Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a novella written by American author Richard Bach and illustrated by Russell Munson, first published as a full book in 1970.

The story revolves about the titular seagull, Jonathan Livingston, who is tired of the petty squabbling for food of his other members of his flock, and is consumed by an intense drive to fly. His passion drives him to learn everything he can about flying, but his unwillingness to conform causes him to be expelled from his flock. As an outcast, Jonathan becomes free to pursuit his flying desires and better his abilities. One day, he is approached by two other gulls, who bring him to a "higher plane of existence" -- not heaven, but a place filled with other birds with a drive to learn. There, Jonathan befriends the wisest gull in there, improves his flying abilities, and even learns how to move to anywhere in the universe. But now he becomes unsatisfied and realized that what he wants now is to share his love and knowledge about flying with other seagulls, so he returns to Earth and to his former flock to do so.

A movie adaptation premiered in 1973, to mixed critics. In 2014 the book was reissued as Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition, which added a 17-page fourth part to the story.


 * All of the Other Seagulls: Jonathan isn't liked by the seagulls of his original flock because of his flying aspirations. His second flock doesn't like his teaching ambitions either, but are way more understanding.
 * Ascended to A Higher Plane of Existence
 * Market-Based Title: The name of the book and the titular seagull tend to change in the translations.
 * The Messiah: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, almost being a Jesus Christ Expy with everything and apostles equivalents. The Spanish name for him, "Juan Salvador Gaviota" (lit "John Savior Seagull") makes it extremely obvious.