There are several bands called Catch 22, including ones in the ska (1), met… Read Full Bio ↴There are several bands called Catch 22, including ones in the ska (1), metal (2), jazz, American alternative, and 1980s UK punk genres. German tech-house producers Daniel Girresser & Michael Erb also use the name.
1) Catch 22 (ska):

Catch 22 is a third-wave ska band based in New Jersey. The band was formed in 1995 by drummer Chris Greer and vocalist Tomas Kalnoky. They released a self-produced demo tape, Rules of the Game, in 1996. All 2000 copies of the tape quickly sold out. The band mailed several copies to labels they were interested in working with, including Gainesville, Florida's Toybox Records (which had previously released a 7" by Less Than Jake). Toybox was owned and operated by Sean Bonner, who had recently moved to Chicago, Illinois to work at Victory Records. Sean brought the tape to the Victory office and suggested the band be signed.

The band then signed to Victory and produced their first studio album, 1998's Keasbey Nights. Ansley left and was replaced by Pat Calpin. Kalnoky left the band shortly thereafter, having decided to continue his education rather than tour. Catch 22 continued on with Pat Calpin moved to guitar, Pat "Mingus" Kays on bass, and Jeff Davidson on vocals. The band tested out their new lineup with the 1999 EP Washed Up!. Egan left to continue teaching. Alone in a Crowd followed in 2000 with Mike Soprano on trombone. During this time, the band began touring heavily on a national scale, appearing with Mustard Plug, Reel Big Fish, and other third-wave ska, hardcore, and punk acts. Davidson and Soprano left the band in 2001 to pursue other projects, and for a while the band actively courted new vocalists, even putting an advertisement on their website. The group also recruited Ian Mckenzie, formerly of Long Island, New York ska band Edna's Goldfish, on trombone/vocals.

After a fruitless search, the band decided to continue on as it was, with Ryan Eldred and Kevin Gunther sharing vocal duties. Washed Up and Through the Ringer, an expansion of the Washed Up! EP, was released in 2001, featuring two new songs, three rarities from the Alone In A Crowd era, and a handful of live tracks recorded in October 2000 at Club Laga in Pittsburgh and Euclid Tavern in Ohio. The band released its third full-length album, Dinosaur Sounds, in 2003. This was roughly the same time that Streetlight Manifesto, a band founded by former Catch 22 frontman Tomas Kalnoky and featuring Josh Ansley and Jamie Egan (as well as former members of the NJ ska band One Cool Guy) released their debut, Everything Goes Numb. Both albums featured veiled attacks on each other, suggesting to many fans that there was some sort of disagreement or heat between Catch 22 and Streetlight Manifesto. This was true, although the two parties have since reconciled their differences. Given that Catch 22's Kevin Gunther is in charge of Streetlight Manifesto's tour booking, and members of both bands have said in conversations with fans that there is no "beef" between the two, it is safe to assume that any disagreement is firmly behind them.

In 2004, Catch 22 released Live, a combination CD and DVD recording of a show performed in Farmingdale, New York earlier that year.
Several bands who opened for Catch 22 in the past have gone on to find fame on the mainstream, including Sum 41, Bowling For Soup, Thursday, and Taking Back Sunday.

Catch 22's fourth studio album, titled Permanent Revolution, was released on June 27, 2006. The album can be classified as a concept album, centering around the life of Leon Trotsky (1879 - 1940); the title represents a theorum called Permanent Revolution that Trotsky had been associated with.

2) CATCH 22 (metal):

GENRE:
US Power/Thrash Metal

ORIGIN:
USA (Marietta, Ohio), 1992

CURRENT LINE-UP:
T.J. Berry (vocals, lead and rhythm guitar)
Jesse Forrest (rhythm guitar, backing vocals)
Hank Ramage (bass, backing vocals)
Joe Bailey (drums, backing vocals)

BIOGRAPHY
CATCH 22 was formed by T.J. Berry (vocals, guitar) in 1992 in Marietta, Ohio. When grunge was hitting it big, CATCH 22 stayed true to their art form (metal) and treaded on.

In 1994 their first 6 song demo tape, "Crazier Than Life", was released. One song from this demo, "Fate Keeps On Happening", scored a spot on the Rodell Records compilation "Sounds From The Underground". That was a brave move from Rodell Records because at that time CATCH 22 were considered very uncool as anything metal was labeled uncool.

