Catch-22 (1961)
by
Joseph Heller
(Author)
For some reason this book had a big impact on me when I first read it aged 16. And it has probably been an influence on everything I've written since, as well as on how I've looked at much of society. "Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else."
“Catch-22"
is a satirical novel written by Joseph Heller, first published in 1961.
The book is set during World War II and follows the experiences of
Captain John Yossarian, an American bombardier stationed on a fictional
Mediterranean island.
The title refers to a paradoxical military
regulation that states if a pilot requests a mental evaluation to avoid
dangerous missions, they are deemed insane, but their desire to avoid
danger proves their sanity, thus trapping them in a cycle of illogical
reasoning.
The novel explores the absurdity and bureaucracy of war,
highlighting the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
Through dark humor and sharp wit, Heller critiques the dehumanizing
effects of war and the illogical systems that perpetuate it.
