Andrea M Book Review MOSL

7/31/2019 Andrea M Book Review MOSL

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Jonathan LivingstonSeagull

Book Review Presented

By Andrea Mendes


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About the book & the Author

Title: Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Publication Year: 1970

Type of story: Fable

Subject: Life of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Author: Richard Bach

Bach was born on 23rd June 1936 in Oak Park, Illinois. He attended Long

Beach State College in 1955. He has authored numerous works of fictionand nonfiction. He served in the United States Navy Reserve as a pilot.Afterwards, he worked a variety of jobs, including technical writer andcontributing editor for Flying magazine. Most of his books involve flightin some way, from the early stories which are straightforwardly aboutflying aircraft.

He wrote,Jonathan Livingston Seagull, in 1970, a story about a seagullwho flew for the love of flying rather than merely to catch food, waspublished by Macmillan Publishers. The book, which included uniquephotos of seagulls in flight by photographer Russell Munson, became anumber-one bestseller.


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Introduction

The book tells the story of

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, aseagull who is bored with thedaily squabbles over food or

rather the scraps that theseagulls live on from the fisherboats. Seized by a passion for

flight and speed, he pusheshimself, learning everything hecan about flying, until finally hisunwillingness to conform results

in his expulsion from his flock.An outcast, he continues to

learn, becoming increasingly

pleased with his abilities as heleads an idyllic life. As time

passes he learns various lessonsof life and is able to pass that on

to other seagulls as well.


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Main Characters:

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Sullivan Seagull

Chiang Seagull

Fletcher Lynd Seagull


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Part OneSummary:

Jonathan Livingston was frustrated with meaningless materialism,

conformity and limitation of the seagulls life. He had strong passion for flight and did all kinds experiments.

This leads him into conflict with his flock.

Not deterred by this, Jonathan continued his efforts.

He then meets two radiant, loving seagulls who explain to him that

he has learned much and can learn more.

Critical Statements:

For this gull, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More thananything else. Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.

Jonathan spent whole days alone, making hundreds of low-levelglides, experimenting.

I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that'sall. I just want to know.

It wasn't long before Jonathan Gull was off by himself again, far out

at sea, hungry, happy, learning.


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Part One contd

A strange hollow voice sounded within him. There's no wayaround it. I am a seagull. I am limited by my nature. I mustforget this foolishness. I must fly home to the Flock.

Short wings. A falcon's short wings!

Terminal velocity!.. It was a breakthrough.

We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves ascreatures of excellence and intelligence and skill.

We can be free! We can learn to fly!

For a thousand years we have scrabbled after fish heads, butnow we have a reason to live - to learn, to discover, to be free!Give me one chance

let me show you what I've found... We've come to take you higher, to take you home.


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Part Two

Summary:

Jonathan transcended into a society where all the gulls enjoyflying.

The learning process was different linking the highlyexperienced teacher and the diligent student.

He needed to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea offreedom, an image of the Great Gull.

He realizes that you have to be true to yourself.

Critical Statements:

It felt like a seagull body, but already it flew far better than hisold one had ever flown.

In heaven, he thought, there should be no limits.

The most important thing in living was to reach out and touchperfection in that which they most loved to do, and that was tofly.


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Part Two contd

There is more to life than eating, or fighting, or power in the

Flock. Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being

perfect.

You must begin by knowing that you have already arrived...

I am a perfect, unlimited gull!

It always works, when you know what you're doing. keep working on love.

Sully, I must go back, If our friendship depends on things likespace and time, then when we finally overcome space andtime, we've destroyed our own brotherhood!

If anybody can show someone on the ground how to see athousand miles, it will be Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

I don't care what they think. I'll show them what flying is! I'llbe pure Outlaw, if that's the way they want it. And I'll makethem so sorry...

Forgive them, and help them to understand.


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Part ThreeSummary:

The last words of Jonathan's teacher was " Keep working onlove."

Jonathan returned to the Breakfast Flock to share his newlydiscovered ideals.

The ability to forgive seemed to be a mandatory "passingcondition."

The idea that the stronger can reach more by leaving theweaker friends behind was totally rejected.

Hence, love, deserved respect, and forgiveness all were to beequally important in this last phase.

Critical Statements: ``You're wasting your time with me, Jonathan! I'm too dumb!

I'm too stupid! I try and try, but I'll never get it!'

``Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimitedidea of freedom,'

Everything that limits us we have to put aside.


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Part Three ..contd

Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your

body. We're free to go where we wish and to be what we are.

Well sure, O.K. they're Outcast, But hey, man, where did theylearn to fly like that?

You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now,and nothing can stand in your way.

Whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritualor superstition or limitation in any form.

You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one ofthem, and to help them see it in themselves.

You need to keep finding yourself, a little more each day.

Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show islimitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you alreadyknow, and you'll see the way to fly.'

His race to learn had begun.


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Key ldeas

Follow a less materialistic life

Strive to be different and don't follow the bandwagon Persistence to learn and the thrill for speed

Incubation and Insight

Persistence and determination even after being outcast

Discard boredom, fear and anger

Appreciation for the land of his learning

Practice makes one perfect

Heaven is being Perfect and Perfection has no limits

Continuous learning brings wisdom and knowledge

Build positive thinking

Time & Distance cannot break relationships

Forgive and Forget


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Key Ideas

Be a good, calm, patient and guiding teacher

Always keep an open mind for thoughts

Seek freedom against rituals, superstitions or any limitations

No person is a good or bad person

Understand yourself

All your knowledge is of no good if you cant give back tosociety


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Criticism

Forget about faith! Chiang said it time and again. You

didn't need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying.

A minor contradiction in thought


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