HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
Loading...

Jonathan Livingston Seagull (original 1970; edition 1973)

by Richard Bach

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
11,536211566 (3.6)159
Because he spends so much time perfecting his flying form instead of concentrating on getting food, a seagull is ostracized by the rest of the flock.
Member:incautius
Title:Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Authors:Richard Bach
Info:Avon (1973), Paperback
Collections:Fiction, Your library
Rating:
Tags:None

Work Information

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach (1970)

Loading...

Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book.

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 159 mentions

English (174)  Spanish (10)  Italian (8)  German (2)  Portuguese (Portugal) (2)  Dutch (2)  Catalan (2)  French (2)  Turkish (1)  Hebrew (1)  Czech (1)  Lithuanian (1)  Norwegian (1)  All languages (207)
Showing 1-5 of 174 (next | show all)
Forty years after my first encounter with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I stumbled upon a well-worn first edition in my local thrift store. I remembered, somewhat fondly, how I had absolutely no clue what the book was about when I tackled it for high school English. Now, older and wiser, I decided to give it another go. What I discovered was a profound reflection of my own life story.

At its heart, Richard Bach's novella is not simply a story about a bird; it's a philosophical exploration of personal freedom, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the quest for meaning. Like Jonathan Gull, I've often traveled my own path, driven by a cocksure belief that there's more to life than the conventional pursuits of my peers (girls, booze, football, etc.). If this resonates with you and your own stirrings of discontent, then this tale might just speak to you too.

My journey, much like Jonathan's, was shaped by an insatiable curiosity and a refusal to bow to the limitations imposed by others. Self-improvement—learning—was part of my fabric. I was propelled not by a need for recognition but by a desire to make a difference and achieve the (mostly non-material) things I wanted to achieve. In Jonathan's relentless (and often frustrating) efforts to master flight, this same desire was evident. His story reflects every person's potential to transcend their own (and externally imposed) limits through hard work and self-improvement.

I must admit, the spiritual aspects of Jonathan's journey—his ascent to higher realms—remain as elusive to me now as they did forty years ago. (I didn't understand it in Bach's other work of the 70s, Illusions, either.) The spiritual quest still escapes my full grasp, yet I sense its importance to those in search of meaning (and perhaps solace?) beyond the tangible. In this light, I can appreciate Jonathan's ascension as a metaphor for the journey toward enlightenment.

The most relatable aspect of Jonathan's saga is, perhaps, his resilience in the face of adversity. From challenges in my childhood to those in my career, I've faced my share of skeptics and barriers. Yet, I chose never to quit, even when tempted. My strength, much like Jonathan's, came through perseverance despite being ostracized by his flock. Passion. Dedication. These are the bedrocks of conviction, the forces that propel us forward despite obstacles.

Reflecting on the structure of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, it's now strikingly obvious how Bach divided the tale into three distinct parts, each echoing a distinct stage in life's journey—a nuance my teen self completely missed. The first part captures the zeal of youth, reflecting curiosity and defiance of conventions. The second examines introspection and learning, like the soul-searching I did in middle age. The final segment, where Jonathan becomes a teacher and mentor, reflects the later stages of life, where sharing wisdom and guiding others becomes a newfound purpose.

Duh. But not too obvious to someone still in the throes of adolescence.

However, now that I'm enlightened, I can see the book's enduring message:
We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.
This quote encapsulates the essence of Bach's work—the belief in the boundless potential of the individual to learn and grow. I've lived in many worlds throughout my life, each one distinct (and perhaps better?) than the last, enriched by lessons learned from both success and failure.

Whether you're in pursuit of personal freedom, dedicated to self-improvement, or a resilient soul navigating adversity, you can grow and succeed. Jonathan Gull's story reminds us that we can soar to heights previously unimagined, so long as we are willing to spread our wings. ( )
  howermj | Feb 29, 2024 |
Ӕ
  AnkaraLibrary | Feb 23, 2024 |
This story is a cute reimagining of the Christian story of Jesus, using a seagull who aspires to an existence beyond the simple gathering of food. It was published in the 1970’s - a leftover artifact of the hippy free love revolution the late 60’s, and while there’s a nice story about morality and the value of perseverance, it’s fairly shallow. Still, for what amounts to an elaborate short story, I found it entertaining and engaging and something worth reading. ( )
  nakedspine | Nov 16, 2023 |
Not the earth shattering "this is the bestestest/my most favourite as a child/ I live by this book" book I had suspected or heard it to be.[return][return]I can see where there are points for deeper thought than I am currently ready or willing to give it - lots of areas for "stand out from the crowd" "dont be restricted by thought", "follow your dreams", (Is he really the messiah/Son of Gulls?") type questions that I am currently not in the place to follow up or entertain. Glad to have read it, but wont be delving deeper into its no doubt worthy and deeper questions and subject matter. ( )
  nordie | Oct 14, 2023 |
I went through a serious Richard Bach phase in my twenties. Not sure what I think about him now. But I will always love J.L. Seagull. ( )
  Kim.Sasso | Aug 27, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 174 (next | show all)
Fernão Capelo Gaivota é uma proposta de superação às nossas limitações. Uma crença na força que provém do nosso mundo interior. Em cada um de nós existe um Fernão Capelo Gaivota…
 

» Add other authors (40 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Bach, Richardprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Munson, RussellPhotographersecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bean, TomCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kauppi, KaijaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Paolini, Pier FrancescoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.
For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.
Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
To the real Jonathan Seagull, who lives within us all
First words
It was morning, and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea.
Quotations
By sunup, Jonathan Gull was practicing again. From five thousand feet the fishing boats were specks in the flat blue water, Breakfast Flock was a faint cloud of dust motes, circling. He was alive, trembling ever so slightly with delight, proud that his fear was under control. Then without ceremony he hugged in his forewings, extended his short, angled wingtips, and plunged directly toward the sea. By the time he passed four thousand feet he had reached terminal velocity, the wind was a solid beating wall of sound against which he could move no faster. He was flying now straight down, at two hundred fourteen miles per hour. He swallowed, knowing that if his wings unfolded at that speed he’d be blown into a million tiny shreds of seagull. But the speed was power, and the speed was joy, and the speed was pure beauty. He began his pullout at a thousand feet, wingtips thudding and blurring in that gigantic wind, the boat and the crowd of gulls tilting and growing meteor-fast, directly in his path. He couldn’t stop; he didn’t know yet even how to turn at that speed. Collision would be instant death. And so he shut his eyes. It happened that morning, then, just after sunrise, that Jonathan Livingston Seagull fired directly through the center of Breakfast Flock, ticking off two hundred twelve miles per hour, eyes closed, in a great roaring shriek of wind and feathers. The Gull of Fortune smiled upon him this once, and no one was killed. By the time he had pulled his beak straight up into the sky he was still scorching along at a hundred and sixty miles per hour. When he had slowed to twenty and stretched his wings again at last, the boat was a crumb on the sea, four thousand feet below.
Last words
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Because he spends so much time perfecting his flying form instead of concentrating on getting food, a seagull is ostracized by the rest of the flock.

No library descriptions found.

Book description
See also the Wikipedia article.
Haiku summary

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (3.6)
0.5 22
1 144
1.5 26
2 293
2.5 48
3 619
3.5 80
4 747
4.5 62
5 736

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,201,494 books! | Top bar: Always visible