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{{Short description|1970 novella by Richard Bach}}
{{About| the book | the film adaptation | Jonathan Livingston Seagull (film)| the Neil Diamond soundtrack album | Jonathan Livingston Seagull (album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name        = Jonathan Livingston Seagull:<br/>A Story
| title_orig  =
| translator  =
| image       = Johnathan Livingston Seagull.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = First edition
| author      = [[Richard Bach]]
| illustrator = Russell Munson<br/>(black-and-white photographs)
| cover_artist=
| country     =
| language    = English
| series      =
| subject     = The life of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull.
| genre       = [[Spirituality|Spiritual]], [[self-help]], [[novella]]
| publisher   = [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)]]
| release_date= 1970, 2014
| media_type  = Print {{small| {{nowrap| ([[paperback]])}}}}
| pages       = 144 {{small| {{nowrap| (The Complete Edition)}}}}
| isbn =  978-1-4767-9331-3
| isbn_note=(2014 paperback edition)
| oclc        = 6158608
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}

'''''Jonathan Livingston Seagull''''' is an [[allegory|allegorical]] [[fable]] in [[novella|novella form]] written by American author [[Richard Bach]] and illustrated with black-and-white photographs shot by Russell Munson. It is about a [[gull|seagull]] who is trying to learn about flying, personal reflection, freedom, and [[self-realization]]. It was first published in book form in 1970 with little advertising or expectations; by the end of 1972, over a million copies were in print, the book having reached the number-one spot on bestseller lists mostly through word of mouth recommendations.

In 2014, the book was reissued as '''''Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition''''', which added a 17-page fourth part to the story.

== Plot ==

=== Part One ===
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an independent thinker frustrated with the daily squabbles over meager food and sheer survival within his flock of seagulls who have no deeper [[sense of purpose]]. Unlike his peers, he is seized with a passion for flight of all kinds, and his soul soars as he aerially experiments and learns more about the nature of his own body and the environment in achieving faster and faster flights. Eventually, his lack of [[conformity]] within the Flock causes them to officially banish him with the label "Outcast". Undeterred, Jonathan continues his efforts to reach ever-greater flight goals, finding that he is often successful. He lives a long happy life and is sad not due to his loneliness but only due to the fact that the rest of the Flock will never know the full glories of flying, like him. In his old age, he is met by two radiantly-bright seagulls who share his abilities, explaining to him that he has learned much, but that they have come to take him "home" where he will go "higher".

=== Part Two ===
[[File:Allegorie auf die Transzendenz der Möwe Jonathan.jpg|thumb|″Jonathan transcends into a reality, which he assumes is heaven″]]

Jonathan transcends into a reality, which he assumes is heaven, where all the gulls enjoy practicing incredible maneuvers and speeds, like him. His instructor, Sullivan, explains that a few gulls progress to this higher existence, but most others live through the same world over and over again. The Elder Gull of the community, Chiang, admits that this reality is not heaven, but that heaven is the achieving of perfection itself: an ability beyond any particular time or place. Suddenly, Chiang disappears, then reappears a moment later, displaying his attainment of perfect speed. When Jonathan begs to learn Chiang's skills, Chiang explains that the secret to true flight is to recognize that one's nature exists across all time and space. Jon begins successfully following Chiang's teachings. One day, Chiang slowly transforms into a blindingly luminous being and, just before disappearing for the last time, he gives Jonathan one last tip: "keep working on love." Jonathan ponders Chiang's words and, in a discussion with Sullivan, decides to go back to his own home planet, to teach his original Flock all that he has learned. Returning there, he finds a fellow lover of flying, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, who is angry at recently being "Outcast" by the Flock. Jonathan takes on Fletcher as his first pupil.

