Jonathan Livingston Seagull

First, to know something about seagulls, they move around in flocks and their purpose is live to eat and stay alive. They don’t bother about flying and the only reason they fly is to eat.

This is the story of a seagull named Jonathan Livingston written by Richard Bach. As mentioned, a seagull’s point in life is simple, Collect Food and Nothing else. Any other activity is considered wrong and out of ordinary by them. But Jonathan is not content with this. He does not comprehend on why they would limit themselves to one activity. So very much against the wish of this parents and his flock, he spends his day practicing his passion, the art of flying. 

The important point, Richard states is that, Jonathan doesn’t do this to create havoc or grief to others or to cause a rebellion. He just does it because he loves to do it and it makes him happy. He loves to fly and loves to gain more knowledge and learn more than just gathering food. But still he doesn’t understand why he should not do something he loves to do.

The book is broken into three parts, starts where he gets frustrated by the conformity and starts enjoying the pure joy in flying and also the learning he gets with those heights. He realizes that conformity is not the way to live a life. Also struggles in not being able to share these revelations to his flock. Then he reaches a more spiritual plane where he joins some other enlightened seagulls. There he strives towards becoming perfect and learns how to love. Finally he returns to the flock and shares his insights and encourages other gulls. 

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

Throughout his journey, he learns to be his true self, follow his passion, ignore what other people think about it and also love and forgive others. He learns that he must strive for perfection in his passion and that is the reason for our living.

It’s a deceptively simple story with many interpretations for different levels of readers. Richard Bach conveys the crux through this story in a clear, simple and brief manner. The world won't be beautiful if everything is painted in grey. It makes us wonder the great people who lived beyond our dreams and also wonder about the limitless human potential. It’s a recommended book for everyone, but if one is pondering about deep-inside passion and wondering about big changes in life, this book definitely gives the confidence needed.