Just Finished Reading Joseph Heller's Catch-22

You know you've written something significant when a defining principle expressed within it becomes enshrined as an integral part of the culture.  That is what happened with Joseph Heller's 1961 novel Catch-22, which I understand was embraced by the anti-war counterculture movement of the late 1960s....not to mention becoming a standard high school/college English class reading assignment (groan) for millions.  The title words "Catch-22" refer to a situation in which, no matter what one does, the result will be unsatisfactory...and it is the process itself that always leads to the undesired ending.  It is a kind of "double-bind" that isn't necessarily personal in nature but often is embedded within official social institutions...like the Army of the author's World War II experiences.

During World War II, Heller served as a bomber pilot, based on a Mediterranean island off the coast of Italy.  Likewise, his protagonist, John Yossarian, is such a pilot with many missions already under his belt.  He is ready to go home, being certain that if he keeps flying missions over the enemy then he will be shot down and killed.  And, for most of the Army pilots, he would already have had enough flights to qualify to go home.  But his own commander, Colonel Cathcart, is trying to become a general by "volunteering" his men to more and more flights, continually raising the flight limit.

Yossarian visits the base's physician and tells him that he (Yossarian) is insane and therefore to please confirm this fact so that he can be sent back home.  Dr. Daneeka responds by saying that, for anyone to be sent home, they must make the request for it...but the act of making such a request reveals that they are rational and not insane...and hence ineligible to be sent home.  Yossarian then points out to Dr. D one of his fellow pilots and asks him whether this individual is insane.  The good doctor responds by agreeing that he is crazy and eligible to go home...and he can request it.  But the moment he does so, then he is committing a rational act and therefore is sane and ineligible.  This is the book's main illustration of the principle of "Catch-22": an algorithm of interaction and logic that always leads to an unsatisfactory outcome, regardless what information is given initially.  Certainly I've seen this process repeated in many, many situations over the course of my life: it's not just an "Army" thing...

Catch-22 is loaded with these types of circular arguments among its many characters.  The ultimate effect is that everything is a farce, and it would be hilarious were it not for the fact that all were in the midst of a brutal war where people were being killed and injured.  This story ruthlessly satirizes the command structure of the military, but could be applied to just about any group in society that depends on a hierarchy of authorities.  It also exposes, with the character of mess hall officer Milo, who has become rich by developing an intricate trade system in the region (and even making enemy nations Germany and Italy "shareholders"), the two-faced nature of business...quite willing to work against the national interests if there is a profit to be made...and how they are continually given a "free pass" and not held accountable for their seemingly treasonous acts because they are engaged in the high and noble act of "free enterprise"...

I heartily recommend Catch-22 and, unlike an English teacher, won't be grading you on your reactions.  It isn't long at all, but it does contain very much concentrated, intense dialogue...intense in the sense that there is a lot of reasoning going on here...albeit often very faulty reasoning.  It is also very big on humor...my favorite character is the misunderstood Major Major Major Major (continually accused of looking too much like Henry Fonda), who pulls his own brand of  "Catch-22" on others by refusing to see anyone unless he is out...