolutely. But that's part of its charm. "Shock Induction" is a literary hand grenade, designed to blow apart your preconceptions and leave you sifting through the rubble of your beliefs.
So, dear reader, are you ready to enter the auction? Your future self is waiting on the bidding block. The only question is: How much are you worth?
The Premise: Welcome to Greener Pastures (It's Not What You Think)
Picture this: You're a high school kid with a 4.0 GPA and a knack for solving differential equations in your sleep. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. In Palahniuk's twisted vision, you're not dreaming of college acceptance letters – you're waiting to see how much your life will fetch at auction. Welcome to Greener Pastures, a shadowy online marketplace where the best and brightest are sold off to the highest bidder.
Our protagonist, Samantha Deel, is just such a commodity. Smart, talented, and with a voice that could melt hearts (if only she hadn't deafened herself in a misguided act of rebellion). Sam's journey from potential Queen of England to anarchist hellbent on toppling the system is a wild ride that'll leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about success, free will, and the true price of ambition.
Style and Structure: A Mind-Bending Maze
If you're familiar with Palahniuk's work, you know he's not one for linear storytelling or hand-holding. "Shock Induction" is no exception. The narrative bounces between past and present, reality and drug-induced hallucination, often leaving the reader (and Sam herself) unsure of what's actually happening. It's disorienting, sure, but it's also brilliant – mirroring the confusion and chaos of Sam's world.
Palahniuk's prose is a fever dream of pop culture references, medical jargon, and biting one-liners. He weaves in snippets of classic literature, creating a patchwork quilt of intertextuality that'll have English majors salivating. It's dense, it's challenging, and it's absolutely worth the effort.
Key Themes: The Dark Side of Ambition
1. The Commodification of Talent
- Kids as products to be bought and sold
- The pressure to perform and "increase your value"
2. The Illusion of Choice
- Are we really free to choose our paths?
- The manipulation of desire and ambition
3. The Cost of Success
- What are we willing to sacrifice for "greatness"?
- The hollow victory of achieving someone else's dreams
4. Rebellion and Its Consequences
- The allure and danger of bucking the system
- Can true change come from within a corrupt structure?
Characters: A Rogues' Gallery of the Brilliant and Broken
- Samantha Deel: Our protagonist, a reluctant prodigy with a self-destructive streak
- Mrs. Terry: The Red Death herself, a recruiter for Greener Pastures with ice in her veins
- War Dog: Sam's mysterious "bodyguard" in the dreamscape – is he friend or foe?
- The Director: The mastermind behind Greener Pastures, a chilling vision of capitalist excess
Standout Scenes: When Palahniuk Goes for the Jugular
- The Paris "Date": A fever dream of romance, deception, and stolen innocence
- The Stavros Family Septic Tank Saga: Dark comedy at its finest (or most nauseating)
- The Orphanage Gala: A decadent dance of the damned
- The Limnic Eruption: Nature's revenge in a stunning climax
The Good, The Bad, and The Utterly Deranged
The Good:
- Razor-sharp social commentary
- Mind-bending narrative structure
- Unforgettable imagery and set pieces
- A plot that keeps you guessing until the very end
The Not-So-Good:
- Can be difficult to follow at times
- Some readers may find the content disturbing
- Characters can feel more like mouthpieces for ideas than fully-realized people
Who Should Read This Book?
- Fans of Palahniuk's previous work
- Readers who enjoy challenging, experimental fiction
- Anyone interested in scathing critiques of late-stage capitalism
- Those who don't mind their satire with a hefty dose of the grotesque
Final Verdict: A Twisted Triumph
"Shock Induction" is not an easy read, but it's an important one. Palahniuk has crafted a nightmare vision of meritocracy gone mad, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about ambition, free will, and the true cost of "success." It's a book that will haunt you long after you've turned the final page, leaving you questioning the very fabric of our achievement-obsessed society.
