Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
I'm not quite sure how I missed this book for so long. It was originally published in 1970 and even became a film. But I had never bothered to find the time to read this incredibly short book. Perhaps I felt that as a fable it would be more appropriate for young adults. Perhaps, and I feel this probably the most likely reason that I never got around to it, it seemed to me that Jonathan Livingston Seagull had had its time and that now some 38 years later it would have gone stale. On both counts, I now admit that I was wrong.
The story couldn't be simpler or sweeter – but not in that way that makes your teeth ache. Jonathan is a seagull who is different from the other birds in his flock. They just want to survive to eat and eat to survive. Jonathan, however, wants to excel, wants to push himself and wants to be more – to be all that he can be.
His mission is to learn to fly better than any gull has ever flown before. His efforts are not welcomed by the other birds. In fact, he is mistreated and eventually banished for it.
During his exile, Jonathan experiences a spiritual awakening that is very clearly an allegory of the life of Jesus. Jonathan learns to love and even forgive the other gulls. In summary, he comes to an understanding that we are given life in order that we may strive to seek perfection in our own individual way.
It might strike some readers as trite or even naive. However, I would say that it is deceptively simple. Moreover, I found it a touching, inspiring and timelessly enjoyable read. And when you're finished, I encourage you to consider what kind of gull you are!
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is available at Amazon.
Alan's Rating:
| Life-changing |
| Can't live without |
| Put the kettle on and settle down |
| Worth a quick flick |
| Leave it on the shelf |
Alan Bridges
Intuitive Consultant
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