Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My name is Yossarian.
This book changed my life.I never thought a book would change my life; indeed, before I never enen thought much of books, but this book even changed my thinking that I wouldn't be changed by it.

In my eyes, catch-22 is not about anything. Joseph Heller will never tell you "War is bad, say no to war" and force you to believe it.What he does is create situations in which many aspects of human life are illustrated, and he lets you make of it what you will.And while he's at it, he makes the book tragic, funny, and unbelievably touching all at the same time.

I will never dictate to anyone what to get out of Catch-22, but what it meant most to me was the idiocy and self-ruin of human society.It's the stupidity of putting man-made notions and concepts ahead of people themselves.This can be anything from comical to absolutely horrifying.It's funny when the doctors at Yossarian's hospital have no choice but to keep him there because his liver is not bad enough to require operation but not bad enough that they can declare him safe to leave the hospital.But it makes you think twice about society, the world, and humanity when a young soldier in Yossarian's plane gets hit and bleeds to death, and the madness of war is coupled with the absurdity of Milo taking out parts of the first aid kit to make ice cream soda for the benefit of the same people who were fighting for causes they really were not sure of.

All in all, it's futile to explain catch-22 because you can only experience it by reading it.Joseph Heller passed away a few years ago, but Yossarian will never die. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Joseph Heller tells the story of the complex and often conflicting political calculations that led directly to the founding of the independent Jewish state of Israel in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. Examining the positions of many competing parties, he explains how and why the charismatic David Ben-Gurion prevailed: by shrewdly maneuvering between radical extremes on the left and on the right, Ben-Gurion managed to steer a successful middle-of-the-road policy in favor of partition.

Heller also describes the vital links between internal and external factors in the post-war Zionist movement. He places events in the context of wider Cold War calculations to explain why much of Israel's early military and diplomatic support came--surprisingly--from the Soviet Union, while the United States assumed a neutral position in order not to offend its British ally.

In addition, Heller investigates early and ongoing conflicts with neighboring Arab nations for their influence on Israel's foundation. Through research in a range of archives, diplomatic protocols, diaries, and other sources, he provides both Middle East scholars and general readers with a balanced account of the historical and contemporary problems and solutions that continue to influence the region's ongoing peace process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Wonderful investigation
This interesting investigation of the Birth of Israel is a very comprehensive analysis of the Politics that led to the creation of the State.The author begins with a general introduction to what he intends to accomplish his work.The bulk of the work focus's on Ben Gurion and the politics of the Yishuv from 1945-1949.Here the book does a wonderful job in navigating the many challenges Gurion faced as he first confronted the English then courted the Americans, the Russiansand finally faced up the fact of an Arab invasion.

This wonderful book does something that few, if any, have done before; It analyzes the other political parties in Israel and their various methods and ideas for the creation of the State.From the radical left to the radical right each political faction is given separate attention and its goals, methods and ideas are investigated.The final portion of the book deals with the `New Historians' and the debunking of certain ideas for instance the Refugee Issue and the `David vs. Goliath' issue that many modern Historians have used to critique and castigate Israel.The simple thesis is that the 1948 war must be analyzed from a standpoint of the conditions of 1948 rather then looking at it from the standpoint of today and critiquing the Yishuv for the mistakes of modern Israeli PMs.

Recommended, with reservations
Say what you will about David Ben-Gurion - no one can deny his contribution to the establishment of the state of Israel. He managed, by virtue of his pragmatic politics, his keen eye for important developments (such as the importance of America, the early realization that the Arab States would invade a Jewish state etc), and his forcefull leadership, to do what many though impossible - establish a Jewish state, and defend it by force of arms.

Joseph Heller has writen a thorough book of the diplomatic history of the Yishuv, with Ben-Gurion at its head, from the end of WWII until the end of the War of Independence. Both its foreign relationships (with the US and USSR, for example), and the internal struggles within the Zionist camp are given extensive treatment.

I was impressed by Ben-Gurion's pragmatism and his ability to bind many disparate groups together, as well as his keen eye. Ben-Gurion comes off in this book not as the conspiratorial knave of the New Historians, but a pragmatic national leader, no worse than others, trying under difficult circumstances to look out for the Yishuv's interests.

Indeed, this book manages to properly explain the alleged "collusion" claim between the Yishuv and Abdallah I. Efraim Karsh has already managed to destroy Shlaim's claim that the Abdallah-Meir meeting reached an agreement to divide the country, and this is an extra nail in that coffin.

