Catch-22
50th Anniversary Edition
-
-
4.1 • 418 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction; critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos; and much more.
Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.
Now a Hulu limited series starring Christopher Abbott, George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, and Hugh Laurie.
Fifty years after its original publication, Catch-22 remains a cornerstone of American literature and one of the funniest—and most celebrated—books of all time. In recent years it has been named to “best novels” lists by Time, Newsweek, the Modern Library, and the London Observer.
Set in Italy during World War II, this is the story of the incomparable, malingering bombardier, Yossarian, a hero who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy—it is his own army, which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to excuse himself from the perilous missions he’s assigned, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes a formal request to be removed from duty, he is proven sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved.
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller’s masterpiece with a new introduction by Christopher Buckley; a wealth of critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos from Joseph Heller’s personal archive; and much more. Here, at last, is the definitive edition of a classic of world literature.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Catch-22 remains an unsettling read, at once a darkly hilarious survey of the absurdities of military life and a deadly serious meditation on the horrors of war. Inspired by Joseph Heller’s own experience as a World War II fighter pilot, the 1961 novel depicts an air force squadron where increasingly unhinged enlisted men and inept officers are each other’s worst enemies. Heller swerves between puckish satire, brutal drama, and a genuinely terrifying climax, introducing us to one-of-a-kind characters like Captain Yossarian, who consistently fails in his efforts to be ruled insane, and Milo Minderbinder, a ruthless war profiteer. This could be the 20th century’s most powerful—and funny—anti-war novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
It would be difficult to imagine richer material for an audiobook reader, comedically speaking, than Joseph Heller's classic novel of wartime madness. Sanders is the lucky actor chosen to read Heller's masterpiece, and he does well by it, proceeding gamely through the novel's staggering array of comic set pieces and deliriously woozy dialogue. Heller's humor is straight-faced, requiring little more than a steady, sure voice, and Sanders offers just that. Line by line, joke by joke, Sanders reels through the marvelous phantasmagoria of Heller's World War II, tongue planted firmly in cheek. Caedmon's impressive package includes a 1970s-era recording of Heller reading selections from his book. Heller is a delightful contrast to Sanders, his slight lisp accentuating a marvelous Brooklyn accent. Heller reads as if with cigar perched on his lip and turns his novel into an extended borscht belt comic's riff.
Customer Reviews
great book...overpriced.
i just had to post about the price of this classic novel. give us a freaking break, apple.
find this book at a used book store for a dollar and get to reading!
The most timeless classic ever written
I first read Catch 22 in 1963, while a freshman in High School. I was hooked on the first page. It became my favorite novel and has remains so, some 48 years later. On it's own, it is a wonderfully entertaining story, filled with some of the most memorable characters to ever grace the printed page. For pure fun, I have returned to it many times over the years and been rewarded by discovering something new each time.
It's most unique value for me however, has been it's continued relevance to the real world. Having spent over 35 years in government service, it was a rare time when I could not relate two or three of my co-workers to characters in the book. Col. Cathcart, Major Major Major, and Appleby are just a few of the examples that come to mind. If you doubt me, you haven't read the book enough times. Still not convinced? How about Chief Wild Halfoat? Any doubt the oil companies would still be following him? And finally, Milo Minderbinder. Who could not see the parallels between his philosophy and that of Dick Cheney. Why should you care if your son or daughter dies in a war, as long as you own part of the company. Now, is that Milo talking or our past VP? Read this book and you decide.
Want to give it 1star to send message to publisher but I just can't, book's simply too good
Simon and Schuster - shame on you. Charge more for an electronic version than for even the hard copy. And, most of the people buying the electronic version have already purchased either a hard copy or paperback so you profit twice. We to send a message to greedy and corrupt publishers. It isn't only Wall Street that has the greed disease.