Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Book Review Presented

By Andrea Mendes

About the book & the Author

Title: Jonathan Livingston Seagull Publication Year: 1970 Type of story: Fable Subject: Life of Jonathan Livingston Seagull Author: Richard Bach Bach was born on 23rd June 1936 in Oak Park, Illinois. He attended Long Beach State College in 1955. He has authored numerous works of fiction and nonfiction. He served in the United States Navy Reserve as a pilot. Afterwards, he worked a variety of jobs, including technical writer and contributing editor for Flying magazine. Most of his books involve flight in some way, from the early stories which are straightforwardly about flying aircraft. He wrote, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, in 1970, a story about a seagull who flew for the love of flying rather than merely to catch food, was published by Macmillan Publishers. The book, which included unique photos of seagulls in flight by photographer Russell Munson, became a number-one bestseller.

Introduction
The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food or rather the scraps that the seagulls live on from the fisher boats. Seized by a passion for flight and speed, he pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life. As time passes he learns various lessons of life and is able to pass that on to other seagulls as well.

Main Characters:
Jonathan Livingston Seagull Sullivan Seagull Chiang Seagull Fletcher Lynd Seagull

Part One
Summary: Jonathan Livingston was frustrated with meaningless materialism, conformity and limitation of the seagulls life. He had strong passion for flight and did all kinds experiments. This leads him into conflict with his flock. Not deterred by this, Jonathan continued his efforts. He then meets two radiant, loving seagulls who explain to him that he has learned much and can learn more. Critical Statements: For this gull, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else. Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly. Jonathan spent whole days alone, making hundreds of low-level glides, experimenting. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that's all. I just want to know. It wasn't long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out at sea, hungry, happy, learning.

Part One

contd

A strange hollow voice sounded within him. There's no way around it. I am a seagull. I am limited by my nature. I must forget this foolishness. I must fly home to the Flock. Short wings. A falcon's short wings! Terminal velocity!.. It was a breakthrough. We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly! For a thousand years we have scrabbled after fish heads, but now we have a reason to live - to learn, to discover, to be free! Give me one chance let me show you what I've found... We've come to take you higher, to take you home.

Part Two
Summary: Jonathan transcended into a society where all the gulls enjoy flying. The learning process was different linking the highly experienced teacher and the diligent student. He needed to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull. He realizes that you have to be true to yourself. Critical Statements: It felt like a seagull body, but already it flew far better than his old one had ever flown. In heaven, he thought, there should be no limits. The most important thing in living was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do, and that was to fly.

Part Two

contd

There is more to life than eating, or fighting, or power in the Flock. Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect. You must begin by knowing that you have already arrived... I am a perfect, unlimited gull! It always works, when you know what you're doing. keep working on love. Sully, I must go back, If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when we finally overcome space and time, we've destroyed our own brotherhood! If anybody can show someone on the ground how to see a thousand miles, it will be Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I don't care what they think. I'll show them what flying is! I'll be pure Outlaw, if that's the way they want it. And I'll make them so sorry... Forgive them, and help them to understand.

Part Three
Summary: The last words of Jonathan's teacher was " Keep working on love." Jonathan returned to the Breakfast Flock to share his newly discovered ideals. The ability to forgive seemed to be a mandatory "passing condition." The idea that the stronger can reach more by leaving the weaker friends behind was totally rejected. Hence, love, deserved respect, and forgiveness all were to be equally important in this last phase. Critical Statements: ``You're wasting your time with me, Jonathan! I'm too dumb! I'm too stupid! I try and try, but I'll never get it!' ``Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom,' Everything that limits us we have to put aside.

Part Three

..contd

Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body. We're free to go where we wish and to be what we are. Well sure, O.K. they're Outcast, But hey, man, where did they learn to fly like that? You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. Whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form. You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. You need to keep finding yourself, a little more each day. Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly.' His race to learn had begun.

Key ldeas
Follow a less materialistic life Strive to be different and don't follow the bandwagon Persistence to learn and the thrill for speed Incubation and Insight Persistence and determination even after being outcast Discard boredom, fear and anger Appreciation for the land of his learning Practice makes one perfect Heaven is being Perfect and Perfection has no limits Continuous learning brings wisdom and knowledge Build positive thinking Time & Distance cannot break relationships Forgive and Forget

Key Ideas
Be a good, calm, patient and guiding teacher Always keep an open mind for thoughts Seek freedom against rituals, superstitions or any limitations No person is a good or bad person Understand yourself All your knowledge is of no good if you cant give back to society

Criticism
Forget about faith! Chiang said it time and again. You didn't need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying. A minor contradiction in thought