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Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
In the miasma that was the 70's lies this book, an embarassing reminder of the culture of self-actualization that permeated that era. Deep messages? Please. What is so annoying about "Seagull" is the blatant anti-intellectualism of it; the pseudo-profoundity; the feeble fable. After being asked to write a paper on the meaning of the "Stairway to Heaven" lyric(!), having to read this book was the last straw for our 11th grade Language Arts class. We feared "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs" was next. Read it if you must. As a snapshot of mid-70's popular culture, it fits somewhere between pet rocks and Space Food Sticks.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
I first heard about this book when someone compared it to the wonderful 'Serendipity's Secret', as they both use the fable formula where an animal goes on a journey of self-discovery. I did feel that 'JLS' started well. I liked the use of Jonathan's desire to break free from the flock as a metaphor for going after your dreams. I was really rooting for Jonathan at first and admired his determination to succeed. However, very soon I found the book started to get slightly wierd and hard to follow, especially when Jonathan meets his mentor Chiang and starts flying through walls, talking about space and time et al!! All very new age! It was at this point for me it changed from inspiring fable and I started to slightly loose the plot!The inspiring message of going after your dreams no matter what, is great up to a point but unfortunately, life isn't always that simple. You need talent as well as tenacity to succeed at certain things and the ability to set goals and overcome obstacles are all just part of the picture. There is often a fine line between determination and delusion, which means that going against the advice of others to pursue your dreams no matter what is not always the best option! Just remember those awful 'Americal Idol' auditions...!However, this book is good as a starting point to inspire you, especially if you haven't read self-development books before and you like the new age style of writing. It's great that so many people do feel inspired by this little book but unfortunately I seem to be one of the people who just didn't connect with it.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
I think this is a cute story that younger readers will appreciate. I'm not sure why there is so much hatred for this little book. If it's not for you there are plenty of other books out there to read. As a librarian, I must say that there is too much negativity in our culture towards what people read. Let people read what they like. Reading at any level improves vocabulary and comprehension. Snobbishness towards reading materials is especially counter productive. Just say why it wasn't for you and leave it at that.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL was such a cultural phenomenon when it was first released in 1970 that it is hard to fairly evaluate the book. This simple (notice I said "simple" and not "deceptively simple") fable about a seagull who loves flying more than he cares to troll in the wake of the herring boats, was an explosive best-seller. Tens of millions of copies and a movie later, it's still in print.Bach's next book, 1977'sIllusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, is actually a better book. But JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL came at a time when it was the perfect vehicle to represent the last gasp of the Woodstock Era, the birthing cry of the Me Decade, and was the grandpappy of New Age commercialism. An easy book to digest, it seems to offer the reader a glimpse of profundity but without requiring effort on anybody's part. In other words, J.L.S. is a perfect mass market sop to the idea of spiritual materialism.Aye, there's the rub: For although J.L.S. is hokey beyond belief, it's also a book that can change lives, or at least set one's feet on the Path With Heart. Hardly deep (the writing has been described as "Kahlil Gibran Meets Captain Kangaroo"), the book's sincere message of transcendence over the mundane life can touch a chord inside the reader, especially if the reader has not been exposed to Kahlil Gibran (or Captain Kangaroo, for that matter). Every garbageman a guru.There are far greater examples of poetical writing (try Gibran for example, or Rumi, Peter Matthiessen, or Loren Eiseley), and the reader who comes to JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL after first findingThe Prophetwill probably roll his eyes. This is definitely a "starter" book. It rates THREE AND THREE QUARTER STARS, (but possibly FIVE if you're at where it's at). Otherwise, J.L.S. is just a curiosity.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
This book is a quick read, though obviously there is more there. How much, exactly, remains in question. Apparently, others have seen more there than I did, but I think this is one of those books that reflects back at you what you are looking for in it. If one wants to find deep meaning or spirituality, one will find it -- extracting meaning from each picture, each word, each pause. But, I don't know. I found 'The Alchemist' to be much more successful in doing a similar thing. I would recommend that one instead...
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
I just finished reading this book (it took less than an hour), and I must say that I absolutely loved it! Although it's a REALLY short book, it's filled with wonderful, important insights for all those reading it with an open mind.Richard Bach uses the life of a seagull to examine the importance of following your dreams, and to highlight the reasons why many of us tend to give up - at times before we've even really tried. These reasons include: fear of what other's might think of us; being considered different from everyone else (and at times this leading to being seen as "bad"); and the inability for us to KNOW that we can do it - we can do ANYTHING we put our minds to.I would highly recommend this book to everyone with an open mind. I also think this would be a great book to read to children - the very young may not be able to grasp its implications, but I bet those around 8yrs. and up could understand the meaning if the parents discuss it afterwards.