In order to demonstrate that Ben-Gurion had the right idea and that his critics were wrong, Heller gives each of them a whole chapter on their appoach to the conflict during that period.

First to go is Ihud, that group of intellectuals who objected to the partition plan and supported a bi-national scheme instead. This group, although they had good intentions, were hopelessly out of touch with reality. The Yishuv saw them as traitors, and the only Arab leader willing to agree to a binational regime, albeit probably not with equal numbers, had little power and was quickly assasinated.

Heller deals also with those to the right and left (such as HaShomer Hatzair) of Ben-Gurion. While his treatment is generally fair, I felt that he held some deep animosity towards the right wing (the revisionists, the Etzel).

His treatment of Deir Yassin is way off base - the number of 240 Arabs killed has long been debunked by Palestinian researchers. Furthermore, Begin never admitted that a massacre took place there, let alone brag about its effectiveness (See Deir Yassin: History of A Lie published by ZOA). His portrayal of Lord Moyne is also inaccurate (i.e. he mentions his late support of partition but not his anti-Zionist statements).

Heller's treatment of the left-wing is more fair-minded. In sum, one should read this critique of the right wing against something more symathetic.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Heller's book is very weak and even self-contradictory when it comes to the war itself, and the Palestinian Refugee problem in particular. He seems to be saying - "Benny Morris is right, but one must put things into context". There is no mention of Shabtai Teveth's or Efraim Karsh's rebuttal's to aspects of Morris's work.

Worse, while Heller at one point says that Morris was right not to give undue importance to Plan D as a factor in the war, at another point he claims that Plan D can be seen within the context of "ethnic cleansing". Which is the right answer?

The absurdity of this comes to the point where Heller treats with scepticism the claim by various Zionists that the Arabs were running away due to fright (which was at least partially true), and gives undue importance to the few expulsions that took place on the eve of the invasion-as if it were the main cause (see "Why did the Palestinians Run Away in 1948" by Yoav Gelber, at mideasttruth.com, for a good overview of what happened).

There are other problems with the book - the treatment of the strength of opposing forces (Arab & Israeli) is scattered, the treatment of the Holocaust both in general and as a background to the "Revolt" of Menahem Begin and other events is played down, and Heller fails to sufficiently stress the total and uncompromising refusal of the Palestinians to agree to a Jewish state of any shape or size. It also would have been nice if Heller had given a more thorough treatment to his argument with the "New Historians", instead of just a short appendix.

All this aside, Heller's book is an important and informative work of history, and it demonstrates the greatness and foresight of one of the Jewish people's great leaders - David Ben-Gurion.

The History of the State of Israel
The birth of the State of Israel, 1945-1949 by Ben Gurion and his critics, presents a look into the first four year history of Isreal.Forthose who are fimilar with the Torah, better known as the "OldTestement" can see the importance of the Jewish state. The Torahstates that G-d had set aside the land for the Israelites.

ManyTraditional Jews believe that the established Jewish state was mandated byG-d afther the Holocaust. During the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler, Chancaller ofGermany order in his "Final Soluation". Hitler believed that theJews were evil incarned, and driven by there own greed. He called for thedeath of ever Jew, including all Jewish children. For the next six yearsJewish men, women, and children marched to there death by fire, theHolocaust. An estimated six million Jews were murdered in Hitler'sregime.

The aftherwrath of the Holocaust changed the Jewish thoughtforever. The murder of nearly half of the Jewish population has made manyJews question G-d. Where was G-d? Some Jews lost there faith in G-d byarriving the the conclusion that "A G-d could have not this happen.How can G-d let such a thing happen"? Although some have lost therefaith, most Jews haven't. As a noted Jewish thinker once said " Thequestion is not were was G-d, but where was man"? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Novel
Catch 22 is in brief, an execllent novel. It is painfully hilarious, and heartbreakingly sad, often at the same time. It tells the story of a bomber pilot in italy in the second world war, for whom the only way to stay sane in a war full of lunacy and madness is to go crazy. (read it and you'll see what i mean)
A Superb Book ... Read more

Product Description
At the heart of Catch-22 resides the incomparable World War II flier John Yossarian, a hero endlessly inventive in his schemes to save his skin from the horrible chances of war. Yet if he attempts to excuse himself from the perilous missions, he is trapped by the Great Loyalty Oath Crusade, the hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule from which the book takes its title: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he makes the necessary formal request to be relieved of such missions this very act proves that he is sane and therefore ineligible to be relieved. As revealing today as when it was first published, this brilliant novel was the preferred reading material of the pacifist movement of the 1960 s, expressing the concerns of an entire generation in its black comedy.