=== Part Three ===
Jonathan has now amassed a small group of Outcasts as flying students, with Fletcher the star pupil, and tells them that "each of us is in truth... an unlimited idea of freedom". The deeper nature of his words is not yet understood by his pupils, who believe they are just getting basic flying lessons. For a month, Jonathan boldly takes them to perform aerial stunts in front of the bewildered Flock. Some of the Flock slowly join the Outcasts, while others label him a messiah or a devil; Jonathan feels misunderstood. One day, Fletcher dies in a flying collision. Awaking in another reality, he hears Jonathan's voice teasing him that the trick to transcending the limitations of time and space is to take it step by step &mdash; not so quickly. Fletcher is resurrected in the very midst of the flabbergasted Flock, some of whom fear and decry his supernatural reappearance, but Jonathan insists that he must learn to love the ignorant Flock. Jonathan's body suddenly begins to fade away, he requests that Fletcher stop others from thinking of him as anything silly like a god, and he gives a final piece of advice: "find out what you already know". Soon, Fletcher faces a group of eager new students of his own. He passes on Jonathan's sentiments that seagulls are limitless ideas of freedom and their bodies nothing more than thought itself, but this only baffles the young gulls. He realizes now why Jonathan taught him to take lessons slowly, step by step. Privately musing on Jonathan's idea that there are no limits, Fletcher smiles at the implication of this: that he will see Jonathan again, one day soon.

=== Part Four (in the 2014 reprint, ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition'') ===
In 2013, Richard Bach took up a non-published fourth part of the book, which he had written contemporaneously with the original. He edited and polished it and then sent the result to a publisher. Bach reported that he was inspired to finish the fourth part of the novella by a [[near-death experience]] which had occurred in relation to a nearly fatal plane crash in August 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/author-richard-bach-recovering-from-plane-crash-returns-to-inspirational-tale/|title=Author Richard Bach, recovering from plane crash, returns to inspirational tale|last=Sullivan|first=Jennifer|date=17 January 2013|newspaper=[[Seattle Times]]|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620061245/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/author-richard-bach-recovering-from-plane-crash-returns-to-inspirational-tale/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2014, the 138-page Bach work ''[[Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student]]'' was published as a booklet by [[Kindle Direct Publishing]]. ''Illusions II'' also contains allusions to and insights regarding the same near-death experience. In October 2014, ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition,'' was published, and this edition includes Part Four of the story.

Part Four focuses on the period several hundred years after Jonathan and his students have left the Flock, and their teachings become [[Veneration|venerated]] rather than practised. The birds spend all their time extolling the virtues of Jonathan and his students and spend no time flying for flying's sake. The seagulls practice strange rituals and use demonstrations of their respect for Jonathan and his students as status symbols. Eventually, some birds reject the ceremony and rituals and just start flying. A bird, named Anthony Gull, questions the value of living since "life is pointless and since pointless is by definition meaningless then the only proper act is to [[suicide|dive into the ocean and drown]]. Better not to exist at all than to exist like a seaweed, without meaning or joy [...] He had to die sooner or later anyway, and he saw no reason to prolong the painful boredom of living." As Anthony makes a dive-bomb to the sea, at a speed and from an altitude which would kill him, a white blur flashes alongside him. Anthony catches up to the blur, which turns out to be a seagull, and asks what the bird was doing.

== Development ==
Bach, who was himself a pilot, said the concept for the book came to him as "a visionesque spooky thing". He stopped the project after he wrote 10 pages and didn't pick it up again for a few years.<ref name="Jordan">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/books/review/jonathan-livingston-seagull-richard-bach.html |title=What Were People Reading in the Summer of 1972? |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Tina |last=Jordan |date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-date=July 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717230647/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/books/review/jonathan-livingston-seagull-richard-bach.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He initially wrote it as a series of short stories that were published in the late 1960s in ''Private Pilot'' magazine,<ref>{{cite news|title=Seven Ways Not to Make a Best Seller |first=Raymond |last=Walters Jr. |date=July 23, 1972 |work=The New York Times | page= 4 (section BR)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/23/archives/seven-ways-not-to-make-a-best-seller-best-seller.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=It's a Bird! It's a Dream! It's Supergull!|date=Nov 13, 1972|url=https://time.com/archive/6844312/its-a-bird-its-a-dream-its-supergull/|quote=Then came acceptance in Private Pilot magazine.|access-date=July 15, 2025|archive-date=February 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209154629/https://time.com/archive/6844312/its-a-bird-its-a-dream-its-supergull/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as in ''[[Soaring (magazine)|Soaring]]'', the magazine of the [[Soaring Society of America]].