In 1995 they recorded a 3 song tape, that gained them some national exposure and encouraged them to record a full length CD entitled "Through Eyes Of Pain" in 1997. They scored distribution and a Metal Edge magazine ad from Perris Records, that is known for glam metal, but saw the potential of the band and couldn't resist it.

In 1998 CATCH 22 released their second album, "Time Reveals All", to rave reviews from all over the world. Songs such as "Burn" and "Think For Yourself" still pop up at the band's live shows. CATCH 22 played at the March Metal Meltdown in New Jersey. The year was 2000 and they were surrounded by death metal cookie monster vocals and the outcast once again, waving the flag of true metal loud and proud.

The following year saw the beginning of a great relationship for CATCH 22 with the Classic Metal Festival series. They went to Kalamazoo (Michigan) to play the first annual CMF. At CMF 2 they met J.B. Mestad which led to his label Molten Metal, releasing CATCH 22 third album, "Awaken", in 2003.

CATCH 22 played at Classic Metal Festivals 1, 2, 4 and 5 and have shared the stage with TESTAMENT, EXCITER, ANVIL, OMEN, ATTACKER, HALLOWS EVE, S.O.D., SEVEN WITCHES, CAGE, DORO and many other well known acts.

CATCH 22 were featured on four tribute CDs released by Dwell Records, performing songs of KING DIAMOND, TESTAMENT, WHITE ZOMBIE and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

In December 2006 CATCH 22 entered the studio again to record songs for the new album. The sessions resulted in 22 heavy and diverse power/thrash metal cuts, however due to the limited budget only half of these songs saw the light of day, being released by the band under the title "Soulreaper Vol. 1" in 2007. This CD got many great reviews from all over the globe, however it was more of a promo without the booklet, so Metal On Metal Records decided to release "Soulreaper" the way it was planned by the band in the first place: as a double CD with all the songs, lyrics plus a lot of additional artwork in the booklet.

3. Catch 22

Catch 22 is a UK Hip Hop artist signed to Sugar Free. Catch 22 released his debut feature length album "The Harlequins Monologue" in 2009 on Sugar Free.

Form
Catch 22 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You will have the faith
And you will have the power
And you all shall kneel down before me
I am the new god
Touch my hand and I shall save your soul
This is the church of blood
And the baptism by fire
[ verse 1]

In my dreams
God speaks to me
And you all shall be damned
If you don't believe
This is what he speaks
How can you be so weak
And he's laughing all the while
As he pulls your leash
[ chorus 1 ]
Form your own opinion
Don't you buy that shit
Now the preacher thinks
His church is my t.v. set
[ verse 2 ]
69 miles to jonestown
Wacos on the way
Sell your soul to mind control
Operation obey
So let it be written
So let it be done
So many religions
There can only be one
[ chorus 2 ]
Form your own opinion
Under one good god
Now the preacher thinks
I can't see through his facade
[ solo ]

[ repeat 1st verse ]
[ repeat 1st chorus ]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song, "Form," by Catch 22, seem to be a commentary on the power dynamics and manipulation that can occur within organized religion. The singer takes on the role of a new god, claiming that those who follow him will have faith and power, but also demanding complete obedience and submission. The language used is quite aggressive, with the idea of "the church of blood" and "baptism by fire" suggesting a sort of violent, cult-like atmosphere.

The second verse mentions several specific instances of religious extremism, such as the 69 miles to Jonestown (a reference to the tragic mass suicide of the People's Temple in 1978) and the Waco siege in 1993. The line "Sell your soul to mind control, operation obey" could be interpreted as a warning against blindly following charismatic leaders and allowing oneself to be brainwashed.

The chorus, which repeats twice throughout the song, urges listeners to form their own opinions and not blindly accept the message of any one preacher or religious figure. There is a sense of skepticism and independence implied throughout the song, as well as a criticism of those who use religion to control and manipulate others.

Line by Line Meaning

You will have the faith
You must have blind faith in me.

And you will have the power
But only under my control and influence.

And you all shall kneel down before me
I demand complete submission from you all.

I am the new god
I am your new higher power to worship and obey.

Touch my hand and I shall save your soul
Only through me can you be saved from eternal damnation.

This is the church of blood
This organization is built on bloodshed and violence.

And the baptism by fire
Rituals involve dangerous and life-threatening activities.

In my dreams
In my personal vision and belief system.

God speaks to me
I am solely connected to the divine for guidance and purpose.

And you all shall be damned
If you do not follow my beliefs and obey me, you will be punished.

If you don't believe
Doubting me is not an option.

This is what he speaks
I speak on behalf of God and his will.

