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Catch 22

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Catch 22

Written by: Joseph Heller
Narrated by: Trevor White
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About this listen

 Nominated for the Audiobook Download of the Year, 2008.

At the heart of Joseph Heller's best-selling novel, first published in 1961, is a satirical indictment of military madness and stupidity, and the desire of the ordinary man to survive it.

This is the tale of the dangerously sane Captain Yossarian, who spends his time in Italy plotting to survive. Yossarian is a bombardier in the 256th Squadron of the US Army Air Forces during World War II, stationed on Pianosa, a fictionalised island in the Mediterranean between mainland Italy and Corsica. The squadron's assignment is to bomb enemy positions in Italy and eastern France. Yossarian's mission is simply to stay alive.

©1961 Joseph Heller (P)2008 Hachette Audio Classics Genre Fiction Historical War & Military

Critic Reviews

"The greatest satirical work in the English language since Erewhon. ( Observer)
"Wildly original, and brutally gruesome, a dazzling performance that will outrage as many readers as it delights. Vulgarly, bitterly, savagely funny, it will not be forgotten by those who can take it." ( The New York Times)
"An apocalyptic masterpiece." ( Chicago Times)
All stars
Most relevant
Legendary work, presented extremely well. The misplaced heroism of the war macine is painted in ironic glory

Iconic

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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a compelling book to read, especially in the context of ongoing wars, as it pushes one to question the very foundations on which wars are justified. It reveals how wars gradually become futile, how procedures turn irrational over time, and how even the concept of a nation begins to feel abstract when placed against the value of individual human life. The book left me reflecting on whether human life is truly worth sacrificing for such constructed ideas.

What stands out most is the use of humour to expose uncomfortable truths. The book works as a sharp allegory, built around a set of memorable characters, each reflecting a distinct human tendency. The absurd rules—such as Major Major’s condition of meeting him only when he is not present—show the extent to which systems drift away from logic. Milo’s opportunistic commercial network illustrates profit overriding morality, even to the extent of supporting both sides in a war. The contrast between nations, particularly Italy and the USA, comes across as both humorous and revealing. The narrative also highlights the tendency of societies to take pride in actions that perhaps deserve shame, especially in the context of war. It touches on the shaping of stories by those in power, the coexistence of contradictory official reports, the treatment of living people as dead, and the visibility of issues like prostitution and exploitation during wartime. In essence, the book presents war not as a heroic narrative, but as a collection of absurd and often disturbing realities.

At the same time, the book can be difficult to navigate. The large number of characters introduced early on makes it challenging to follow, and the distinctly American tone did not always resonate with me. At times, the humour becomes so layered that it complicates understanding rather than clarifying it, and I occasionally felt lost, especially in some of the more abstract or exaggerated scenes. The narrative does not follow a conventional structure but instead unfolds as a series of loosely connected episodes, which may not appeal to all readers. There are also moments where the portrayal of certain cultures or regions feels dismissive, which reduces the universality of its message.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers interested in satire, war, and the absurdity of institutional systems. It is best suited for those who are comfortable with non-linear storytelling and willing to engage with irony and complexity. Readers seeking a straightforward plot or a tightly structured narrative may find it challenging, but for those who persist, it offers a sharp and unsettling perspective on war and human systems.

When (war) systems forget the Human

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