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Richard Bach

Jonathan Livingston Seagull (20th Anniversary Ed.) Board book – September 18, 1990

by Richard Bach (Author)

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More concerned with the dynamics of his flight than with gathering food, Jonathan is scorned by the other seagulls

Print length

96 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Scribner
Publication date

September 18, 1990
ISBN-10

0025045415
ISBN-13

978-0025045415
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Richard Bach
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Revised edition (September 18, 1990)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Board book ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0025045415
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0025045415
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #6,683,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #244,310 in American Literature (Books)

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12,516 ratings

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Richard Bach

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Since Jonathan Livingston Seagull - which dominated the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List for two consecutive years - Richard Bach has touched millions of people through his humor, wisdom and insight.

With over 60 million copies of his books sold, Richard Bach remains one of the world's most beloved authors. A former USAF fighter pilot, Air Force captain and latter-day barnstorming pilot, Bach continues to be an avid aviator-author, exploring and chronicling the joys and freedom of flying, reporting his findings to his devoted fans.

Recent books include Travels with Puff, which recounts Bach's journey from Florida to Washington state in his small seaplane, Puff, and Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student, which incorporates Bach's real-life plane crash.

Life with my Guardian Angel, published in October, 2017, is his story of the way we can discover a startling source of inspiration in our daily lives.

Fans and readers can find more about Richard and his work at www.richardbach.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

12,516 global ratings

5 star		80%
4 star		12%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Josue Mena

Great read for anyone!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 24, 2023

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- I never knew a book can make you cry.

- Part 4 is really good and recommend purchasing the completed edition if you've never read it.

- I think this book should be recommended for every young person (teenage) out there.

- If you've suffered great depression or felt lost at one point in your life this book might move you.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 26, 2023

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Great beach book. Good condition & quick delivery

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Wu Wei

Are we free or doomed from birth?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 29, 2007

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This is my all-time favorite book. It contains the most important truths I have ever learned.

This book certainly could be viewed as Eastern Religion / New Age, and considering Bach's other books perhaps that is his main meaning.

However, JLS also contains important non-religious truths which apply to everyday life. For example, based on one of the most quoted parts of the book, "Jonathan" might answer everyday questions like this:

Are you saying I can lose weight and be thin, even though I've been fat my whole life?
I say you are free.

Are you saying that even though I finished near the bottom this year, with hard work I could finish near the top 3 or 4 years from now?
I say you are free.

Are you saying that even though the aptitude test showed I'm bad in math, that I could be successful in my dream job, engineering, if I try hard enough?
I say you are free.

Those answers are very, very different from the prevailing paradigm / meme within our society, which says that nearly everything is determined at birth, so that we are born either "fat" or "thin" people, born "smart" or "bad at math", born as "great athletes" or "losers". Society then tells us that we shouldn't try to change anything about ourselves (since it supposedly won't work), but should spend our lives happy or bitter because of the gifts that were handed out at the birth lottery. A key turning point is when Jonathan rejects the "strange hollow voice" in his mind which tells him:
"There's no way around it. I am a seagull. I am limited by nature. If I were meant to learn so much about flying, I'd have charts for brains. If I were meant to fly at speed, I'd have a falcon's short wings... I must... be content as I am, as a poor limited seagull."

Jonathan rejects this when he realizes that by tucking his wings close to his body he can simulate the falcon's short wings and fly fast even though he wasn't born with short wings. After he tries this and is able to fly faster than any gull could with extended wings, Jonathan realizes: "We can be free! We can learn to fly!"

JLS says that mental restrictions are the biggest factor keeping us from reaching our potential. Some of those restrictions come from society, and some are self-created mental straitjackets. All of those mental limits are false and unnecessary. The truth according to Jonathan is:
"Your whole body... is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your mind, and you break the chains of your body, too..."
(That can be seen as a totally non-religious statement. Our bodies today are the result of how hard we worked in the past and the mental limitations we didn't shed, and "our thought" = our mind is what determined that.)

This leads Jonathan to answer these questions very differently from society: Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Should I be egotistical?

Society tells us that we should conform, and we specifically are what the birth lottery gave us, like someone might be "heavy set, average intelligence but good in math". Society says that we should be immensely proud of everything we (supposedly) were born with, and of every victory, and should be intensely ashamed of anything we were born without, and of every defeat.

