A Book Review on Jonathan Livingston Seagull

A story about perseverance, courage, forgiveness and love – this what best describe the book of Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Deemed by many as an all-time bestseller and classic, Jonathan Livingston Seagull gives its readers the realization that after all the sacrifices and harsh realities that come within in standing-up for a principle and belief, there are always brighter and better things that await at the end.  Published in 1970, Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull had become a household conversation as it topped in the bestseller’s list among famous print media. Over a million copies sold upon its first release, this classic book was highly recognized by Reader’s Digest, New York Times, and other critics in the world of media.  The simplicity of the physical appearance of the book (thin because of few pages only, and large font size) coupled the story’s simple yet very captivating life of a seagull that stood against all scrutinies from his kind just to pursue his desire to stand above what is ordinary.  A fable, Jonathan Livingston Seagull narrated the quest and adventures of a seagull in terms of flying and meeting new seagulls that shared his idea and passion in doing well in flying.  Bach, in this book, proved that he is, indeed, one of the best storytellers of his time.    

The story started with the description of Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s feeling of boredom due to the very sedentary life of other seagulls around him.  Because of his passion and determination to fly and not to settle on “ordinariness,” Jonathan pursued to explore the other world despite the opposition of his elders and other seagulls. He, then, became the center of scrutiny and ridicule because other seagulls find him so stubborn. During his quest for learning, Jonathan was able to befriend the wisest gull, Chiang, who also became his mentor. Together with Chiang, Jonathan took his lessons in flying by heart, which, eventually made him an expert in flight. Because of this new knowledge, Jonathan went back to his original flock and convinced some gulls to take the flight same as his. Fletcher Lynd Seagull became one of the very first students of Jonathan. However, the quest of Jonathan did not stop there as he continually convinced and pursued other seagulls to rise above the ordinary and do the things which other gulls thought as impossible.

In this book, Bach did not only emphasize literally the flying lesson that Jonathan Livingston Seagull learned, but also Jonathan’s flight in life wherein he was able to withstand the scrutiny of his family gulls because of his unwillingness to be “traditional.” The book teaches its readers to fight for their passion and to be strong enough to stand against those who wish to see you fall. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an inspirational book that makes its readers realize that, at the end, it is just between you and your dreams.  In order to realize that dream, one has to take bold steps, come what may, so that such dreams will come into a realization. People were able to achieve what they want because they wanted it so badly that they did not mind what and who blocked their way, and instead just go on realizing that desire.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a feel-good book that is reach with wisdom. One will truly not regret in reading this Bach’s classic masterpiece.