Catch-22 Lesson Plan

In the preface of his new edition, Joseph Heller reminisces about the early days when he submitted Catch-22 to magazines like The Atlantic and The New Yorker. He vividly recalls its dismissal, the novel's absence from the New York Times bestseller list, and its chilly reception among the literary elite. Despite this lackluster start, the book eventually skyrocketed in popularity among readers. The phrase "catch-22" resonated deeply, articulating their frustrations with the conflicting structures and bureaucracies prevalent in modern society. The dark humor and wit embedded in Catch-22 found an appreciative audience, making the term a common descriptor for no-win situations trapped by...