Jonathan however, believing we are not limited by birth, sees each of us as being unique and of unlimited potential. Our goal and purpose in life is simply to be ourselves. This is not the limited self we are at the start of adult life, but everything which hard work could make us:

"you have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.
Are you saying I can fly?
I say you are free."

"Each of us in truth is an idea... , an unlimited idea of freedom, and precision flying is a step towards expressing our real nature. Everything that limits us we have to put aside."

This means that ego is meaningless, because what we are today is simply the result of yesterday's hard work, and whatever races we lose today could be won in the future if we work hard enough. Today's ranking and abilities are just the starting point for the rest of our lives, not something to get egotistical about. As one of Jonathan's students thought with a smile once he began teaching his own students, "No limits, Jonathan? Well, then, the time's not too distant when I'm going to appear out of thin air on YOUR beach, and show you a thing or two about flying!..."

The reason why I discussed this in length is to disagree with reviews which say that JLS must be seen as a religious book, and that it teaches only "common sense" truths. It is rare, not common, to meet anyone who believes what JLS teaches.

28 people found this helpful

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Jonathan J.

KINDLE VERSION DOES NOT INCLUDE PART 4 !!!!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 31, 2023

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I was named after this book, abut only now I understand the depth of it's meaning.
This book is about a spiritual journey.
The part four is for me a great addition as it brings us back to the difficult reality of teaching spirituality.
Unfortunately, the part 4 is not included in the Kindle edition, which makes the title 'complete edition' misleading.

4 people found this helpful

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Eric B

great & fast read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 26, 2023

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Definitely something I’m going to share with my nephew and nieces. I want them and everyone to understand we create our limits within our own minds and we can break free anytime we choose

5 people found this helpful

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DJ James

Richard Bach: Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The New Complete Edition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 22, 2014

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I truly love to read!!! Before I discovered quilting, reading was the thing one thing I loved most to do! Now there are two things I love best but as the cost of reading rose, and the cost of fabric fell, I had to choose which I could afford so quilting took the lead and unless someone gave me a paperback with a good recommendation, I rarely read much besides the computer manuals required for my job (that they paid for). But a normal-sized novel is a one day treat and then it's back to quilting. Now, there's the Kindle App for my iPad that let's me read nearly all I want to; often for Free or just 0.99 cents (sorry, e-book publishers but $3.99 is my limit).

The group of "readers" I sat with on breaks and at lunch were all talking about Jonathan Livingston Seagull but I was down the list for borrowing so I bought my own paperback copy that Saturday and read it that evening! I was so charmed by Jonathan that I read it again, more slowly, on Sunday! This had to have been in the early 1970s but this book has been my Spirit Guide ever since. Sometime in the mid 1980s I treated myself to a rare 2-night vacation at the far end of Montauk Point on Long Island, NY. Of course, I had to have a booklet of post cards and a trinket for me. I was quickly twirling a case of gold charms and what do I see but a 1-inch long gold Jonathan in full flight. I had to hold it, and check the price. I couldn't believe how heavy it was and then checked the tag to discover it was solid 14-carat gold and the price was the same as one night in my motel!!! I knew if I bought it, there wouldn't be another special vacation that summer but even though it had been at least a decade since I'd read the book, I had to have that necklace! I paid for it and asked the sales clerk to put it on me. It's never been off except for a few surgeries, x-rays, and to replace a broken chain; and now, more than ever, Jonathan is still my Spirit Guide!

If you're going to read this book, and it truly hope you do, try to forget that Jonathan is just a seagull like the rest of his Flock. He's not! He's no more 'just a seagull' than I'm 'just a woman' like the rest of my Gender. I can learn and do and be anything I want! And with Jonathan mentally guiding me and always there around my neck for me hold when there's a tough decision to make, I've proved this to myself again and again over the years! Finally, I was old enough and financially secure enough to take the offered early retirement and here I am reading Jonathan again and I can't say "Thank You!" enough to Richard Bach for once again giving the world the inspiration to learn and do and be their best! If I could only own one book, this would be the one!!!

One person found this helpful

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Beverly L Schueren

Awesome condition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 5, 2022

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I love this book! I give it as an inspiration to many people mainly as a graduation gift to kids I had in my kindergarten class. I read this book to almost all of my kindergarteners to instill in them the value of uniqueness; being true to oneself. To value the unique differences in us all. Upon graduation I like to remind each of my students to remember how valuable they are to the world and to always remember that no matter how different they may feel at times their point of view is important as well as the views of the people around them. To never dismiss anyone or anything that is “different” unless “they’ve walked a mile in another’s shoes!” This book should be a must read for everyone, especially those who tend to have a closed mind. It’s an eye opener for many, for others a reminder to be more sensitive and open to others perspectives!!

