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Running Head: Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Book Review of Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
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The book Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach discusses how a seagull learns
about life. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an extraordinary seagull who learns how to flythrough
his own efforts. Later, teachers other seagulls flying skills. This book was written in 1972 and
remains highly influential to date. It teaches the reader that, through determination, self-sacrifice
and endurance, one can overcome all obstacles to achieve a goal. In the book, Jonathan dislikes
the lifestyle of other gulls and sets up a goal. The goal is to learn how to fly and improve his
lifestyle rather than living and eating only.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach is a 127 pages book is written in a precise
manner. The language used is straightforward, and it is easy to understand. The book is divided
into three parts. Each part explains Jonathan‟s different stages of life. There have been theories
linking the book to the bible. Jonathan is said to behave like Jesus. This is because though he is
born similarly to other gulls, he discovers his hidden talent. At some time, he is expelled from
the flock. He overcomes many obstacles and eventually perfects his skills. He later returns as a
hero and teaches other gulls.
Among the most fundamental principle that guides Jonathan is determination and hard
work. After evaluating the life of the other gulls, he finds life uninteresting. The most frustrating
issue is the gulls lifestyle that revolves around scrambling for limited food. Jonathan sets an
objective to learn how to fly. Determined to learn how to fly, Jonathan is expelled from the flock
by the elders. There is an inner voice that has always deterred him from achieving his objective.
At one point, the voices tell Jonathan that “Seagulls never fly in the dark! (Bach, 2006, P. 24).
Upon his mother inquiring about Jonathan unique behavior, Jonathan informs the mother about
his determination. His determination about learning about what he can do in the air.

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Jonathan hard work is evidenced by the number of times he tries to fly. He is injured
several times. He makes several mistakes and is even informed that he does not have wings like
those of falcons. He intends to exploit his full potential and not to be extraordinary. He realizes
that other gull‟s live a shorter life. Therefore, he decides to teach himself other methods through
which he can get food. Jonathan mission is to learn how to fly. Through flying, he intends to
make life a more exciting life. He anticipates enjoying other delicacies that other gulls do not
enjoy. His determination and hard work make Jonathan unique. His efforts make him be expelled
for “violating the dignity and tradition of the Gull Family” (ibid, p. 34). It is through those
principles that Jonathan learns how to fly.
Jonathan mission statement is that; to exploit my full potential through hard work and
determination, and there become the fastest flying gull.
Jonathan applied management concepts and principles effectively. He realizes that there
are limited resources and lays a strategy to overcome the challenge. The limited resources are the
food which the seagulls feed on. The food is limited, and this makes the seagull to scramble for
the foods. To overcome the problem, Jonathan decides to teach himself how to fly. Upon
learning how to fly, he can dive into deep waters where he can catch fresh fish and fly in the air
to catch insects.
Jonathan has several resources that enable him to succeed. Among them are his wings.
By learning how to control his wings, he learns how to fly at a terrific speed. Jonathan is a
resource by himself. It is through his self drive that enables him to prove all odds wrong by
learning how to fly. “He folded his wings, rolled, and dropped in a dive to a hundred ninety
miles per hour. They dropped with him, streaking down in flawless formation (ibid, 46).

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Jonathan has exceptional decision making skills. Though there are obstacles the adversely
evaluating the surrounding circumstances, he sticks to his decision even after his parents try to
persuade him to live like other gulls. After his speed break all existing records, he embarks on
training other gulls. He knows that other gull will enjoy learning how to fly. He planned ahead
with an end in mind. It is though planning that he decides to learn how to fly and enjoy life
unlike other gulls who spend time eating. Jonathan is an exceptionally polite gull who knows
how, to effectively, communicate with his seniors and peers. He profoundly respects his parents
and responds to them politely. As he communicates with his parents, Bach notes that “Jonathan
nodded obediently” (ibid, 15).
He, Jonathan, is an effective communicator. This is illustrated where he teaches other gulls.
Among his first student who becomes a teacher to other gulls is Fletcher. To „sharpen the saw‟,
Jonathan practices severally until he breaks all records. Jonathan believes that practice makes
perfect. He learns from his mistakes and continuously improves his skills. Jonathan is an
accomplished manager. This is evidenced by the fact that makes a solution to the existing
problem. The problem is limited food that makes the gull always scramble for the food. He
makes a working decision which he implements. The strategy works and other gull later accept
to learn his skill. As a good manager, he overcomes resistance from other gulls.
I like this book for several reasons. The book teaches the reader that Jonathan had a
different ideology from other gull. Rather than living to eat like other gull, Jonathan eats to live.
It is his passion to fly that makes him different from other gulls. Though they are from the same
flock, Jonathan decides to pursue a different orientation. Among the principles that Jonathan
teaches me is the importance of hard work and determination. He teaches the reader on the
importance of making an extra step in order to achieve his full potential. Through Jonathans hard

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work and determination, he become more satisfied with his life than other gull. He lives longer
and teaches other gulls how to fly after breaking all the records.
The book teaches me on the importance of striving to achieve a goal. Despite the
challenges that Jonathan faces, he triumphs to become the fastest flyer. In addition, it teaches me
on the importance of dedication and how solve problems. He also teaches me to be loving and
generous to other. This is evidenced by Jonathan‟s love towards other flock even though they
had expelled him, he loves them and teaches them how to fly. The book is extraordinarily
influential and will remain in shelves 25 years after it was published. This is because it requires
people to find their potential and not just live to eat.

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References
Bach, Richard. (1970). Jonathan Livingston Seagull. NY: Simon & Schuster.