The main character is thought to be named after [[John H. Livingston]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livingstonaviation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=76|title=Our History|publisher=Livingston Aviation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103132023/http://www.livingstonaviation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78&Itemid=76|archive-date=January 3, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=January 20, 2016|quote=John Livingston was an inspiration for the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull – 'to Johnny Livingston who has known all along what this book is all about.' – Richard Bach 1970}}</ref> an American air race pilot and [[Waco Aircraft Company]] test pilot of the 1920s and 1930. However, in the book ''The Nature of Personal Reality'' by [[Jane Roberts]], Richard Bach states that in 1959 he was walking beside a canal and heard a voice say "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"<ref>{{cite book|first=Jane|last=Roberts|author-link=Jane Roberts|title= The Nature of Personal Reality: A Seth Book |publisher=Bantam Books |date=January 1, 1978|isbn=978-0553106961|page=55}}</ref> — putting into question the idea that the protagonist was named after a particular person.

The book was rejected by several publishers before coming to the attention of [[Eleanor Friede]] at [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]] in 1969. "I think it has a chance of growing into a long-lasting standard book for readers of all ages", she wrote in her acquisition memo.<ref name=NYT2008>{{cite web |last=Grimes |first=William |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/books/25friede.html |title=Eleanor Friede, 87, Is Dead; Edited 1970 Fable 'Seagull' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008-07-25 |access-date=2012-02-23 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613210833/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/books/25friede.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She convinced Macmillan to buy it and Bach received a $2,000 advance<ref name="Jordan" /><ref name=NYT2008 /> ({{inflation|US|2000|1969|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{inflation/fn|US}}

== Reception ==
The book was a sleeper hit; the first edition in 1970 was only 3,000 copies and it would take two years before reaching number one on the [[New York Times Bestseller List|''New York Times'' Bestseller List]].<ref name="Jordan" /> "Not a single magazine or newspaper — including ''[[The New York Times Book Review]]'' — so much as mentioned" the book when it first came out, ''The Times'' reported in 1972.<ref name="Jordan" /> Macmillan failed to secure any advance publicity for Bach, but he personally took out two very small ads in ''The New York Times Book Review'' and ''[[Publishers Weekly]]''.<ref name="Jordan" /> The first printing sold out by the end of 1970, and in 1971 an additional 140,000 copies were printed. Mostly a word of mouth phenomenon, it entered the ''NYT'' Bestseller List on April 20, 1972, where it remained for 37 weeks, and by July 1972 it had 440,000 copies in print.<ref name="Jordan" /> ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' published a condensed version. In 1972 and 1973, the book topped the [[Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States in the 1970s|''Publishers Weekly'' list of bestselling novels in the United States]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Book sellers didn't know how to classify it. "Some put it under nature, some under religion, some under photography, some under children’s books." Friede's advice was, "put it next to the cash register."<ref name="Jordan" />

Several early commentators, emphasizing the first part of the book, see it as part of the US [[self-help]] and [[Optimism|positive thinking]] culture, epitomized by [[Norman Vincent Peale]] and by the [[New Thought]] movement. Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote<ref>Ebert Roger, [https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jonathan-livingston-seagull-1973 ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109071106/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jonathan-livingston-seagull-1973 |date=November 9, 2020 }}, November 8, 1973, Chicago Suntimes. Retrieved November 9, 2020</ref> that the book was "so banal that it had to be sold to adults; kids would have seen through it."

