what is origin of "catch 22 situation" proverb?

Answer 1

From the novel of the same name. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. It's a great novel published in 1961 and based on the authors experience as a bomber pilot in WWII. Here's a good summary of the phrase:

"The central character in "Catch 22" is the pilot Yossarian, whose all-too-accurate perception of the futility and insanity of war leads him to seek a psychiatric exemption from flying further combat missions. But Yossarian runs smack into what Heller dubbed "Catch 22" ("catch" in this sense meaning "snag"). As Heller put it, "There was only one catch, and that was Catch-22.... If he flew them [more missions] he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."

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Actually, the phrase didn't exist in the air force prior to the novel. I'm sure in some sense there was a description of the futiltiy, but the novel itself was based on a short story published in 1955 that was called "Catch-18" It was changed to Catch 22 on the request of publishers so it would not be confused with another WWII novel released around the same time called 'Mila 18'

Answer 2

Everyone is correct that Heller's novel (1962?) about B25s going out from an Italian base popularized the expression. But it already existed in the Army Air Force, and I have to think the exact origin is unknown.

Answer 3

the book. Catch 22.

Answer 4

It is from a book called catch 22 about a piolot in WW2 who wants to go home but in order to go home he has to act like hes crazy aand he wont be able to get a job when he gets there, and if he dosent act like hes crazy he has to stay in the war, Thats where the phrase came from