Jonathan Livingston SeagullJonathan Livingston Seagull
Score Classic
What it's about
Jonathan is a seagull who cares more about flying than eating, and practices endlessly to perfect his flight. Cast out by his flock for it, he discovers a higher world of seagulls devoted to learning and freedom. Richard Bach's fable is about self-perfection and following your passion.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling books ever, with about 44 million copies sold, and it spent 38 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
You'll love it if you liked
The Alchemist
The Little Prince
IllusionsGood to know
It's very short, illustrated with photographs, and readable in under an hour.
By the numbers
- Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #151 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #605 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2118 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
More by Richard Bach
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Quick answers
Is Jonathan Livingston Seagull worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling books ever, with about 44 million copies sold, and it spent 38 weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #2,118 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Jonathan Livingston Seagull about?
Jonathan is a seagull who cares more about flying than eating, and practices endlessly to perfect his flight. Cast out by his flock for it, he discovers a higher world of seagulls devoted to learning and freedom. Richard Bach's fable is about self-perfection and following your passion.
How long does it take to read Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
About 3 hours (112 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Jonathan Livingston Seagull?
If you liked it, try The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry or Illusions by Richard Bach.