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Summary: The greatest book ever written!!
Review: As an English major I have read many, many books in my time, but no book or literary work has made such a personal impact upon me as this one. Richard Bach is extrodinary in this book and really makes people realize their worth. When I am feeling down about life or myself I pick up this book and journey with Jonathan. The photography in this book is a great addition and really makes you feel the story. Writing about the book doesn't give it justice. You need to read it.
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Summary: Top Flight Anthropomorphism
Review: Beginning writers who scan the Writers Market will find a common admonition from publishers listing there: don't send us humanized animal stories. Why? Because they've all been done before. Classics like Animal Farm and Watership Down define the successes of this overused technique. Jonathan Livingston Seagull shares a throne among the best of these.It's a short and simple tale about a seagull who loves to fly and wants to do his best at it. The writing is lyrical and flowing, with beautiful, almost poetic language. The story line is rich with metaphor, spirituality, and subtle meaning. It is an uplifting story, one that adds weight to the good side of the scale of humanity. I first read this book as teenager shortly after it came out in 1970. At that age and at that time this was a powerful book. It still is. I think it will be appreciated by idealistic collegians more than cynical forty-somethings, but everyone will benefit. If you don't like this book, you'd better get yourself checked out. You might be psychotic. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.
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Summary: Remarkable and uplifting story.
Review: This was an amazing story about breaking barriers and living life to it's complete fullest.I really enjoyed this book a lot. It made me think of things in a way that I usually don't. It was very uplifting and inspirational. I liked how even though the main character was a seagull he still tried to fly like a falcon. Even after everyone put him down and told him that he couldn't. So that right there was why i liked this book so much. It was also written very well. The author used many great words, sayings, and transitions. In conclusion I would deffinitley reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys to read stories about inspiration and having no limits.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: A book I reread often to remind myself of Jonathan's world. It was the first "grown-up book" I read as a child and I continue to read it today. It can be taken on so many different levels. Remarkable!
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Summary: Strive
Review: Jonathan is a symbol of eternal spirit striving to know what she is, why she is here? Jonathan redefines all accepted conventions of what is given(one is born with) Vs a human beings conviction to do what one believes in. The story is mesmerising in the intent that its happening with us and not with The Gull.
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Summary: Preachy children's book.
Review: This is a simple story. So simple in fact that you wonder why the writer got paid for it. A seagull gets banished for flying wrong and then dies. But he comes back from the dead because freedom is the way to be, so he preaches the Buddhist-Christian gospel with the smug certainty of a kindegarten teacher. I admit that I did love this story once. It was kinda deep. Or at least my friends told me that it was deep. The problem is that it's not deep at all. It's trite and self-satisfied. It's one of those books that you love as a child but then you realize how condescending you got after you read it. Then you think about it years later after having learned more and you think back about how dumb you were to have been impressed. I give it an extra star because it is good to read once. I would have even given it three stars if it didn't have all the publicity and the hype and fanboys surrounding it. If you are expecting an amazing life changing book and you get a slim story instead it's bound to take down the ultimate joy of the whole endeavor. If I was expecting a nice little story, I would have enjoyed the final product better. One more word - I know that the pictures have been in from the original, but they are grainy blurry things that look like the author took a polaroid to a beach one day. The fact that the photographer gets credit hints that he actually is getting paid for them. Can't someone release an anniversary edition with better pictures?
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Summary: The greatest book of all time....
Review: Jonathan is a seagull... and I am human... and yet he reminds me of myself because he had a very strong will to pursue the things he believes in, no matter what others think of it. That is my prevalent feeling the moment I first finished reading it 8 years ago when I wa still in High-School... Today, I am already a professional, and after eight years I decided to read this book again... and it had a more profound impact in me than in the first time I read it. From then on, I've read that book almost 300 times! Everytime I'm blue or lonely, i just pick up that book and read it. It's just wonderfull! There are statements there that you construct as inspiring words for thought, such as "heaven is not a place, and it is not a time, for heaven is being perfect" or "We choose our path in life through what we learn. Learn nothing, and the proceeding days of your lives will be the same as this one, with all the same difficulties and obstacles to overcome." I recommend this book for you to read... whether you are young or old, male ofr female, happy with life or angry at it, committed or uncomitted... This is the greatest book I've ever read, and I am honest enought to say that. I really cannot fully describe what i feel for this book, and all i can say is that you better read this to immerse yourself in this extraordinary story of a gull who seeks for higher purposes in life... and made others believe in him... Jonathan's race had began 30 years ago... and until now, it is still on the grow... Buy this book... for your own good... and you'll never regret buying one.
