Jonatan Livinstone Seagul

This is a story for people who follow their dreams and make their own rules; a story that has inspired people for decades.
For most seagulls, life consists simply of eating and surviving. Flying is just a means of finding food. However, Jonathan Livingston Seagull is no ordinary bird. For him, flying is life itself. Against the conventions of seagull society, he seeks to find a higher purpose andbecome the best at doing what he loves. This is a fable about the importance of making the most of our lives, even if our goals run contrary to the norms of our flock, tribe or neighbourhood. Through the metaphor of flight, Jonathan’s story shows us that, if we follow our dreams, we too can soar.

‘Richard Bach with this book does two things. He gives me Flight. He makes me Young. For both I amdeeply grateful.’ RAY BRADBURY

Jonathan Livingston Seagull a story
RICHARD BACH
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RUSSELL MUNSON

The most celebrated inspirational fable of our time

Element An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 77-85 Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith, London W6 8JB The website address is: www.thorsonselement.com

To the real Jonathan Seagull, who lives within us all

and Element aretrademarks of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd First published in Great Britain by Turnstone Press 1972 This edition published by Element 2003 17 19 21 23 25 24 22 20 18 16 Text copyright © Richard D. Bach 1970 Photographs copyright © Russell Munson 1970 Richard Bach asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 000 649034 4 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Martins The Printers Ltd, Berwick upon Tweed All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Notice! This electronic version of thebook, has been released FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. You may not sell or make any profit from this book. And if you like this book, - buy a paper copy and give it to someone who does not have a computer, if that is possible for you.

‘This book is a new and valuable citizen in that very wondrous world ruled by St. Exupery ... I suspect all of us who visit the worlds of Jonathan Seagull willnever want to return. return.’ ERNEST K. GANN, author of The High and The Mighty

Richard Bach is a writer and pilot, author of three books on the mystique of flying. During the past decade or so, he has edited a flying magazine, and written more than a hundred magazine articles and stories. A former US Air Force pilot, he is now seldom without an aeroplane. Russell Munson started taking pictures ofaeroplanes as a child and has been involved with flying and photography ever since. He owns a Piper Super Cub, from which he took some of the pictures in this book.

PART ONE

IT WAS MORNING, AND THE NEW SUN SPARKLED GOLD across the ripples of a gentle sea. A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousandseagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning. But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practising. A hundred feet in the sky he lowered his webbed feet, lifted his beak, and strained to hold a painful hard twisting curve through his wings. The curve meant that he would fly slowly, and now he slowed until the windwas a whisper in his face, until the ocean stood still beneath him. He narrowed his eyes in fierce concentration, held his breath, forced one ... single ... more ... inch ... of ... curve ... Then his feathers ruffled, he stalled and fell. Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonour. But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed,...