Is it perfect? No. Is it messy, confusing, and occasionally infuriating? Absolutely. But that's part of its charm. "Shock Induction" is a literary hand grenade, designed to blow apart your preconceptions and leave you sifting through the rubble of your beliefs.
So, dear reader, are you ready to enter the auction? Your future self is waiting on the bidding block. The only question is: How much are you worth?
November 6, 2024
avocado 🥑
May 3, 2025
Samantha Deel is a teenager with a less than stellar home life trying to navigate a questionable high school experience. Sounds normal? It is far from it.
I liked the start of it. In true Chuck fashion it dove right into weird wild stuff. The problem occurred when it strayed too far, and it diluted itself. To be clear, his stuff is weird and wild by design. But some of his books have pulled it together in a way that is exceptional. This one did not. I like his writing voice, I like what he is about, so I keep rolling through the less than meh ones in hopes a good one will land next.
I really did like the core message, or at least what I perceived it to be.
I really, really did like the Acknowledgements. The author gave up a bit of his own backstory, and I really appreciate that.
Three stars to a book that didn’t entirely disappoint.
FAV QUOTE BECAUSE I AM ADDICTED TO FINDING THEM AND SHARING THEM:
“’When you sign your married name, your signature is never as beautiful as the maiden name you learned to write while growing up.’ Women never like to admit that, she says. ‘All your married life, your hand hates signing anything. Your hand fights this constant betrayal of the original you.’”
I liked the start of it. In true Chuck fashion it dove right into weird wild stuff. The problem occurred when it strayed too far, and it diluted itself. To be clear, his stuff is weird and wild by design. But some of his books have pulled it together in a way that is exceptional. This one did not. I like his writing voice, I like what he is about, so I keep rolling through the less than meh ones in hopes a good one will land next.
I really did like the core message, or at least what I perceived it to be.
I really, really did like the Acknowledgements. The author gave up a bit of his own backstory, and I really appreciate that.
Three stars to a book that didn’t entirely disappoint.
FAV QUOTE BECAUSE I AM ADDICTED TO FINDING THEM AND SHARING THEM:
“’When you sign your married name, your signature is never as beautiful as the maiden name you learned to write while growing up.’ Women never like to admit that, she says. ‘All your married life, your hand hates signing anything. Your hand fights this constant betrayal of the original you.’”
October 8, 2024
I honestly cannot even review this because I was far too dumb to even begin to understand what I just read. This was so jumbled and all over the place that I just gave up trying to figure it out because I had a headache. Very Alice in Wonderland.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for this very underwhelming but honest review
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for this very underwhelming but honest review
October 14, 2024
This book lacks all the elements that normally make me such a Chuck fan. It wasn't fun or funny. It didn't make me rethink society or the way the world works. It didn't shock or offend me or make me want to start a Twitter mob to cancel him. It was all very blah. And I know Chuck loves repetition but this one took it way too far. Many scenes feel like reruns, and don't get me started on the part of the audiobook where the narrator simply repeats the word "Avacado" for over five minutes. Fuck your avacado!
December 16, 2025
Shock Induction went over my head. I just didn’t get it. Chuck Palahniuk is reputed as a writer who you either click with or you don’t, and he and I most definitely did not click. I can’t even think of anything positive to say about the book.
This is a rare situation to find myself in, because I am one who loves what Palahniuk is known for: dark storylines, complex themes, obscure writing, satire, philosophy, absurdity. But in this instance, I connected with none of it.
I suspect the audio format is what sank the book for me. The story is hard to follow when listening to it, and the narrator’s delivery is cold and detached, almost clinical. I also never found my footing in the philosophical questions being asked and had trouble parsing what Palahniuk is trying to say. What’s the main takeaway of Shock Induction? I have no fucking clue.
I do wonder how much better I would’ve fared if I’d had a physical copy in my hands. I could try the book again, I suppose … actually read it … but I don’t even care enough to try.