How can you be so weak
It takes strength to fully submit to my leadership and control.

And he's laughing all the while
God finds amusement in my power and influence over others.

As he pulls your leash
I control your actions and decisions like a puppet master.

Form your own opinion
Do not blindly accept what others tell you to believe.

Don't you buy that shit
Reject and question propaganda and false beliefs.

Now the preacher thinks
Religious leaders push their beliefs on others for personal gain.

His church is my t.v. set
Religious media is another way for leaders to control their followers.

69 miles to jonestown
The tragedy of Jonestown and other cults is a warning of the dangers of blind faith.

Wacos on the way
The Waco Siege is another example of religious fanaticism leading to violence.

Sell your soul to mind control
Believing in false ideologies can lead to loss of personal autonomy and free will.

Operation obey
Leaders use tactics, such as repetition and fear, to manipulate followers into compliance.

So let it be written
I declare the only acceptable ideology and enforce it as law.

So let it be done
Disobeying is not an option, and punishments will be swift and severe.

So many religions
The world is filled with conflicting belief systems.

There can only be one
But only one group can reign supreme in the end.

Under one good god
Under my specific religious beliefs and practices only.

I can't see through his facade
Religious leaders use manipulation and deception to mask their true intentions and beliefs.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Betrayal of the Masses

06Blood on the Bricks

07Awaken

08Lost

09Wicked From The Womb

10Underneath

11As Twilight Descends

12The Otherside

13Face Your Fate (The Calling)

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Comments from YouTube:

Tom Nicholas

5y↑31

Hey all, thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed the video (particularly if you might currently be looking to sit down with Catch-22 sometime soon). As always, if you'd like to support what I do here then please do consider checking out my Patreon page at http://patreon.com/tomnicholas

Magenta Megi

3y↑1

Tom Nicholas, I think patronus.com is a good site.

Darth Sardonis

3y↑58

I’m reading it right now and it’s hysterical. The fact that Heller beats you over the head with the same joke over and over again and it never gets old is pure genius.

disillusioned

well stated

Christopher Johnson

Yes. The whole thing is pure genius. Reminds me of The Big Lebowski in that I mostly don’t care what it’s “about.”

disgruntled pedant

4y↑190

Catch 22 is the ONLY novel to make me actually laugh out loud

CatLady

Pray for tighter bomb patterns!

LitchQueenAsenath

@D Mac Horse chestnuts have a better shape though

Oscar Dean

And Huck Finn

Anton Von Manheim

3y↑4

Confederacy of Dunces by Kennedy Toole will do it too.

D Mac

3y↑3

Crab apples

6 More Replies...

Jake Gittes

3y↑37

I almost woke up my entire dorm floor with fits of laughter when I first read the chapter that explains the origins of Major Major Major Major. Such a brilliant novel!

senoel22

3y↑15

The one thing that always got me about Catch-22 was how aspects of the book that seemed purely comical in the beginning, slowly through the repetition and changing conditions becomes, as you said, Kafkaesque. That lense shift itself was what really hooked me

Yair C. Libman

5y↑79

Bravo on one of the most articulate explanations I've seen in a while!

disillusioned

indeed! this is so well delivered

Catch Twenty2

3y↑1

Poetic snaps.

Tom Nicholas

5y↑5

Cheers, really glad you thought so!

Abhinandan Dutta

5y↑44

"Whatever happened to yesteryear's Snowdens"
Catch 22 is one of my favorite books. Quite a funny coincidence that I had read it during a very low period of my life and perhaps sailed through it because of it. You have aptly put the experience of reading it. Thank you making this video.

Goldberg Shekelwitz

I'm currently IV'ING fetty and squatting n im on my first reread near the end

pottboy

I know Heller didn't write many books and went into recluse. Catch 2 is unique.

Tom Nicholas

5y↑2

I've got a few books that I've read at lower points in my life (or albums that I've listened to, TV shows I've watched etc) and its funny the way they sit with you for a long time after.
Glad you thought I summed up the novel well! Thanks for watching!

Joseph Regan

4y↑13

I first read catch-22 in the early 70s. I was last crop of American males to retrieve a ‘number’ in 1973. From 1968 to my graduation from high school I grew increasingly anxious about dying in Vietnam, but being a Boomer raised on the heroic deeds of our wars against the axis countries I was conflicted about my duty. I was attracted to read the book, perhaps coincidentally, but I think not by a report I did on Nikita Kruschev’s telling of the Nazi siege of Stalingrad in 1942. It outraged me that I had never heard of the Soviet role in the defeat of the Nazis so I was ripe for radical retelling of the war well outside the US propaganda model which persisted till the present day.

