Jonathan

Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach

Somefacts

Itisafableinnovellaformaboutaseagulllearningaboutlife,flightandself-perfection.

It was first published in1970as "Jonathan Livingston Seagull a story, being

composedofthreeparts.

The book had reached the top of theNew York TimesBest Seller list, where it
remainedfor38weeks,attheendof1972.

In1972and1973,thebooktoppedthePublishersWeeklylistofbestsellingnovelsin
theUnitedStates.

In 2014 the book was reissued asJonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete
Edition,whichaddeda17-pagefourthparttothestory.

Short summary
We get acquainted with a seagull obsessed with pushing the limits of
everything he knows about flying. Everyday he learns more and more in order
to achieve new flight records.

Short summary
Livingstone has other priorities and preferences compared to other gulls, so he is
banished from the flock. In spite of this he continues to fly and to develop his flight
skills.

Short summary
Thanks to Livingstones striving and his strong motivation, he gradually reaches new
flight performances. One day he meets two radiant seagulls who explain to him that
he has learned much, and that they are there now to teach him more.

Short summary
Jonathan transcends into a society where all the gulls enjoy flying. There he meets
an old wise seagull Chiang and befriends him. Chiangteaches him how to
move instantaneously to anywhere else in theUniverse and tells Livingstone that
he is close to perfection but for the self-fulfillment he must learn what forgiveness
and love means. He also suggests him to return home to his flock.

Short summary
Jonathan returns to the Breakfast Flock to share his newly discovered ideals and
the recent great experience. Livingstone wants to teach other willing gulls the
flight secrets which he had found out. He gathers around him others who have
been outlawed for not conforming and begins to teach them.

Short summary
The very first of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, is the most ingenious. Ultimately,
Jonathan Livingston Seagull leaves Fletcher to teach the new seagull students how to
fly and then he vanishes. The story ends.

Impressions

Freedommakeushappy

Ourthoughtshaveagreatpower

Ourdreamscancometrue

Lifeisnothingwithoutahigherpurpose

Self-fulfillmentmeansloveandkindness

EveryonecantouchHeaven(perfection)

Itisrealtoreachourgoals

Motivationisofhugeimportance

Weshouldgiveotherstheknowledgeweown

Happiness means no limits

Theideaoffreedomisamainoneinthisbook.Bachteaches
usthatwehavetochoosebetweenfreedomandrestriction,that
ourhumannaturehasnolimitsandonlyinfreedomwecan
achieveperfection.Thelackofconstraintsfavorstheaffirmation
oftheindividual.Happinessandself-fulfillmentispossibleon
theEarth.WecancreateourHeavenwiththehelpofour
personalthoughtsandbeliefs.ItsnotaGodthatgivesusthe
perfection.Wearebornwiththeinnateabilitytodevelop
ourselvesandtobecomebetter.Itsuptoustoactfreely,tofind
thedesireandtakethestepstoreachexcellencyandthentobe
happy.

Platoscave

Plato affirmed that a man who managed to get out of the cave
andsawthelight,shouldreturnbackinthecavetoinformothers
fromthereaboutwhathehadseenoutsideandalsotohelpthem
togetoutofthecave.AccordingtoPlato,thisisapersonwhois
worthofrespectability.
As Platos character, Jonathan Livingston Seagull chose to go
backtohisflock,forgivingthosewhooutcastedhimandteaching
otherbrother-seagullshisflightskillsandsecrets.
ThismakesLivingstonetobeatrueheroandaperfectmodelfor
allofus.

Youhavethefreedomtobeyourself,yourtrue
self,hereandnow,andnothingcanstandin
yourway".

Thankyouforyour
attention!!!