This is a rare situation to find myself in, because I am one who loves what Palahniuk is known for: dark storylines, complex themes, obscure writing, satire, philosophy, absurdity. But in this instance, I connected with none of it.
I suspect the audio format is what sank the book for me. The story is hard to follow when listening to it, and the narrator’s delivery is cold and detached, almost clinical. I also never found my footing in the philosophical questions being asked and had trouble parsing what Palahniuk is trying to say. What’s the main takeaway of Shock Induction? I have no fucking clue.
I do wonder how much better I would’ve fared if I’d had a physical copy in my hands. I could try the book again, I suppose … actually read it … but I don’t even care enough to try.
December 30, 2024
I don’t write reviews.
Do you remember when the top of a car’s windshield was tinted blue?
“Can you picture it? Everyday a blue sky.”
As romantic as that sounds, the true function was to cut down on glare and heat. The idea of making every day a beautiful one, touches something in my heart. Isn’t the emotional function just as important as the mechanical? Some might say, MORE important. Nowadays, cars have a dark grey strip in place of the blue or nothing at all. Perhaps car companies have stopped caring about us little people and want our days to be uniformally dismal.
Why am I babbling on? Chuck opens this book with information about hypnosis. Overwhelming someone with information, chock full of images, especially guided imagery, is key to breaking down mental barriers to the induction. Do you feel more relaxed yet?
This story is about free will….maybe.
“Imagine you could have anything in the world, anything and everything, except what you really want. Do you you even know what you truly want or are you waiting for the television to tell you?”
Ok, it’s about following your dreams, sort of.
Truth? Fine, have some of it! The truth is, even as Chuck himself mocked, we are all indeed special. We each have a certain something to offer the world.
‘“What you must grasp, Sam, is that everyone is born with a muse and a mission. And if you embrace your life’s mission, it will protect you. Turn your back on your mission and your entire life will be about fearing death.” Garson said, “If you sell yourself, you’ll only just ever LIVE in a castle.” His fingers snapped and the server delivered another gin martini, garnished with an olive. What his lips meant, was that Sam didn’t need anyone to give her a castle. She could BE the castle herself.’
Ever meet someone who works for money or status or simply to drown out the voice of the mind? Miserable, sad people. Dare I say, soulless? No, that’s not for me to decide, but it makes you think.
Now think of someone you know who is doing what they were meant to do. See how everything seems to fall into place for them. The world is an oyster and happiness, the pearl. I’m not trying to make you believe these people never suffer; everyone suffers. What I’m saying is that if you’re true to yourself and don’t sellout, you can overcome any adversity. Things will flow better when you aren’t always trying to fight the tide.
Oh, the story! I enjoyed it, I really did. It often didn’t make perfect sense, (there’s an obvious reason why, which I will not say) but I recommend going with the flow. You bought the ticket, so take the ride, as a madman once said.
“Samantha accepts the glass and looks at its slippery contents. The gin smears and distorts the bright island light. Through the gin, the world looks as bright and soft as it did when Santa Claus was real.”
Book 19 - The Year of Chuck
Do you remember when the top of a car’s windshield was tinted blue?
“Can you picture it? Everyday a blue sky.”
As romantic as that sounds, the true function was to cut down on glare and heat. The idea of making every day a beautiful one, touches something in my heart. Isn’t the emotional function just as important as the mechanical? Some might say, MORE important. Nowadays, cars have a dark grey strip in place of the blue or nothing at all. Perhaps car companies have stopped caring about us little people and want our days to be uniformally dismal.
Why am I babbling on? Chuck opens this book with information about hypnosis. Overwhelming someone with information, chock full of images, especially guided imagery, is key to breaking down mental barriers to the induction. Do you feel more relaxed yet?
This story is about free will….maybe.
“Imagine you could have anything in the world, anything and everything, except what you really want. Do you you even know what you truly want or are you waiting for the television to tell you?”
Ok, it’s about following your dreams, sort of.
