Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah: Bach, Richard: 9780385319256: Amazon.com: Books

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Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah Paperback – January 12, 1998

by Richard Bach (Author)

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In the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane. For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders...until he meets Donald Shimoda--former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar....

In Illusions, the unforgettable follow-up to his phenomenal bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings: that people don't need airplanes to soar...that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them... and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places--like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and most of all, deep within ourselves.

Print length

128 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Delta
Publication date

January 12, 1998
Dimensions

6.49 x 0.41 x 8.34 inches
ISBN-10

0385319258
ISBN-13

978-0385319256
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

In the cloud-washed airspace between the cornfields of Illinois and blue infinity, a man puts his faith in the propeller of his biplane. For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders...until he meets Donald Shimoda--former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar....

In Illusions, the unforgettable follow-up to his phenomenal bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings: that people don't need airplanes to soar...that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them... and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places--like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and most of all, deep within ourselves.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Delta; Reprint edition (January 12, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385319258
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385319256
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.49 x 0.41 x 8.34 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,661,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,838 in Consciousness & Thought Philosophy
- #4,136 in Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction (Books)
- #106,356 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4,348 ratings

About the authors

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Kitty Holland
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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
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Fun. Insightful. Thought Provoking.

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2022

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A smooth, easy, fun, & empowering read. Perspective you will take with you throughout life. A must read from Richard Bach

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2022

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I’m a pilot myself, and I love this book not just for its metaphysical value, but because it describes the feeling of flying for those who love it and do it for a living.

Please read this book, you won’t regret it.

2 people found this helpful

Beautiful and simple, a fable that proves we would all quit if the world was on our shoulders

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

I have always been familiar with Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and I only picked this up during a Kindle sale wanting to check out some of the pilot-writer's other work. Without much surprise, Illusions is another philosophical deep dive into the transitory difficulty navigation of a world we make much too complicated. The germ for this story is in the title. Donald Shimoda is a messiah who has given up on the messiah lifestyle to become an anonymous pilot that gives rides to people in small farming communities for a few bucks. When he meets up with a writer-pilot named... Well, Richard Bach. The book becomes a simple fairy tale of a mentor-mentee relationship that transpires in the skies above, the water upon, and the earth below Illinois. As with Seagull, Bach’s breezy and optimistic prose carries us through their developing relationship, the curious nature of the enigmatic Shimoda, and the Siddarthan journey upon which we come to many conclusions about the true nature of the illusion of life itself. I enjoyed this book for the sheer joy and easygoing pace of a story told well and simply – something Bach and other writers of the nineteen-seventies were well known for. I certainly didn’t feel like I wasted my time on it, and while some aspects of the novel (much like Seagull) can be perhaps distilled down into core maxims and slogans that can be considered a bit too cheesy for some tastes, the many lessons that can be taken from his simple, impactful, deliberate prose can be quite striking if you’re able to scrape the saccharine glaze from... well... the cynicism that we all carry that his work effortlessly attempts to unburden us from. In this case, as is the case of Seagull, I think he is quite successful.

18 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022

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The best book I've ever read. The REAL TRUTH told thru a great story. I've bought many copies of this book and given them to friends.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

"A Philosophical Guide to Empower Oneself"

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2015

Verified Purchase

Illusions: The Adventures of A Reluctant Messiah. Definition of Messiah: A professed or accepted leader of some hope or cause. Donald Shimoda and Richard are both pilots of antique planes who fly around small agricultural communities of Illinois about 1969. They don't fly to spray crops, they fly to give locals an experience as passengers at the cost of $3 for 10 minutes of fly time. It is thrilling experience for those who have never flown in a small plane before. They meet up together in Ferris, Illinois and enjoy each other. Richard soon discovers that Donald is a messiah, who disliked the work, having people constantly following him who just wanted miracles, which he can perform. But he gives it up to follow the paths of his choosing. His plane is a classic Travel Air 4000, gold and white. He's made several flights this day, however, his plane is perfectly clean, like it's never been flown before and just had materialized out of thin air in the field. During their evening discussions over the campfire, Richard expresses his belief in the theory of mankind eventually learning to fly without machines or airplanes, maybe even fly to different planets. Don was called the Mechanic Messiah, sometimes the American Avatar, who disappeared in front of 25,000 people. They constantly banter back and forth, Richard saying there is no way Don can truly run away from his assigned mission. Don knows that if one wants freedom and joy, it found within the person. Therefore, Richard is to become the Reluctant Messiah, and learns much. There are several lessons here for Richard to learn from a book Tom gives to Richard: 1) You are never given a wish without being given the power to make it true. 2) Like attracts like, we shine who we are; some reject or turn away, while others are drawn to us as a magnet. Well written with thoughts to ponder. It's a story you may want to re-read from time to time.

