Catch-22

Joseph Heller

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Book Synopsis

"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller is a satirical novel set during World War II. It tells the story of Captain John Yossarian, an American bombardier trying to maintain his sanity amidst the chaos and illogical bureaucracy of the military. The title refers to a paradoxical bureaucratic rule that makes it impossible for soldiers to escape dangerous situations or be considered insane if they seek to. Yossarian and his fellow soldiers face absurd challenges, including the relentless pursuit of missions that often result in death, a corrupt and indifferent hierarchy, and the constant fear of losing their lives. Heller’s brilliant use of dark humor and absurdity reveals the insanity of war and questions the logic of the institutions that perpetuate it. Through a series of interconnected vignettes and flashbacks, the novel explores the themes of trauma, mortality, loyalty, and the fragility of the human spirit. It confronts readers with the absurdity of war and the inherent contradictions that accompany it, leaving them pondering the true meaning of courage, morality, and human nature. Heller’s masterful storytelling, comic style, and biting commentary make "Catch-22" a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers, reminding us of the inherent absurdities and paradoxes present in our own society.

Explore More Books

See All
On Bullshit
Timelines of World History
The Internet of Money Volume 2
String Theory
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
The Principia
Paradigms Of A.I. Programming
The Bully Pulpit
The Beak of the Finch
Draft No. 4
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
The House of Getty
Rage Becomes Her
Barbarians At The Gate
The Three Body Problem
Storm of Steel
Play Anything
The Starfish and the Spider
When Genius Failed
Nonviolent Communication
Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track
Restoring Our Republic
Conflicted
Scientific Advertising
Hit Refresh
Trauma
Systems Medicine
Good Calories, Bad Calories
The Best We Could Do
Visual Explanations
Complexity and the Economy
The Paper Menagerie And Other Stories
Rick and Morty Book Two
When Prophecy Fails
The Salmon of Doubt
Statistical Models
Indistractable
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Bobby Kennedy
Originals
Exit Interview
On Wings of Eagles
Technopoly
Social Cognition
National Economic Planning
Trade Is Not A Four Letter Word
Pattern Recognition
The DevOps Handbook
Different
The Devil in the White City
The Second Machine Age
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane
Born Standing Up
No Two Alike
Trade-Off
The Wizard of Menlo Park
The Man Without a Face
The Boys in the Boat
The 5 Resets
The Wayfinders
Fast-Track Triathlete
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Reason Begins
All Out War
The Blank Swan
All The Light We Cannot See
A Sound of Thunder and Other Stories
Simple & Direct
Six Easy Pieces
Stories of Your Life and Others
Trailblazer
The Book of Life
True Enough
A Writer's Time
The Fear Book
Permanent Record
The Fry Chronicles
The Minefield Girl
Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman
What Do People Do All Day?
Negotiating The Impossible
Blueprint
Leading
Small Is the New Big
The Great Influenza
Plagues and Peoples
Limping on Water
Mandela's Way
Ready Player One
Sunset at Blandings
Cultural Strategy
The Theory of Investment Value
Revolution from Within
State of Fear
Steve Jobs & The NeXT Big Thing
Fortune's Formula
Bad Therapy
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue
The Decadent Society
Parfit