Truth? Fine, have some of it! The truth is, even as Chuck himself mocked, we are all indeed special. We each have a certain something to offer the world.
‘“What you must grasp, Sam, is that everyone is born with a muse and a mission. And if you embrace your life’s mission, it will protect you. Turn your back on your mission and your entire life will be about fearing death.” Garson said, “If you sell yourself, you’ll only just ever LIVE in a castle.” His fingers snapped and the server delivered another gin martini, garnished with an olive. What his lips meant, was that Sam didn’t need anyone to give her a castle. She could BE the castle herself.’
Ever meet someone who works for money or status or simply to drown out the voice of the mind? Miserable, sad people. Dare I say, soulless? No, that’s not for me to decide, but it makes you think.
Now think of someone you know who is doing what they were meant to do. See how everything seems to fall into place for them. The world is an oyster and happiness, the pearl. I’m not trying to make you believe these people never suffer; everyone suffers. What I’m saying is that if you’re true to yourself and don’t sellout, you can overcome any adversity. Things will flow better when you aren’t always trying to fight the tide.
Oh, the story! I enjoyed it, I really did. It often didn’t make perfect sense, (there’s an obvious reason why, which I will not say) but I recommend going with the flow. You bought the ticket, so take the ride, as a madman once said.
“Samantha accepts the glass and looks at its slippery contents. The gin smears and distorts the bright island light. Through the gin, the world looks as bright and soft as it did when Santa Claus was real.”
Book 19 - The Year of Chuck
June 21, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 8, 2024.
Oh, I was SO excited for this one ever since I read the description. Imagine this in the hands of Palahniuk: the best students at a seemingly good high school are being lost to suicide. Clearly something is going on.
Turns out these kids have been getting “The Truman Show” treatment since birth from an online service for a bunch of billionaires….and then they go up for auction.
Oh, it sounds so great. And it turned out to be so very underwhelming. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t great, and I was so hoping for great. I felt like it could be great.
You’ve got the usual questions about what is real…is anything real? Nice line, “now that the familial bond is based on market value…” (I think it already is in some homes.) Like I said, decent, but I wanted more.
Oh, I was SO excited for this one ever since I read the description. Imagine this in the hands of Palahniuk: the best students at a seemingly good high school are being lost to suicide. Clearly something is going on.
Turns out these kids have been getting “The Truman Show” treatment since birth from an online service for a bunch of billionaires….and then they go up for auction.
Oh, it sounds so great. And it turned out to be so very underwhelming. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t great, and I was so hoping for great. I felt like it could be great.
You’ve got the usual questions about what is real…is anything real? Nice line, “now that the familial bond is based on market value…” (I think it already is in some homes.) Like I said, decent, but I wanted more.
July 2, 2024
i’m struggling to really determine how i feel about this book but i think i’m sadly landing right down the middle. I’m a big Palahniuk fan (was one of the few who really loved his last book), so i’m used to his bonkers style of writing - usually very experimental and graphic uncomfortable gore/sex scenes bordering on horror - so i went in with high expectations.
however with this book, the writing is a lot more fragmented, and i think this caused a lot of things to go over my head and i’m left thinking that i just didn’t quite grasp the whole story on first read. it is a quick story (easily read in 2 hours) so it might warrant a re-read from me. as always though I applaud Palahniuk for always doing something unique and interesting, i will always read his work even if some of them are misses
however with this book, the writing is a lot more fragmented, and i think this caused a lot of things to go over my head and i’m left thinking that i just didn’t quite grasp the whole story on first read. it is a quick story (easily read in 2 hours) so it might warrant a re-read from me. as always though I applaud Palahniuk for always doing something unique and interesting, i will always read his work even if some of them are misses
October 12, 2024
2.0 ⭐️
The only shock induced by this book was how disappointed it left me.
The only shock induced by this book was how disappointed it left me.
October 21, 2024
I see a bunch of ARC reviewers hated this book LMAO GOOD!!!! I LOVED IT!!!
