Joseph Heller (May 1, 1923 – December 12, 1999) was an American satirical novelist and playwright. He wrote the influential Catch-22 "Straight Dope Staff Report: What's the origin of 'Catch-22'?" Straight Dope, webpage: blank">SDope-MC22. about American servicemen during _World War II. It was this work whose title became the term commonly used to express absurdity in choice.

Heller is widely regarded as one of the best post-World War satirists. Although he is remembered mostly by his landmark Catch-22, his works centered on the lives of various members of the middle classes and remain exemplars of modern satire.