10 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Good choice

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 16, 2023

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Great book

One person found this helpful

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5t4n5 Dot Com

Pathetic, childish rubbish

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2019

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I fail to understand why this book is lauded by so many people. I fail to see why this book is regarded as inspirational.

It’s like: completely ignore anyone else, even if they might actually be right, and just go and do anything you feel like, no matter how dangerous to yourself or to others around you. Remember, your ego is the most important thing in the universe so get out there and show off your ability to be better at something than everyone else.

What, you’re not better at something than everyone else? Well you best get out there and practice and work hard every single day from dawn till dusk until you are better than everyone else.

And then when you’re better than everyone else go and tell them you are. Make sure all that hard work and effort isn’t wasted by not having anyone be inspired by you, you super amazing thing you, oh, just look at the size of that amazing ego shining forth from your…

Do make sure to let all the dull and boring people know how utterly amazing you are as you ignore the 30 mph speed signs and drive your amazingly fast car over 150 mph down these busy, boring, urban streets; past schools and playgrounds where the children of dull and boring parents await eagerly to be inspired by your rebellion. Ignore what anyone else has to say, even if they may actually be right and have a very good reason to say it. Don’t worry if you kill or injure anyone while doing your stupid stunts, just make sure they all get to see how amazing you are.

Ho hum, call me curmudgeon, i’m off shopping on me moped.

39 people found this helpful

J. Warwick

Do not buy this updated edition.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 13, 2018

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This is a beautiful inspiring story. The new added Fourth Section and the author’s final comments shatter the beauty and magic of the story. It dragged it down to the mundane and made me feel depressed whereas the original version scaled me to new heights and inspired me. So avoid this version. Stick to the earlier one.

42 people found this helpful

A.Sturgess

Wish I hadn't bothered with the rediscovered 4th part

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 10, 2020

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I first bought this in the mid 1970's and still have that Pan Books copy. I loved the original but was curious about the "rediscovered" 4th part and now really wish I'd not bothered reading it. For some reason, Amazon doesn't seem to provide the option to upload images to go with some reviews so I'll transcribe the final words written in 2013 in which Richard Bach comments on the book; the time and state of the world when he wrote it and what he now feels ....

"..Are we seagulls looking at the end of freedom in our world?
Part Four, printed at last where it belongs, says maybe not. It was written when nobody knew the future. Now we do. ..."

I'll not launch into a literary critique of the new version except to say that for me, it brought a book about freedom , inspiration, self-discovery and growth down to the level of something approaching the disappointingly mundane. Instead if being uplifting, I found parts of the added section to be significantly downbeat. It will also add fuel to the fires of those who have always claimed that the book is pretentiousness personified. For me it was a book of a time when so much seemed possible. The fourth part clips those wings of freedom and possibility.

Also - a relatively minor but noteworthy point - the physical book is the same small size as the original but the text size is smaller.

14 people found this helpful

Brian G Turner

Short-story lacking depth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 12, 2020

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It's taken me over thirty years to read this book since it was first recommended to me. I should have read it then - it could have been illuminating.

However, reading it in middle-age it just reads as a rushed and lacking depth. Big concepts are thrown about with abandon - one moment the seagull is fixated on speed, the next it's about freedom, the next is about thought over matter, then it ends with a simple analogy about Jesus.

None of it really mixes together for me, and it lacks the deeper introspection of other contemporary writers of the late 60's such as Timothy Leary and Carlos Castaneda. It probably doesn't help that this is only a short-story (padded with photos of seagulls at that) rather than a longer work, and it shows.

Like LOTR, this is probably a book you need to read at a certain young age to appreciate - but once your own personal philosophy and spirituality become well-developed, this book can feel somewhat lacking.

7 people found this helpful

Susan Rose.

One of those books every 70s adult should read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 20, 2022

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Thought provoking. An exploration into self perfection and pushing oneself to the limits.
Essential reading and then maybe have a listen to the Neil Diamond music.
Circle completed 😊🪶

6 people found this helpful

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull (20th Anniversary Ed.) Board book – September 18, 1990

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