# We Broke the First Rule of Fight Club **URL:** **By** William Irwin, Aaron Ross Powell, Trevor Burrus **Published:** July 21, 2017 --- William Irwin joins us for a discussion about the novel _Fight Club_ by Chuck Palahniuk and the movie it inspired. William Irwin joins us for a discussion about the novel _Fight Club_ by Chuck Palahniuk and the movie it inspired. Are consumer choices authentic choices? Where does Tyler Durden go wrong in his thinking? **Show Notes and Further Reading** Chuck Palahniuk's [_Fight Club_](https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Club-Novel-Chuck-Palahniuk/dp/0393327345/) (1996) is a novel that's well-worth reading if you haven't yet. [Here's a link to the David Fincher movie](https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Club-Brad-Pitt/dp/B001H1SVO8/) (1999) starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Here's William Irwin's essay, " [_Fight Club_, Self-definition, and the Fragility of Authenticity](https://www.academia.edu/7174390/Fight_Club_Self-definition_and_the_Fragility_of_Authenticity) ." He's also written a short column for Libertarianism.org, "[Free Market Fight Club](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/free-market-fight-club)." Our [other Free Thoughts episode with Irwin was a discussion on capitalism without consumerism](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts/the-free-market-existentialist-capitalism-without-consumerism).