So characters like Havermayer, the colonel and stories of business relations with German firms during the war were not fictional inventions in the least but we now know about the deep ties between American firms and the companies that collaborated with the Nazi regime.

I also wonder if Heller had been affected by Hannah Arendt’s depiction of Eichmann. Ok - the man who made the trains run on time to Auschwitz is order of magnitude worse than the Americans depicted but the concern of banal men in a time of war for promotion and career advancement is right on the money.

bennett theissen

5y↑9

I'm an old guy who first read Catch 22 long before you were born. I appreciate your video and enjoy your critique of one of my favorite novels. In high school I read the Snowden chapter in oral competitions and usually won the contests because the text is so powerful. Thank you for showing me there are still good minds moving into our future.

JFS

3y↑2

I’m in high school right now, and I just checked it out from the library. Very excited to read and experience it for myself.

Nour Yasser

5y↑11

The amount of effort you put into your videos is unbelievable; always top-notch. Because of this, you've convinced me to reread catch-22 once more, hopefully, with much more ease, after weeks of it sitting on my shelf untouched. Keep up the great work!

Samuel Bohn

4y↑8

This is the best explanation I have seen on the internet of Catch-22, I really needed this. Thank you!

erikalynnsorensen

3y↑1

Omg yes. This is exactly what I needed. I found a list of best novels resulting from a UK survey a few years ago, and decided to go looking at my local used book stores. Found a super old copy of catch 22 but only got a few chapters in before trying out another one. I now feel so much more ready and excited to read it. Hoping you have done one of these for pride and prejudice as well. Subscribed for sure. ❤️

C M

4y↑10

I'm gonna read this soon. Tom, could you do For Whom the Bell Tolls next? It's a favourite of mine but I'd love to hear your take on the Spanish Civil War.

Christopher Johnson

I’ve read Catch-22 multiple times; it’s my favorite novel. And, after watching this video, I plan to read it again, armed with your insights as I make my way through it. So, with that, nice work.

Only one small note of criticism—and hopefully not too many people have already made this point. As a veteran of the US Air Force, I can tell you none of the characters in the novel were in the USAF as the Air Force did not become a separate branch of the US military until 1947. Instead, Heller, Yossarian, Doc Daneeka, and all the other characters in the novel were soldiers in the US Army, specifically, the US Army Air Forces. Again, only a minor detail.

Latika Kumar

4y↑1

Watching your commentary of sorts on books has reinstated or rather fired my inclination to start reading, which somewhere got lost after my college days. The romance with novels is in! And thanks to your enthused, articulate style as well as a balanced literary critique.

EmperorSmith

3y↑4

There are those books, that change the way you think and stay with you for the rest of your life. Catch 22 is one of those books.

Cathal Keane

Spot on! I’ve come here after finishing ch. 4, Doc Daneeka, to get some context. You’ve been ever so helpful in confirming my mild irritation with the circular dialogues and my pleasure in the novel’s absurdity thus far, ie, the T.S. Eliot scene! Thank you. I hope you do more like this.

Karolína Turynová

4y↑1

This is the most well done video analysis I've seen out there! Thank you!

Sports Highlight Central

5y↑4

Hello Tom!
Great work with catch 22! it is an interesting/different text and you did a good job covering the basics

Tom Nicholas

Thanks for saying so, really appreciate you taking the time to leave a little bit of feedback!

Jess Williams

4y↑1

One of my very favorite novels. Thank you for breaking it down as you do

Wonder Woman

Excellent review. You’re great at explaining the plot in a simple yet interesting Way. Thanks so much

Andy B

I'm a Catch 22 nerd, to the point I version software by the name of the characters.

This is the most perfect synopsis of the novel, well done Tom. You've taken the ostensibly least understandable novel of all time and so wonderfully described it.

Well done sir.

REED RICHARDS 2

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAN! I just watched the movie and your pristine analisys - the source of the script - is the PERFECT complement!!!

Lauren Putnam

4y↑2

I read the first few chapters without context, watched this video, and then could finally appreciate the rest of the book. You give a perfect amount of information in a delightful way. Thank you!!

Tom Nicholas

Ahh, I'm really glad! Hope you enjoyed the book!

