(DLA Las Piñas HS LRC) July Book of the Month - Jonathan Livingston Seagull

The much acclaimed spiritual novella is about a seagull learning about life and flight. It was written by Richard Bach, known for his love of flying and for his books related to air flight and flying in a metaphorical context. Bach's books also espouse his philosophy that our apparent physical limits and mortality are merely appearance.

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles that his fellow seabirds have over food. Seized by a passion for flight, he pushes himself until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock but this only leads him to live a peaceful and happy life. The story is divided into four parts.

Listed as one of 50 "timeless spiritual classics" in a book by Tom Butler-Bowdon (most notable for his 50 classics series of books, which provide commentaries on key writings in psychology and philosophy), the Australian non-fiction author even went to say that "it is easy now to overlook the originality of the book's concept and though some find it rather naïve, in fact it expresses timeless ideas about human potential."

The production of a motion picture of the same title was inspired by the story and it was made many years before computer-generated effects were available. In order to make seagulls act on cue and perform aerobatics, they had build radio-controlled gliders that looked remarkably like real seagulls from a few feet away. However, Bach was so unimpressed with the treatment of the film that he sued the film company for negligence.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is shelved at the fiction section of the HS LRC. If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to approach any of the present librarians or staff.