Catch-22 is a satirical novel by Joseph Heller that follows the story of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier in World War II. Yossarian is trying to maintain his sanity while fulfilling his service requirements, but he is caught in a paradoxical situation known as a "Catch-22."
The Catch-22 is a bureaucratic rule that states a soldier can be grounded if he is crazy, but if he requests to be grounded due to insanity, it proves he is sane and must continue flying dangerous missions. Yossarian and his fellow soldiers struggle with this absurdity as they navigate the horrors of war and the illogical rules imposed upon them.
Catch-22 explores themes of the absurdity of war, the dehumanizing effects of bureaucracy, and the struggle to maintain one's humanity in the face of senseless violence. Heller's dark humor and sharp wit make this novel a classic in the realm of anti-war literature.