Christopher Casagrande

Great video. Read it in high school 21 years ago and wasn’t mentally initiated for it. The Hulu show got me into it. Wish I could read it now without knowing the show

Dasha Chirita

3y↑1

I'm currently reading Catch 22 and was looking for some context to better understand the novel. I think the book is brilliant and some insights you provide really echo with how I feel about it. Thanks!

pietzsche

Heller's one of the best authors of the last century, his other work's can be tougher than Catch-22 but they're excellent too

Isabella St. Andrews

I hope you'll make more videos reviewing classic novels! A Farewell to Arms is next on my list.

Belsom

Omg my dear Literature class, I am grateful there is so much information about this book out there! Thank you!

Thanks mate this helps I’m reading it now for school and I saw this and was like “YES!”

En passant

Absolutely sublime review!
So many points and subtleties revealed.
Cannot believe I haven't found your channel so far.

GetThePitchforks !!!

5y↑5

Now I'll have to reread it. I remember loving it.
Good video!

Tom Nicholas

Thanks, hope you enjoy your re-read!

kermit3421

4y↑1

I have read it over 10 times...always fresh because of it's absurdity. I think the reason the novel jumps around in time is because Yossarian is dreaming all this while being operated on from the stab wound.
Just a weird theory and the way I look at it...favorite novel!

Maria 124

5y↑1

Excellent video! I really love this series, I just read Ulysses there in June and your How To Read It video on that was so so helpful! I hope you keep adding to this series! 😊

Maria 124

@Tom Nicholas I haven't been there actually, I must check out some of their events 😊

Tom Nicholas

Oh goodness, yeah, Oxen of the Sun is a treat. Dubliners is much more accessible as a book—I LOVE so many of the stories in there. Did you ever go to Sweeney's? I was in Dublin a little while back and popped in for a reading which was fun but infinitely bizarre!

Maria 124

I actually have a copy of Catch-22 on my shelf, sitting there unread... I might be tempted now 😂

Maria 124

@Tom Nicholas Some of it did go over my head, but on the whole I did! I found Oxen of the Sun was particularly torturous, but some of the other chapter styles were fantastic and I really enjoyed them. I wouldn't have stood a chance without footnotes and videos like yours! I'm from Ireland myself and I'd just finished Uni in Dublin so I recognised a lot of the places (same with reading Dubliners) so that was a lovely experience. I definitely think I'll have to reread it though to get more out of it, but at the moment I feel very proud if myself for actually finishing it! Thank you so much for your introduction to that beast!

Tom Nicholas

Oh, I'm really glad the Ulysses video did the trick! I don't think I've heard back from anyone whose watched it and then read the book yet so that's great to hear. Did you enjoy reading it?

Shamus Flynn

3y↑1

I've read this book twice. Easily one of my favorites. This analysis opened my eyes to things I hadn't seen such as the book actually being somewhat of a commentary on Vietnamization. Very cool. Thank you.

Shamus Flynn

@Mott Dude the term Vietnamization goes beyond the Vietnam war and can be used to describe that feeling soldiers may get; that the war is meaningless and that their is no reason to be there. It still applies in this case even if it is World War 2. I did a research paper on this book for my College Writing class and I found and used a university journal that spoke about Vietnamization, and they used multiple WW2 novels as examples.

Mott Dude

3y↑1

Meh I don’t know if I’d go that far. Remember this was written and published before Vietnam was a thing in the US. Rather the absurdities described in Hellers book were all to apparent in the Vietnam war which made the novel just that more popular.

Ayadi Wissal

Thanks a a lot for your brilliant explanation and I will read it as soon as possible .the book will help me a lot since I m studying Kafka's book The Trial .

Molly Ellis

5y↑3

I’ve been struggling to get through this book because of the way it’s written with stream of consciousness. This video helped me understand why it’s written this way- hoping to get through it now!

Hodan

the audiobook helps a lot!

minty

5y↑4

Really great and detailed analysis! Opened my eyes to how to structure of Catch-22 reflects the military environment. Thank you so much for this video! Subscribes vigorously :)

Tom Nicholas

Thanks, really glad you took something from it!

Maria Łusakowska

I'm doing a presentation at uni about this novel, and your video helped so much!! thank you!!!!

Alyssa Leavitt

5y↑6

This was amazing and really widened my perspective!! Love this book

Winston Smith

How so?

archi

4y↑3

im just sitting here nodding my head continuously because of how accurate this review is.

Bubble Gendut

Thanks for that. I was about to give up at chapter 4 but now I understand the aim of the book I will continue.