This is perfectly Palahniuk. I won't go into details about how my older (16-17) year old friends showed me Fight Club the movie when I was 12 (circa 2001) and went out looking for the book at The Strand. Then became obsessed with it and the Pixies (who I blew off seeing on my birthday this year to appease a good friend and his annoying new gf HELLOOOOO).
This review will not make sense. Nothing does. Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.
I don't give books stars anymore because I think rating books is demeaning but fuck it. It's Palahniuk.
He's not as punk or anarchist as I had pictured him to be.
Lesson learned here: Kids, never meet your heroes. You will find out they are human and you will be disappointed.
So let's get to the synopsis/review (ha):
{includes spoilers so don't read beyond HERE if you haven't read the book and don't want things ruined}
This story is about a fucked up, dystopian world at some point in the future. The rift between wealthy/educated folks and the poor/uneducated masses has grown significant in this future (ever see the movie Idiocracy?). Some genius politicians think it's a wonderful idea to lace classic books (Dickens and such) with drugs to induce more reading, but the plan I guess backfires which is the point of this book. It's an inception story...so pay attention. There are multiple things happening, as always, no surprise there.
The story tends to follow one linear plot for the most part, but also jumps off of that to give voice to other characters that show up in smaller vignettes. These vignettes add to the story by world-building, but they aren't major characters or even related to the characters. I'm also going to add in the fact that the MC is tripping balls the entire book and it all comes out as a giant fever dream. I guess that's why people hated this book, but like that's so Palahniuk.
I would have obsessed over this book if I was still a teenager. I'm an adult now, so I only obsess over coffee. It is brilliant. Definitely deserves a re-read as I devoured this in one sitting. I must have looked like a zombie sitting on my couch with crossed legs like I was praying to the anarchist Gods.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!
This is perfectly Palahniuk. I won't go into details about how my older (16-17) year old friends showed me Fight Club the movie when I was 12 (circa 2001) and went out looking for the book at The Strand. Then became obsessed with it and the Pixies (who I blew off seeing on my birthday this year to appease a good friend and his annoying new gf HELLOOOOO).
This review will not make sense. Nothing does. Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one.
I don't give books stars anymore because I think rating books is demeaning but fuck it. It's Palahniuk.
He's not as punk or anarchist as I had pictured him to be.
Lesson learned here: Kids, never meet your heroes. You will find out they are human and you will be disappointed.
So let's get to the synopsis/review (ha):
{includes spoilers so don't read beyond HERE if you haven't read the book and don't want things ruined}
This story is about a fucked up, dystopian world at some point in the future. The rift between wealthy/educated folks and the poor/uneducated masses has grown significant in this future (ever see the movie Idiocracy?). Some genius politicians think it's a wonderful idea to lace classic books (Dickens and such) with drugs to induce more reading, but the plan I guess backfires which is the point of this book. It's an inception story...so pay attention. There are multiple things happening, as always, no surprise there.
The story tends to follow one linear plot for the most part, but also jumps off of that to give voice to other characters that show up in smaller vignettes. These vignettes add to the story by world-building, but they aren't major characters or even related to the characters. I'm also going to add in the fact that the MC is tripping balls the entire book and it all comes out as a giant fever dream. I guess that's why people hated this book, but like that's so Palahniuk.
I would have obsessed over this book if I was still a teenager. I'm an adult now, so I only obsess over coffee. It is brilliant. Definitely deserves a re-read as I devoured this in one sitting. I must have looked like a zombie sitting on my couch with crossed legs like I was praying to the anarchist Gods.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!
April 21, 2025
I think I would have hated this on paper but Michael David Axtell really just made it fun.
Since the book contains a lot of like hypno mind control techniques, listening to it was the perfect way to experience everything.
I also spent a lot of time grossed out (per usual but worse than usual with a CP book) and lost for many portions.
