Jim Lehrer's 6 favorite 20th century novels

Jim Lehrer’s new book, Tension City, is a history of televised presidential debates, 11 of which he has moderated. Lehrer's many books include the novel, The Phony Marine.

For The Week magazine, he named his six favorite 20th century novels, including:

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

I first read the tale of Capt. Yossarian and his fellow World War II airmen when it was published, in 1961. Many considered Heller’s debut off-the-wall, outlandish—and crazy. But having then just ended my own military service, I found it to be very much on target, wonderful—and most sane.

Read about another novel on the list.

Catch-22 is among Charles Glass's five books on Americans abroad, Avi Steinberg's six books every prison should stock, Patrick Hennessey's six books to take to war, Jasper Fforde's five most important books, Thomas E. Ricks' top ten books about U.S. military history, and Antony Beevor's five best works of fiction about World War II. While it disappointed Nick Hornby upon rereading, it made Cracked magazine's "Wit Lit 101: Five Classic Novels That Bring the Funny."

--Marshal Zeringue