Robert Vaughan

I first read this book sometime back in the 90s and recently decided to read it again. The first time I read this book I though it was hilarious for all the crazy antics, illogic, stupidity, incompetance, etc.. Hence I got a big laugh out of it.

Reading it now was still hilarious to me but looked at it more philosophically. I guess age made me think a little deeper. Though I still laughed at Milo's syndicate activities, such as fulfilling a contract with the Germans to bomb his own base or trying to offload the overbought Egyptian cotton by thinking he can get the men in his outfit to eat like candy.

Nonetheless, I found the concept of not being deemed crazy if you want out of the mission but those who want to perform the mission are crazy. Essentially a no-win scenario in my opinion.

B CL

4y↑1

I wish there was so much more How to Read It!!

Destin E

I love that I found this!!! I loved the book so much.

Omer Ahmad

Brilliant commentary! Thank you <3

Marwan Monajjed

Thanks I needed that, I do get lost with character names and this helped me gain crucial informations to remember them

Fatih Koç

thats a nice catch tom! i came across catch 22 and its on my read list for a year.

Ryan Garritty

4y↑1

Given the year of publication, it's impossible for the Vietnam war to have been an influence on Catch 22. However, I think the whole notion of Mutually Assured Destruction ( MAD ), which characterised Cold War strategy, is highly pertinent. The super powers openly admitted to the world that their actions were based on a completely insane premise. The tragedy for the world in 1961 was that - unlike Yossarian - there was nowhere left on earth to paddle to in order to avoid potential armageddon.

Oh, and it's bloody hilarious.

D. `

Joseph Heller clearly indicates in his early 70s interviews that Catch 22 was influflunced by Korea and the early cold war, he says its a "prediction" of a Vietnam type conflict. Tom is very clear on the timing.

Lonely God

Thanks. Just finished the show and interested in this great novel

Tom Nicholas

No worries, that was exactly why I put the video out at this point, I thought some people might be looking to read the book having watched the TV series. Enjoy!!

Jennifer Chapman

Reading this book as a keen history student with specialisations on the Vietnam war, I couldn’t get it out of my head that the events felt like the morally complicated and confusing experiences of the Vietnam war. Depictions of WW2 have always focused on the bravery of soldiers fighting in a conflict that was a good war in the sense it was fought for the right reasons. However Catch-22 depicts it so differently that I was left rather perplexed from the outset. I’m so glad I found this video to give a bit of clarity and help me preserve with the book!

Red Tide

5y↑1

Wow you have been busy! Great to be able to re-encounter this amazing & life-changing novel.

Stephen Vizinczey

Enjoyed watching your video, it is like a history lesson

Tom Nicholas

Cheers, hope you found it interesting!

Eric Seal

To the casual reader, read it very carefully! Its brilliantly entertaining, but it is written in flashbacks.

dwc1964

4y↑18

10:53 - "The absurdist influence present in Catch-22 can often make the novel a frustrating read..." - Unless you're into that sort of thing. ;-)

Mr. Braddock

Love your videos but one small point of pedantry from me; Yossarian didn't fly for the US Air Force because that wasn't created until the National Security Act of 1947. It was the US Army Air Force at that time, because the Air Corp was still technically under the command of the Army from it's creation until the end of WWII.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces

Elaine Kavros

Thank you Tom for this, even though it pre-empted your "Pride and Prejudice" summary. I stumbled upon the Netflick's miniseries Catch-22 and saw the entire 6 episodes twice, once by myself and second time with a WW2 buff. I was sucked in. I went to the library and got the book. Sincerely enjoyed your overview of the novel, its structure, the author's framed of mind at time of writing vs his actually experience during WW2.

Tom Nicholas

Glad you liked it Elaine! I haven't actually watched the TV series yet. I've got it waiting for me at some point though and, judging from your experience, it sounds like it might be worth watching! Enjoy reading the novel!

Gino Lancaster

nice video thanks, I have tried to read Catch 22 numerous times. I just could not finish due to its frustating plot
and language, at just seemed
so pointless and directionless. but will try again as a I can attempt to view it now in different light and expectional understanding..I think thats what I
mean!!

Enflamed Huevos

Think of it like this, you’re confused and spun in a circle because you’re viewing the world through Yossarian’s eyes, who is also confused and spun in a circle

Sir Turd

The only book to make you burst out laughing from perfect silence to make you look like a lunatic.

Michael Lewis

Thanks. Really good. I won't read the book. I've got it in Audible but I just don't see the world the way Mr Heller saw it and I cann't understand it. Maybe the George Clooney tv version on Hula might help .