I'm pretty sure he made up most of those facts about scopolamine since we use it...a lot? I could be wrong but I always get confused when I feel like made-up facts are coming at me
Overall though this was ... it was.... the book was ... something? Like other CP novels if you hear much more than the Synopsis it goes into spoiler territory but I just can't recommend doing this via audio enough. Probably with headphones on. How long does it take you to say avocado 200 times?
P.S. nobody reads Moby Dick because it's blasphemously long winded
Since the book contains a lot of like hypno mind control techniques, listening to it was the perfect way to experience everything.
I also spent a lot of time grossed out (per usual but worse than usual with a CP book) and lost for many portions.
I'm pretty sure he made up most of those facts about scopolamine since we use it...a lot? I could be wrong but I always get confused when I feel like made-up facts are coming at me
Overall though this was ... it was.... the book was ... something? Like other CP novels if you hear much more than the Synopsis it goes into spoiler territory but I just can't recommend doing this via audio enough. Probably with headphones on. How long does it take you to say avocado 200 times?
P.S. nobody reads Moby Dick because it's blasphemously long winded
January 27, 2025
Mr. Palahniuk is a writer I am unable to connect.
January 12, 2025
"Picture a place where joy comes one morning when you stand up and find the toilet bowl filled with blood. The clump of toilet tissue you hold is blotted with blood. Despite all your best efforts, death makes itself known. No more Christmas. No more dreams of retirement and travel to Paris. Death shows up in the bathroom. Game over."
Pop a tab of acid and prepare yourself for a journey. A journey to your subconscious, real life or fantasy. Look through the glass and tell me which one is clearer. One or two? One? Or Two? And then repeat after me… Avacado…
Hit Ctrl+Alt+Climax
I swear, Palahniuk really makes you think with his books lately. This one is no different. Now repeat after me, conspiracy theories. It took me after reading almost sixty percent of the book to see clearly but this is where I landed. Wild!
A secret society buying children, faking deaths, huge sums of money being exchanged, and a private island to shape these kids into what they want their futures to hold. Now tell me that I’m wrong.
This was interesting from the start and once I talked it over with my husband I started to really enjoy this. Chuck goes dark with this one with some Easter egg gems thrown in. Very imaginative and creative. It was like reading a warped version of Alice in Wonderland but with drugs and a cult.
Shock Induction was a great read that really makes you think. Just remember to wash your hands and wear gloves while handling reading materials. Oh, and trust no one!!
Pop a tab of acid and prepare yourself for a journey. A journey to your subconscious, real life or fantasy. Look through the glass and tell me which one is clearer. One or two? One? Or Two? And then repeat after me… Avacado…
Hit Ctrl+Alt+Climax
I swear, Palahniuk really makes you think with his books lately. This one is no different. Now repeat after me, conspiracy theories. It took me after reading almost sixty percent of the book to see clearly but this is where I landed. Wild!
A secret society buying children, faking deaths, huge sums of money being exchanged, and a private island to shape these kids into what they want their futures to hold. Now tell me that I’m wrong.
This was interesting from the start and once I talked it over with my husband I started to really enjoy this. Chuck goes dark with this one with some Easter egg gems thrown in. Very imaginative and creative. It was like reading a warped version of Alice in Wonderland but with drugs and a cult.
Shock Induction was a great read that really makes you think. Just remember to wash your hands and wear gloves while handling reading materials. Oh, and trust no one!!
January 22, 2025
I don’t know if this is a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’, or simply a case of two people growing apart, but Chuck and I don’t seem to be vibing like we were. I loved several of Chuck’s early works, but lately I’ve found his most recent works a bit of a chore….form over substance, schlocky instead of truly provocative, banally clever instead of truly insightful.
This work was better, at least for me, than his last work, but as I labored to finish this fairly short work, I found myself bored multiple times (a sin for a Palahniuk work) and found myself often smirking as if at a junior high student’s sophomoric attempts at tired, lame humor . . . almost the opposite of wit.
