He was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody

He was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody

Joseph Heller, the renowned author of the satirical novel "Catch-22," was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1923 to poor Jewish parents, Heller grew up in a working-class neighborhood during the Great Depression. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks throughout his life, Heller managed to rise above his circumstances and achieve great success as a writer.

Heller's journey to becoming a successful author was not an easy one. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Heller attended college on the G.I. Bill and eventually earned a degree in English from New York University. He then went on to work as an advertising copywriter before pursuing a career in writing full-time. Despite facing rejection from publishers and struggling to make ends meet, Heller never gave up on his dream of becoming a published author.

In 1961, Heller's perseverance paid off when he published his first novel, "Catch-22." The novel, which is set during World War II and follows the exploits of a group of American bomber pilots, was an instant success and catapulted Heller to literary fame. "Catch-22" is now considered a classic of American literature and has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into a successful film and television series.

Heller's success as a writer was a testament to his talent, hard work, and determination. Despite facing numerous obstacles and setbacks throughout his life, Heller never lost sight of his goals and continued to pursue his passion for writing. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word, and his lack of success was owed to nobody but himself.