Austin Hibdon

The axes, you say? The XYZ gang. Some say there's a fourth one, W, lurking in the shadows. I don't don't believe in it though

I should say I love your videos. They are great. I just wanted to comment something to feed the algorithm and this was the best I could do.

CatLady

3y↑1

1:00 He finally gets to the point.

Hodan

Yay one of my favorite books!

disillusioned

amazing thanks !

Mott Dude

3y↑1

I think you’re missing the point a bit about the anachronisms in Catch-22. Yes they’re anachronisms from the fifties but they don’t influence the theme of the book as much as they provide hilarious examples of the absurdities of the rational irrationality based on circular reasoning logical fallacies that have plagued large and powerful human institutions from time immemorial.

You noted that the plot of the book is told in a non-linear manner but did you note that it’s actually circular? Heller keeps circling back to the same events but from the different characters point of view and each time flushes out more details on these events in the plot. Which is a wonderful touch in a novel about the absurdity of circular reasoning. How could it be any other way? A circular story about circular logic.

The military, the anachronisms, the war are just the settings for the absurdities of the human condition and and our institutions that Heller is poking fun at.

jonnybyford

4y↑2

It's undoubtedly a very clever book, but I'm past page 100 of the 500 or so pages and haven't laughed once. Some books NEED to be read more than once, I'm aware of that. An example is Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry. If you read that and dissect it Tom, then I shall be back to hear your opinion. Imho, one needs to have experienced alcoholism to understand and appreciate Lowry's book, which like Heller's Catch-22, is based on Lowry's own experiences in Mexico in 1934. Like Catch-22, it was also voted one of the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels. But some people just can't get along with it and I can see why. I've read it three times and can appreciate its brilliance, but it's not for everyone. I honestly think that in some cases a book's difficulty, as well as its appreciation being based to a large extent on subjectivity, as well as their evident high-brow allure, gives some books a kind of cachet they don't deserve. What I think I'm trying to say is that the man in the street, of which I'm one, finds them hard to read and comprehend, which gives them all the more appeal to the more obvious literary types.

Winston Smith

I always had a theory on people who say that can't see the humor in the book is because they take it too literally and don't embrace the absurdity of the situations being described.

Steven Bosch

You Tube has a recording of Rod Serling’s “Bomber’s Moon,” it was s teleplay about a Air Force Officer in WW II who
believes he cannot control his terror when flying missions with his bomber group and fears he will kill his crew and himself. The group adjutant (Martin Balsam) wants the Officer to keep flying because he recognizes the offcer’s fear as exactly like his own and every other pilot and crewman in the group. If one gives in to fear it wouldn’t stop if he we’re rotated home and he would consider himself a coward. His CO (Robert Cummings) denies the fear in his heart and rides the pilot without mercy. The play was performed 10 years after WW II and Serling was a veteran of the Airborne Infantry. There were many veterans in Serling’s audience who took themes of courage and cowardice very seriously.

Steven Bosch

@Tom Nicholas Thank you Tom.

Tom Nicholas

5y↑1

That's really interesting, I'll check that out, I haven't read or seen Bomber's Moon before. Heller did also adapt a couple of scenes of Catch-22 into a short play too (the mock trial scenes). I haven't seen that either though so can't comment on whether its any good or not!

Conan Duke

So sad Tom missed the 'Lord of the Rings' casting.

Bob Bob

Just started reading catch 22 ,yes very readable,have started speed reading ,any tips just non verbalisation

dwc1964

My biggest regret reading Catch-22 is that I tried to read it in bed before sleeping. I'd fall asleep before putting the bookmark in, drop the book, and then try and figure out where I left off - which with all the jumping back and forth in time going on, was basically impossible.

Louise Christine

Hey i read too before bed, i try to go a chapter or two a day but never im between. Works i'm at chapt 22 now

John Bryant

Thank you 🙏🏽🖤

James Hedin

Wait, there's a tv version of catch 22? Also that clip looked perfect; I gotta watch this

Slice Of life

2019 News 6 episodes really well done

Catch Twenty2

Well done bloke.

Cwd Kidman

You forgot the main thing...or two main things. 1, Catch-22 is the bible, or at least the old testament, albeit a secular and insanely comic version of the OT. Lt. Col. Korn is Satan and Major ------- deCoverly is God.
2, William Faulkner is the father of Heller's style of prose. Both use ten dollar dictionary words and can change tense, narrator, time, and place mid-sentence. They both write in a famously complex style that forces you to pay attention.

