Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
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Book Reviews of Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Book Review: A Short Story With a Deeper Meaning
Summary: 5 Stars
Jonathon Livingston Seagull begins his story as an ordinary seagull that strives to be different, and thinks and sees beyond the ordinary cycle of survival of a seagull. This gull has a dream, and that dream is for something higher. I believe this is a good way to look at life, as we only have one, and may as well live it to the fullest and strive to reach our dreams with the time which we are given. Jonathon shows us that in order to reach these dreams, much hard work and dedication is required because those things most likely will not just come to you. In doing so and possibly achieving that dream, you may not be accepted by those who just live for survival. This is shown in Jonathon Livingston Seagull, as he is deemed `Outcast' by the Flock.
At this point in this story, Jonathon is forced to make a life-changing decision to either be an ordinary bird who is solely concerned with survival, or to leave the Flock in order to pursue his dream to fly higher and faster than any seagull ever known. Jonathon chooses to live as a loner and continue working towards his dream of flying. By making this decision to work hard and sacrifice the social group he had grown up around, he is soon rewarded by going to the next "level of life." Jonathon considers this "next level" as Heaven, though that thought is shot down by other seagulls Jon comes into contact with, because Heaven is known as a place of complete perfection. This "next level" is really about becoming a new person, and continuing to learn, achieve, and grow.
Religion is also very dominantly incorporated in Jonathon Livingston Seagull , as Jon is basically envisioned as a Jesus figure. Jonathon shows the reader that to reach the next "level of life," you must help others achieve who don't know how to. Jon descends to a lower level of life back on the seashore he had been casted away from to teach other gulls to break away from the ordinary cycle of only being concerned with day-to-day survival. The gulls of the Flock, as expected, still refuse to listen to Jonathon and will not open up their minds to discover what is beyond their usual life's cycle. Because of this, Jon must find himself a "disciple." Jonathon teaches his disciple to teach others to open their minds and follow their dreams, and at this, Jonathon Livingston Seagull's story comes to a close.
Book Review: Short, Sweet, and to the Point
Summary: 5 Stars
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an excellent book written by Richard Bach. It tells of the life of Jonathan, a seagull who does not wish to follow the rest of the flock. After being banished for reckless flying, he lives out the rest of his days in this life in happy solitude, learning almost all that he wants to learn. Once he moves onto the next life, he meets a wise teacher, and Jonathan learns more than he could have hoped for. After learning so much, he returns to his flock to try and teach them the wonderful things that he knows. Most do not listen to him. Only outcasts, like himself, are wiling to learn the wonderful things that Jonathan Livingston Seagull has to teach. However, all of that is simply the literal version of the story.
This story is very deep, with many philosophical and spiritual questions and answers given. The deeper meaning of this book is wonderful, and much better than the story itself. I highly recomend that you read this book, if only to have some of the ideas in it implanted into your mind.
Lengthwise, this is a very short book. I read it in just one siting. There were no big words, or any lengthy descriptions. All of the material was presented in a simple and straightforward way. There are many wonderful pictures of seagulls that fill up a sizable portion of the pages. I highly recomend this great book to anyone who is pondering about some of the mysteries that life holds. It will not disappoint you.
Book Review: How high do you dare to fly?
Summary: 5 Stars
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a metaphorical story of a bird who dared to push the bounds of what his society thought was proper or even possible. He transcends the paradigm imposed on him by the other seagulls and is banished from living with them. He pushes himself to be the very best that he can be, and eventually he is lead to a place full of other seagulls like himself, who desire to grow and learn all they can. He meets a great teacher who shows him how to transcend even the laws of space and time, and Jonathon Livingston Seagull ends up taking his place as a teacher. He eventually returns to a land of seagulls like the ones who banished him. He shows them his abilities and teaches the ones that will listen to him. It is a very short book, but it leaves you with a lot to think about. It is a very effective metaphor of growth and personal enlightenment that reaches a wide audience. I highly recommend taking a look at this book. It inspires you to push yourself to greater heights and it causes you to examine your own paradigms.Book Review: Jonathan Livingston Seagull Book Review
Summary: 5 Stars
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the perfect book for those going through a transition and wishing to maximize their personal development in the creative space. This book will take you only an hour or so to read, however it will have a huge impact on your life. The story is an analogy tracing the development of a seagull as it learns to free it's mind, and by doing so reach unprecedented performance. Although Jonathan Livingston Seagull was originally published in 1970, the book is timeless and I have a feeling there is knowledge within that I may have missed and will eventually pick up as I further evolve. May be useful to revisit at various points in your life.
Once you've finished Jonathan Livingston Seagull check out Ground of Your Own Choosing: Winning Strategies for Finding & Creating Work by Beverly Ryle.
Book Review: The Essence of life in a book...or a bird....or you.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book beautifully shows us why it is difficult to break out of the crowd mentality and that allows us to be compassionate with ourselves when we get stuck. It shows us where the crowd mentality comes from which gives us greater understanding of our fellow souls that seem intent on keeping us in the crowd and from that understanding we can be more compassionate towards them. But most importantly it shows us how to break free of the crowd and how we bless ourselves and the whole of creation by doing so.
The greatest gift that you can give the world is to heal yourself.
The story is short and yet so deep that you may never see the bottom, therefore it speaks to everyone on all levels. As folk point out, you can read it in one afternoon and it will be with you forever.
What have you got to lose?