Why Catch-22 is a Must-Read: Short Summary. #shorts #review #catch22

"Catch-22" by Joseph Heller, published in 1961, is a satirical and darkly comedic novel set during World War II. The story centers on Captain John Yossarian, a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Forces, who finds himself in the absurd and chaotic world of war.

The title refers to a paradoxical rule that encapsulates the novel's absurdity: a soldier can be considered insane if he is willing to continue flying dangerous missions, but if he requests to be removed from duty due to fear or rational concerns, he is deemed sane. Essentially, anyone trying to escape the madness of war is labeled insane, and anyone willing to continue flying suicidal missions is considered sane.

Yossarian and his fellow soldiers face the absurdity of bureaucracy, senseless orders, and the constant threat of death. The novel is populated with eccentric characters, each coping with the madness of war in their own way.

The narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, often presenting events out of chronological order, which mirrors the confusion and disorientation of war. Heller's dark humor and biting satire criticize the military establishment, the dehumanizing nature of war, and the illogicality of the human condition.

"Catch-22" remains a classic anti-war novel and a commentary on the absurdity and senselessness of conflict. It explores the fine line between sanity and insanity and the lengths to which individuals will go to preserve their own humanity in the face of chaos and cruelty.