Clickbait Cabaret

4y↑1

In the past week I've read Franz Kafka, The Trial & Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse 5, now I'm reading Catch 22. One thing that strikes me about the book is it's full of what today would be called "toxic masculinity." The characters often seem like unruly children with alcoholic parents who misplace importance on the most absurd aspects of their development. Like winning a red parade pennant & bringing up a cadet on charges for making suggestions when his superior asked him to. I definitely get the Kafka reference. The trial was this monstrous authority figure who was everywhere yet no one knew what it's purpose was. No one ever tells K what's going on because no one knows, despite "the court" looming so large over daily life. The madness of the military's bureaucracy plays the same role in Catch 22. The war is really just the backdrop for it.

Tom Nicholas

4y↑1

Wow, busy week! Yes, it's definitely an interesting study in hegemonic masculinity (both its positives and negatives...).

Hadil New

can you mention some collocatiin in catch 22 pls

traketso

Yayy my favourite novel of all time

StephenSchleis

5y↑2

Thanks for this.

StephenSchleis

Tom Nicholas I’d love to hear you in a podcast talking about the political socio economic conditions of our time. So much knowledge you have that you can put to good use targeting the system full heartedly. It truly is Socialism (ecosocialism) or barbarism.

Tom Nicholas

5y↑1

No worries! Hope you found it interesting!

Sofia Barcenas

Is the series on Hulu the same as the book?

Michael Dufault

The book to me feels like a jigsaw puzzle but has not been put together.

1true_panda

3y↑2

one of my best friends just passed away and this was his favorite book so i thought i would get a clear idea of what its about b4 i give a read so ty you for the knowledge .......................Rest In Peace Tyler Barnes

Abject Individual

Petition : Infinite Jest /The brothers karamazov (how to read it)

karamazovkid

5y↑3

Clevenger was a Harvard PHD in literature. Of him Yossarian said, " Clevenger knew everything about books except how to enjoy one!" Kinda like this video?

karamazovkid

American version.

karamazovkid

This review is a simulacrum! Dennis Lahane voiced Dark Romanticism as if it were a choral symphony but when he tried to write historical fiction he blew his credibility completely. Howie Unger was reputed to be the best gin rummy who ever lived but when he tried to extend his talent to non-card forms of gambling he lost everything he possessed including his life to folly. Caveat Vendor! (the English version)

ultrakool

can't help but noticing tom looks like sean penn...age 12🤔

flower

I was planning on reading this! If I get round to it..

Tom Nicholas

5y↑1

Haha, I have so many books that I'm planning on reading but failing to get round too, I feel your pain!

Luke Scott

He looks like the navigator

CONEROD

bruh you start at page 1

Miss Enigma

I'm half through it, so m stopping the video for now but I'll come after finishing it, promise.

Tom Nicholas

Haha, that's cool! Hope you're enjoying the book! (There's no spoilers in the video though so don't worry about watching it!). I'll look forward to hearing what you think!

Meserbee Chek

I liken this behavior to all military personel who think enlistment means they are free to do as they please among those who are still considered "civilians." I.e. stepping on ground and engaging communities is kept for leadership and not for lying and hoping nobody notices?

John Hanks

Authority wanting more. Abuse of authority. The need for it.

Mingze Li

Life Savior

Tom Nicholas

Happy to be of service!

Quackhouse Productions

3y↑1

It’s a bit of a slog.

Saman Siddiquie

This explanation is more annoying than the book itself

Ronnie Melamed

3y↑1

I think the Syndicate gave me a really good look into the absurdity of capitalism.

SamWize Ganji

Toh Kay brought me here

Jasna Car

Major Major Major Major

The Vicious Chicken of Bristol

Good video.
Pity you pronounced Yossarian wrong.

Dorian Roffe-Hammond

I know you tried to make this novel interesting but in my hardened opinion there have not been any worthwhile works of fiction written since WWI. Tom you're a brilliant thinker but please stay within the realm of the Classics. Again just my opinion. Much appreciated.

Dave Frajele

PISTI KA

Sultan Alrefaie

Gayeeh

Nathan Duchene

4y↑2

I'm reading this book for AP Literature and it's boring as fuck

Rob Dillon

I read Catch 22 because I love dark humour and Heller didn't disappoint in this. The dark humour shows a reality of the human condition and the absurdity of how human systems are full of corruption. The beauty of this book is it doesn't moralise but points out the lengths one will go to to stay alive.