I still admire Chuck’s imagination and his efforts to take big, decisive swings at criticism of our modern culture and society, but perhaps I’m aging out of his approach.
This work was better, at least for me, than his last work, but as I labored to finish this fairly short work, I found myself bored multiple times (a sin for a Palahniuk work) and found myself often smirking as if at a junior high student’s sophomoric attempts at tired, lame humor . . . almost the opposite of wit.
I still admire Chuck’s imagination and his efforts to take big, decisive swings at criticism of our modern culture and society, but perhaps I’m aging out of his approach.
November 24, 2024
2 1/2 stars rounded down. I know what to expect with this author’s writing and still usually really click with it. There’s a lot of reviews on here basically saying “if you didn’t love this book you just didn’t understand it”. I just didn’t love it and feel like I did understand it.
November 30, 2024
Aaaah Chuck, Chuck, Chuckie! Chuckmeister...maybe its time to pack it in son?...You had a really good run and pulled out some crackers over the years...but...but?...Well...hmmm...on a positive note this isn't quite as bad as that total piece of crap you put out last year, but this is all over the place and maybe I'll have the common sense to stop reading these in the future?...
January 30, 2025
My issue with new Palahniuk novels is that there are so many words on a page but the book is about nothing and says nothing. Like sure, whatever, it’s shocking with some witty writing but could you tell me what this book was actually about? I could tell you about every scene in this book but a full plot line? No way.
I think it’s time to put down the pen for a while, Chuck.
I think it’s time to put down the pen for a while, Chuck.
March 21, 2025
bruh good idea for a plot but i was too confused 🥑🥑
October 5, 2024
Okay, so Palahniuk has had a grip on me since I was probably a sophomore in high school reading Fight Club and now I'm an adult nearing 30 with a full-time job and this grip has hardly loosened. This doesn't mean every book he writes is a five-star read for me or that I think he can do no wrong, but I would say he's one of my favorite authors of all time and I'm generally ready to give his books at least a try.
I bring this up because maybe this is part of why I find Shock Induction very difficult to review. I love Palahniuk's writing style, I love his dark humor, and I love the experimental ways he plays with format and weaving threads of plot and metafiction. There were definitely passages in this book that I was turning to read quotes to my girlfriend and laugh about the fun, twisted absurdity of it all.
However, I also ended the book going, "okay, but why?" about some of the twists. Without spoiling, the book throws some world-altering curveballs at the main character who seems to take it awfully well (and no, I'm not talking about the billionaires betting on promising young teenagers at auction, that's fine, that's the plot and if I picked this book up I've already accepted this much is going to be A Thing). Even beyond the strange nonresponse from the main character, I felt that this twist didn't do much for the book or plot at all. I kept waiting for it to make a difference in what happens but...not really. I wanted the threads to tie together better, I wanted just a little more cohesion.
Not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but I do feel like maybe I just don't like Palahniuk's books that feature teens as much as I enjoy his other titles?
But, anyway, despite my disappointment at the ending, I did enjoy most of my journey with this book but I can't say I loved it.
I'll still probably pick up his next one and play my own personal, mental Palahniuk bingo, anyway.
I bring this up because maybe this is part of why I find Shock Induction very difficult to review. I love Palahniuk's writing style, I love his dark humor, and I love the experimental ways he plays with format and weaving threads of plot and metafiction. There were definitely passages in this book that I was turning to read quotes to my girlfriend and laugh about the fun, twisted absurdity of it all.
However, I also ended the book going, "okay, but why?" about some of the twists. Without spoiling, the book throws some world-altering curveballs at the main character who seems to take it awfully well (and no, I'm not talking about the billionaires betting on promising young teenagers at auction, that's fine, that's the plot and if I picked this book up I've already accepted this much is going to be A Thing). Even beyond the strange nonresponse from the main character, I felt that this twist didn't do much for the book or plot at all. I kept waiting for it to make a difference in what happens but...not really. I wanted the threads to tie together better, I wanted just a little more cohesion.
