Catch-22: A Story of Impossible Rules

 This book is set during World War II, but it's not a typical war story. It’s a very funny (and sometimes very sad) book about a group of American pilots stationed on a tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea.

The main character is a pilot named Yossarian. Yossarian is a bombardier, which means he flies in a plane and drops bombs. Yossarian hates the war and thinks it’s crazy that people he doesn’t even know are constantly trying to kill him. His biggest goal is simple: to stop flying dangerous missions and go home.

The Impossible Rule

The problem is the officers in charge are ambitious and keep making the men fly more and more missions before they are allowed to leave. Whenever Yossarian gets close to the required number, his superior, Colonel Cathcart, raises the number again! It feels like a game no one can win.

To get out of flying, a pilot can ask to be grounded for being insane. This is where the famous rule, Catch-22, comes in. The ru

le states:

If you are crazy, you can be grounded (sent home).

But, if you ask to be grounded, it proves you are sane—because only a sane person would want to stop flying deadly missions.

Since you are sane, you must keep flying!

So, the rule makes it impossible to get out. It's a "no-win" situation that locks everyone into a terrible, circular trap.

The Wacky Characters

Yossarian spends the book trying every possible way to escape this ridiculous system. Along the way, he meets a cast of unforgettable characters:

Doc Daneeka: The grumpy doctor who first explains Catch-22, but can’t help anyone because of the rule.

Milo Minderbinder: The squadron’s mess officer who starts a massive, worldwide business using the military planes to trade things like cotton and chocolate. He loves money more than anything—even his own country!

The Chaplain: A shy, kind, and often confused man who is one of Yossarian's only true friends.

A Message About Life

As the story goes on, Yossarian sees that the people in charge—the officers who keep raising the mission count and creating silly rules—are much more dangerous than the actual enemy. They care only about their own promotions, not the lives of the soldiers.

In the end, Yossarian realizes that he can't beat the system by playing by its rules. He must choose between giving up and supporting the corrupt officers, or escaping completely so he can live a free life away from the craziness. The book is a powerful, funny, and clever reminder that when the rules don't make sense, the bravest thing you can do is stand up for yourself and choose life.