Catch-22Catch-22
Score Classic
What it's about
Captain John Yossarian is a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Forces, stationed on a small island in the Mediterranean during World War II. He's convinced that everyone is trying to kill him, the enemy and his own commanders alike, who keep raising the number of missions the men must fly. He wants to be grounded as insane, but there's a catch: anyone who asks to be grounded is obviously sane. That's Catch-22.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the best novels, the Modern Library's and the PBS Great American Read. It's one of the funniest and most savage anti-war novels ever written, and it gave the language a phrase.
You'll love it if you liked
Slaughterhouse-Five
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
From Here to EternityGood to know
It jumps around in time and repeats scenes, which can be disorienting. It gets darker as it goes.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller65 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #39 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #123 of the 762 classics we rank
- #397 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
I, Claudius
War and Peace
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Age of Innocence
A Prayer for Owen MeanyExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Catch-22 worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the best novels, the Modern Library's and the PBS Great American Read. It ranks #397 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Catch-22 about?
Captain John Yossarian is a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Forces, stationed on a small island in the Mediterranean during World War II. He's convinced that everyone is trying to kill him, the enemy and his own commanders alike, who keep raising the number of missions the men must fly. He wants to be grounded as insane, but there's a catch: anyone who asks to be grounded is obviously sane. That's Catch-22.
How long does it take to read Catch-22?
About 12 hours (472 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Catch-22?
If you liked it, try Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey or From Here to Eternity by James Jones.