story of a bird determined to be more than ordinary. This bestselling modern classic reissued with a beautiful new cover design is a story for people who want to follow their dreams and make their own rules and has inspired people for decades. 'Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight -- how to get from shore to food and back again ' writes author Richard Bach in this allegory about a unique bird named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. 'For most gulls it is not flying that matters but eating. For this gull though it was not eating that mattered but flight.' Flight is indeed the metaphor that makes this story soar. This bestselling modern classic is a fable about seeking a higher purpose in life even if your flock tribe or neighbourhood finds your ambition threatening (at one point our beloved gull is even banished from his flock). By not compromising his higher vision Jonathan learns the meaning of love and kindness and gets the ultimate payoff -- transcendence.
modern-day fairy tale based on his real-life relationship with actor Leslie Parrish. "This is a story about a knight who was dying, and the princess who saved his life", Bach writes in his opening greeting. "It's a story about beauty and beasts and spells and fortresses, about death-powers that seem and life-powers that are". Yes, it is all that, and more. On the earthly plane this is about the riveting love affair between two fully human people who are willing to explore time travel and other dimensions together even as they grapple with the earthly struggles of intimacy, commitment, smothering and whose turn it is to cook. Their love affair and happy ending inspired many enthusiastic fans. Years later, some of these fans were devastated to discover that this match made in heaven didn't manage to stick (the couple are no longer together). Bach explains that lovers don't have to stay married forever in order to be lifetime soul mates. Read this as a lesson about love's enchantments and possibilities, but don't count on this book to keep you and your mate on the bridge across forever. --Gail Hudson
shore to food and back again," writes author Richard Bach, in this allegory about a unique bird named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. "For most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight." Flight is indeed the metaphor that makes the story soar. Ultimately this is a fable about the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe or neighbourhood finds your ambition threatening. (At one point our beloved gull is even banished from his flock.) By not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan gets the ultimate pay-off: transcendence. Ultimately, he learns the meaning of love and kindness. The dreamy seagull photographs by Russell Munson provide just the right illustrations--although the overall packaging does seem a bit dated (keep in mind that it was first published in 1970). Nonetheless, this is a spirituality classic and an especially engaging parable for adolescents. --Gail Hudson
Advantages: The prose of the book Disadvantages: The idea of soul mate
...After getting top recommendations from friends and looking at some very promising reviews on www.amazon.com and www.bn.com, I decided finally to give this book a try. RichardBach writes this book about finding the ”perfect” soul mate in life, and how he found his soul mate. The true love story, basically focuses on his journey from being a non-believer in love to a good man...only that in doing so, you come across Bach as character, who is immensely turn-off, and I cant imagine anyone going honkers over him!!
The Story
"Did you ever feel that you were missing someone you had never met?" asks RichardBach on the covers of the book, and gives you a idea of what this book might be all about. The story begins with his quest for that ”perfect” soul mate he has been searching for a long time. He is a great lover of planes, and has a good...
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Advantages: The smile on your face Disadvantages: It has cost me a fortune
...I have read this book more times than any other tome I have ever read. I have also given more copies away than any other book, it has that effect. You read it, you think someone will like it, so you lend it to them, but deep down you know that you are not expecting it back. In some respects that is what the book is all about, gaining knowledge and then the terrific feeling of goodness attained when you pass that knowledge onto others.
The Book
The book itself is very distinctive, about 3.5” (9cm) square, it is blue all over with white and yellow lettering, giving the title – Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the name of the author – RichardBach, and the name of the photographer - Russell Munson, it also has a seagull in flight on the front and on some of the later copies a short recommendation by Ray Bradbury. It is approximately 90...
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...If I were a seagull, I'd want to be Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Unlike the rest of the flock, who are happy to squawk and grub around on the beach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull wants to soar above the clouds in a quest for perfection and excellence.
His spiritual journey is difficult at times, but he achieves excellence and helps others to do the same, eventually taking what he has learned back to the flock.
This is an inspirational tale which everyone can enjoy. Although seagulls are an unlikely source of inspiration, RichardBach has made the concept work, creating an enduring character who remains a favourite.
I've read the story several times. Each time I see something new in it. I can't recommend it highly enough....
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