3 people found this helpful

Dustin Alexander

This book literally shaped my out look on life.

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

I was a genius (146 iq) dyslexic kid with asperger's asperger's in 4th grade public school in Indianapolis in 1990. I was bounced around till I found a resource teacher (part time special ed) who figured out how to teach me. And a large part of her approach was my love of reading. She would bring me books to read and I would be tested non them. And this book was one of them.

I know that was a whole paragraph that barley mentioned the book but it is important to know this to understand my review.

I read this book and while I had a college reading level I didn't quite grasp the theme in the book I did enjoy it very much. But the themes and ideas slid into my consciousness. Subtly shaping how I saw and reacted with the world.

I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today without this book.

24 people found this helpful

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An Amazon Customer

I can't quite put it into words to be honest.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book was first given to me about 15 years ago. I literally read it one night, then read it again.

There are few things in my life I would describe as "Life changing", but this would definitely be one of them.

It's an amazing book. Each time I've read it I've found something else in it. I've left it on the shelf for years, read it again and found something else. It's weird how your perception and it's meaning changes over time.

Given my time and experience with this book it's impossible for me to leave a complete review.

I will say that through the years I've come across quite a few people at different points in their lives and I've given them my copy of the book, and then bought another one straight afterwards. My only regret is that I've not held onto the copy that was given to me at the time as I should have treasured it for what it was (I do however know where that copy is currently living and I'm happy in that knowledge).

Everyone should read this book at least once.

31 people found this helpful

Maria

Fabulous, heart lifting!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

I was led to this book when I put headphones on and a YouTube video of Jerry and Esther Hicks part 3 was being played through my phone, though I didn't actually put it on. Jerry Hicks is a magnificent being, his last physical life was the most interesting I have heard ever. I loved his words and honesty. I also could see his great love for Esther. He read this whole book to Esther via phone so I had to read what it says. I finished it in a couple of hours and feel exhilarated .

Maria

4 people found this helpful

Ms Anne K. Scott

Digesting Still

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

What is this mad craziness - turning thinking upside down, shunning definition, assumptions, questioning how this material world works. There are rich nuggets here if we chose to see them that allow us to explore outside perceptions. What if… love it

Avid Reader

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

My Father bought me this book in 1978 when I was struggling to bring up my son on my own and feeling particularly restricted, but knowing it was a job I had to do. I read this book and it really turned things around for me and helped to change the perspective on my life and circumstances. I would highly recommend this book to everybody as it can be read on so many levels - even now each time I read it I still find something new to think about. My favourite bit is the one about Problems and Gifts and that is something I always think of when things get a bit sticky as they invariably do in life. It's a wonderful book written by a man who was way ahead of his time. I'm a big fan of Richard Bach and love the way he writes - The Messiah is probably my favourite book of his with Johnathan Living Seagull coming an extremely close 2nd. Read this and enjoy it and take what it gives, you can't go wrong. This is probably the book I have given most as a present with possibly the exception of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. I can't recommend it highly enough.

5 people found this helpful

mark

Mind expanding

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2015

Verified Purchase

Richard Bach is an author intent on expanding the minds of his readers. He does it using adventure and personal experience and takes his readers on fascinating journeys. He does so with a mindset best suited, I found, for teenagers or young adults. I read him extensively from "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" when I was a teenager, to "Illusions" and "Bridge across Forever" etc in my late twenties when I was 'Seeking' answers. That was 25yrs ago. I have bought this copy for the son of a friend who is now of that age. Recommended 10*/10. Hope this helps?

5 people found this helpful

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