Description in Spanish: La acción se desarrolla durante los últimos meses de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y se centra en una escuadrilla de bombarderos estadounidense. El coronel Cathcart, jefe de la escuadrilla, quiere ser ascendido a general. Y no encuentra mejor manera que enviar a sus hombres a realizar las misiones más peligrosas. Con una lógica siniestra, Yossarian, un piloto subordinado de Cathcart que intenta ser eximido del servicio alegando enfermedad mental, recibe por respuesta que sólo los locos aceptan misiones aéreas y que su disgusto demuestra que está sano y que, por tanto, es apto para volar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Better Every Time
Simply put this one of those books that gets better everytime you read it, a book not only worth reading once, but at least 3 or 4 times.

definitely on of the very best books I ever read
When I first read Catch 22, I was enthralled, the way it moves between hilarious episodes and then chokes the laughter is hardly to be superseded. Actually even Joseph Heller himself only came close with the sequel „Closing Time". Since my first copy I now own my third copy because the older ones were falling apart from being read so much by myself and all those friends of mine that I could persuade to check it out. As soon as I find the time I will read it for the fourth time and it is the only book that I read more than twice. And I don't think there is any praise higher than wanting to read a book again and again and being sure to find some great detail that you might have missed the last times. It is a definite „must have"! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Words of War
It seems impossible that Joseph Heller could have topped his enigmatic masterpiece "Catch-22".Yet that is just what he did in his first play, "We Bombed in New Haven", a piece of theatre as irreverent and humorous as his first novel and just as thought-provoking.Even though "We Bombed in New Haven" was published in 1967, it tells a tale and asks questions that are truly timeless.

The play focuses on a small Air Force troop with the setting and time period pliable: Heller indicates in his introductory notes that the time and place is always the present date and present city of the performance.Captain Starkey, a soldier content to go with the flow and do what he is told to do, has the responsibility of sending his soldiers out to bomb various cities, knowing that some are being sent to their death.No one has any problems with the role they are meant to play, until Sergeant Henderson wants to know what happened to the actor playing a soldier who died on a mission.Throughout the play, Heller bends the line between what is happening on the stage and what is real, with actors stepping out of character and speaking directly to the audience, pushing the thought that the actions on stage may be much more real than what they appear to be.In one of his trademark paradoxes, Heller has Captain Starkey confront the truth of his job, and his life, in a way that will have readers (or an audience lucky enough to see a performance) question their attitude about war.

"We Bombed in New Haven" is a truly unique play, obscuring the line between acting and reality.It is full of Heller's enigmatic wit and laugh-out-loud humor.While some references may seem out of date (such as some songs that the soldiers sing), the themes and the questions raised are ever present in today's world.

Crossing the Line of Reality
Most people do not realize that Joseph Heller wrote plays in addition to his novels."We Bombed in New Haven" may be the most well received of his plays, which play on the same satire and slap stick comedy that made Heller famous in Catch-22.Though largely unknown, this play is gold.

The lines of reality and the world of the characters are blurred in this play as the characters continually transition between their stage characters and their true identities.While they randomly choose places to bomb, one question seems to be brought to the attention of the audience: Who wants to fight this war anyway?Though it may seem arbitrary when the Major choses a soldier to die, how different is this from reality?The rich sportsman, seemingly flunkies in the story, smile and nod in approval of everything because they know they don't have to fight.But only when Starkey realizes that he must send his own son to war in one of Heller's trademark paradoxes does the main character make the realization of the plot.

I would love to see this performed live, though it is quite obscure by today's standards.Most people do not know it exists.I only found a copy of this play by chance.I would highly recommend others reading it or seeing it performed.Fans of Catch-22 will especially enjoy this work.

a theatre of war
the best play i've seen in my life!!!
with the actors who don't know whether any of the things they do is worthwhile and the audience who doesn't understand a single thing, it really touched me.
joseph heller's masterpiece, better than catch-22, it really reveals all the things important in one's life and bitterly tells the audience a story of truth, fiction and the meaning of life. ... Read more