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Summary: A simple, beautiful tale aglow with inspiration
Review: Okay, I'll be honest. At first, I was kinda turned off when I found out that Jonathan was a gull. I don't have anything against gulls, but I thought it was going to be a story about a *person*, so when I learned he was a gull, my expectations went down. *sweatdrop* But please read on. Another thing that nearly cost this book its 5-star review by moi was the fact that it lulled me to sleep. Not necessarily because the *story* was boring--it was just that the smooth prose and the calm, soothing feeling it evoked lulled me to sleep. I first picked up this book about half an hour before going to sleep, so you can just imagine how sleepy I got even before my time. -_-; But I didn't give up on this book. Jon's character... saved me, I guess. Even though he was a *gull*, his personality (er... gullity? ^_^ ^_^ ^_^) was remarkably human. I really liked him as a character, and I remembered how much I enjoyed reading "Illusions", so I decided to continue reading. And that was when I finally found delight in the piece. The story seems simple enough, but its central message is advice that I think people are most desperate for in this new age. Kinda like a modern-day Gospel or something, except this one is much more refreshing to read, and much more relevant. Which isn't to diss the original Gospels or anything. But those Gospels were intended for ancient peoples of long ago. *This* one is for now, for the moment, and that is what I feel matters most. Like "Illusions", this story will inspire you. And if you're the type who looks to books more for the story than for anything else the book may tell you, you'll find this an equally satisfying piece of prose. The writing style is fluid and easily understandable, and has a poignant beauty in its simplicity as well, and you'll find scenes that are amusing (there's one amusing scene that I doubt I'll forget in a long time ^^) and touching and inspiring. Just a few suggestions for new readers: 1. Don't read this before going to bed (unless you're sure you won't let the warm, serene feeling lull you to sleep) 2. Look at the pictures (too bad they weren't colored, or I would have spent more time looking at them) 3. Don't rush. 4. If possible, get "Illusions", too, written by the same author. This concludes my review. I hope this helped, and I hope you enjoy your experience of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and Beautiful.
Review: There are two aspects of this book that prove most crucial in establishing its beauty and charm. First, it manages to be truely universal. Unlike so many inspirational works, the situation in which Johnathan finds himself could easily become a metaphor for anything worth the aspirations of an individual. Second, it manages to be a reat story. This makes it an easy and enjoyable read, rather than just a series of appeals to perseverance. This keeps the book from becomming preachy or condescending, which is so often the problem with works of this type. Also, the nature of Bach's message is stresses not only the rewards of perseverance, but also the difficulties that are inherent in it, which is important in fulling exploring the intricacies of his point. On top of all of this, Bach has a special gift for prose and storytelling that allows the reader to forget that he/she is reading a work of fiction and instead believe that this seagull really does exist, thus making his plight all the more enlightening. For teachers seeking to motivate students, coaches trying to motivate athletes, or parents trying to motivate children, this is a perfect place to start.
Rating:
Summary: Great Inspiration
Review: This is a wonderful book. It gives different meanings to different people depending on thier maturity levels. This book speaks about the determination to innovate through learning, practicing to become perfect with deep inner philosophy about approach to life. I read this book when I was little depressed and it gave me a message to stand up, think upside down and perform. I could come out of depression by doing what I believed to be correct. I read this book again when I am confident and very sure about what am I doing and it gave me a meaning, dare Innovate dont just follow the set pattern. This book is really inspirational for anybody. Just reach out and read and read it all your life. The best part of this book is its simplicity of presentation.
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