Not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but I do feel like maybe I just don't like Palahniuk's books that feature teens as much as I enjoy his other titles?
But, anyway, despite my disappointment at the ending, I did enjoy most of my journey with this book but I can't say I loved it.
I'll still probably pick up his next one and play my own personal, mental Palahniuk bingo, anyway.
December 12, 2024
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.
Avocado, Avocado, Avocado, Avocado
Paramecium
IFYKK
This is th Chuck Palahniuk that I know and love. His last few haven't quite worked for me but this was completely confusing and yet totally made sense in that classic Fight Club way. It's completely irreverant and yet speaks to the systematic brainwashing that occurs in education. Everything is exagerrated, of course. Or is it?
Avocado, Avocado, Avocado, Avocado
Paramecium
IFYKK
This is th Chuck Palahniuk that I know and love. His last few haven't quite worked for me but this was completely confusing and yet totally made sense in that classic Fight Club way. It's completely irreverant and yet speaks to the systematic brainwashing that occurs in education. Everything is exagerrated, of course. Or is it?
November 8, 2024
Odd. Interesting. Fragmented. Not my favorite by him but not bad.
June 24, 2025
Mixed feelings because the precision in this writing is so satisfying but my guy…. What’s all this about avocados?
Sorry Chucky, they can’t all be bangers.
Sorry Chucky, they can’t all be bangers.
February 11, 2025
Meh. Not Chuck's best work...or even close to it. Seemed like he was trying to be 'creative' with the writing style and it just didn't work for me. Made the book confusing and hard to follow.
September 25, 2024
Not a book, I would suggest to many…
BUT
This thought-provoking work delves into the deep-rooted societal structures that shape our lives from birth, and our indoctrination to “succeed” in this world. It examines our ignorance which clouds our understanding of the world. The psychedelic elements throughout the book intensify its exploration of consciousness, suggesting that we are all somewhat mad, for submitting to these agreements. Yet, it offers a sense of hope, emphasizing how books and other outlets provide pathways to escape and can offer deeper insight when navigating the world we have been integrated to.
The author’s ability to intertwine these themes encourages readers to question their perceptions and challenge the norms they've inherited. This book is a compelling invitation to examine the fabric of our daily lives and the potential for transformation through awareness.
Edit:
This is what Kanye West was singing about in his song Power.
✨ 21st century schizoid man✨
BUT
This thought-provoking work delves into the deep-rooted societal structures that shape our lives from birth, and our indoctrination to “succeed” in this world. It examines our ignorance which clouds our understanding of the world. The psychedelic elements throughout the book intensify its exploration of consciousness, suggesting that we are all somewhat mad, for submitting to these agreements. Yet, it offers a sense of hope, emphasizing how books and other outlets provide pathways to escape and can offer deeper insight when navigating the world we have been integrated to.
The author’s ability to intertwine these themes encourages readers to question their perceptions and challenge the norms they've inherited. This book is a compelling invitation to examine the fabric of our daily lives and the potential for transformation through awareness.
Edit:
This is what Kanye West was singing about in his song Power.
✨ 21st century schizoid man✨
July 27, 2024
As with all of Chuck Palahnuik’s books I either loved it (give me Invisible Monsters, give me Fight Club, give me Choke) or it went right over my head. This one was a miss for me it may have been in the somewhat confusing execution or in my, sometimes, completely unfocused brain. The concept was fascinating but I just couldn’t follow what was happening, but it was still interesting. I’d say give it a try, especially if you’ve loved his other works, truly he’s a genius. Thanks to Netballey for the chance to review!
March 21, 2025
Bizarre, weird, strange, a little disgusting at times… it was definitely not what anyone could have expected when they started it. At first I wanted to keep reading to try and understand what was happening, then wanted to keep reading just to finish it, then ultimately kept reading because it was impressive how out there it became. Lucid dreaming in book form. Avocado.
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