#InANutshell: A great story but not for people like me.

As a person who detests the philosophical genre, I am the wrong target reader for this book. But the pressures of giving a go at a much-loved classic led me to attempt this little novella. The result? Mixed feelings.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull tells us of a seagull who wants to fly, be the best flier he can, surpass all limitations set upon him by his gull body and go beyond to a whole new level of gull flight. The problem is that he belongs to a flock who want to go with the flow. Their mantra in life is: Why tamper with the status quo when you know what you have suffices your needs? The book seeks to educate and inspire to reach for the stars and not stick to the established.

The book is divided into four parts, the last of which wasn't a part of the original tale but available only in the refurbished version. I loved the first part where Jonathan rebels against his flock's norms and aims to daisy his longing to fly. His attempts won my heart. The second part is also great, with Jonathan realising that there are other realms and other achievements to conquer. The third and fourth parts went a bit too abstruse for my liking.

The book stresses on living not to survive but to be the best you can, to enjoy the journey rather than the destination, to find a greater purpose than the mundane... All of which are noble ideas but practically tough to implement in this competitive world.

On an aside, I found it amusing to see all those long-winded triple names attached to gulls. Imagine a Terrence Lowell Gull and a Charles Roland Gull! They added a cute amount of snobbery to the story.

My edition was beautiful, with many gull photos (though only in black-and-white) to add to the charm. If you are a fan of this book or these types of fables, try to pick up this edition.

One line that struck a chord with me:
The gull sees farthest who flies highest.

All in all, I think this can be a very good read for those who seek the meaning between the lines, the deeper truths in life, and the purpose of existence. But if you are like me, you may safely skip it.


A 2.5 from me, rounding up to 3.




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A very mannered Ram Dass style Christ allegory presented in the cringe-inducing language of white-guy-Eastern-spirituality. I assume mind-altering drugs lent this story a profundity in the minds of 70’s readers that isn’t there in the text alone. ( )

I read this book on the recommendation of a complete stranger, a visitor to Seattle whom I met on a ferry boat. It was...um...interesting. It's a book about a seagull who learns to fly. Hmmm..... I guess I'll never look at a seagull the same way, but other than that I don't feel like this short book was worth my time. ( )

a historia sigue a una gaviota llamada Juan Salvador que se embarca en un viaje de descubrimiento personal y espiritual ( )

Forty years after my first encounter with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, I stumbled upon a well-worn first edition in my local thrift store. I remembered, somewhat fondly, how I had absolutely no clue what the book was about when I tackled it for high school English. Now, older and wiser, I decided to give it another go. What I discovered was a profound reflection of my own life story.

At its heart, Richard Bach's novella is not simply a story about a bird; it's a philosophical exploration of personal freedom, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the quest for meaning. Like Jonathan Gull, I've often traveled my own path, driven by a cocksure belief that there's more to life than the conventional pursuits of my peers (girls, booze, football, etc.). If this resonates with you and your own stirrings of discontent, then this tale might just speak to you too.

My journey, much like Jonathan's, was shaped by an insatiable curiosity and a refusal to bow to the limitations imposed by others. Self-improvement—learning—was part of my fabric. I was propelled not by a need for recognition but by a desire to make a difference and achieve the (mostly non-material) things I wanted to achieve. In Jonathan's relentless (and often frustrating) efforts to master flight, this same desire was evident. His story reflects every person's potential to transcend their own (and externally imposed) limits through hard work and self-improvement.

I must admit, the spiritual aspects of Jonathan's journey—his ascent to higher realms—remain as elusive to me now as they did forty years ago. (I didn't understand it in Bach's other work of the 70s, Illusions, either.) The spiritual quest still escapes my full grasp, yet I sense its importance to those in search of meaning (and perhaps solace?) beyond the tangible. In this light, I can appreciate Jonathan's ascension as a metaphor for the journey toward enlightenment.

The most relatable aspect of Jonathan's saga is, perhaps, his resilience in the face of adversity. From challenges in my childhood to those in my career, I've faced my share of skeptics and barriers. Yet, I chose never to quit, even when tempted. My strength, much like Jonathan's, came through perseverance despite being ostracized by his flock. Passion. Dedication. These are the bedrocks of conviction, the forces that propel us forward despite obstacles.

Reflecting on the structure of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, it's now strikingly obvious how Bach divided the tale into three distinct parts, each echoing a distinct stage in life's journey—a nuance my teen self completely missed. The first part captures the zeal of youth, reflecting curiosity and defiance of conventions. The second examines introspection and learning, like the soul-searching I did in middle age. The final segment, where Jonathan becomes a teacher and mentor, reflects the later stages of life, where sharing wisdom and guiding others becomes a newfound purpose.

Duh. But not too obvious to someone still in the throes of adolescence.

However, now that I'm enlightened, I can see the book's enduring message:

We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.

This quote encapsulates the essence of Bach's work—the belief in the boundless potential of the individual to learn and grow. I've lived in many worlds throughout my life, each one distinct (and perhaps better?) than the last, enriched by lessons learned from both success and failure.

Whether you're in pursuit of personal freedom, dedicated to self-improvement, or a resilient soul navigating adversity, you can grow and succeed. Jonathan Gull's story reminds us that we can soar to heights previously unimagined, so long as we are willing to spread our wings. ( )