The book is listed as one of fifty "timeless spiritual classics" in a book by [[Tom Butler-Bowdon]],<ref>Butler-Bowdon, T., 2003, ''50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom From 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose,'' Nicholas Brealey: London.</ref> who noted that "it is easy now, thirty-five years on, 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."

[[John Clute]], for ''[[The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]]'' (1997), wrote: "an animal fantasy about a philosophical gull who is profoundly affected by flying, but who demands too much of his community and is cast out by it. He becomes an extremely well-behaved accursed wanderer, then dies, and in posthumous ''fantasy'' sequences--though he is too wise really to question the fact of death, and too calmly confident to have doubts about his continuing upward mobility--he learns greater wisdom. Back on Earth, he continues to preach and heal and finally returns to heaven, where he belongs."<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia= [[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]] |last1=Clute |first1=John |author-link1=John Clute |last2=Nicholls |first2=Peter |author-link2=Peter Nicholls (writer) |year=1993 |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press|St Martin’s Griffin]] |location=New York |page= 79 |isbn=978-0-312-13486-0 |title= Bach, Richard (David)}}</ref>

It has however been very poorly received by the [[birding]] community, where it is regarded as sentimental [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] nonsense; [[Bill Oddie]] was particularly scathing, writing "I mean, no half-serious birdwatcher could enjoy (let alone write!) a book called, with such offensive imprecision, ''Jonathan Livingston-Seagull'' ... I mean, you write me ''Jonathan Livingston-Second Winter [[Lesser Black-backed Gull]]'' and I might get off on it".<ref>{{cite book | last=Oddie | first=Bill |author-link=Bill Oddie | title=Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book | publisher=Eyre Methuen | publication-place=London | date=1980 | isbn=978-0-413-47820-7 | pages=11–12}}</ref>

== Bibliography, editions and translations ==
''Jonathan Livingston Seagull'' has been translated into over thirty languages. Here is a partial list of editions and translations:<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tesi|first=Raffaello|title=Translations of Jonathan Livingston Seagull - LittleCamels.com|url=https://www.littlecamels.com/jonathan-livingston-seagull|access-date=2021-12-18|language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Title
!Year
!Publisher
!{{text|ISBN}}
!Language
|-
|'''Ջոնաթան Լիվինգսթոն ճայը'''<br><small>(J̌onatʼan Livingstʼon Tchayə)</small>
|2017
|'''Անտարես'''<br><small>(Antares)</small>
|{{ISBNT|978-9939-76-139-8}}
|[[Armenian language|Armenian]]
|-
|Xuan Salvador Gaviota
|1991
|Uviéu : Conseyería d’Educación
|
|[[Asturian language|Asturian]]
|-
|D’Möwe Jonathan
|2007
|Kreuzlingen
|{{ISBNT|978-3-7205-3028-6}}
|[[Bernese German]]<br><small>(''Berndeutsch'', ''Bärndütsch'')</small>
|-
|Джонатан Ливингстън Чайката<br><small>(Dzhonatan Livingstyn Chaĭkata)</small>
|2002
|Кибеа<br><small>(Kibea)</small>
|{{ISBNT|978-954-474-065-8}}
|[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]
|-
|Joan Salvador Gavina
|
|Biblioteca de Bolsil
|{{ISBNT|978-84-406-8825-5}}
|[[Catalan language|Catalan]]
|-
|'''海鷗 喬納森''' <small>(Hǎi'ōu [[Jonathan (name)#List of alternatives|Qiáo'nà'sēn]])</small><br><small>(“Seagull Jonathan”)</small>
|2004
|
|{{ISBNT|978-7-5442-2840-4}}
|[[Chinese language|Chinese]]
|-
|'''天地一沙鷗''' <small>(Tiān-dì yī shā'ōu)</small><br><small>(“Heaven-and-earth, one [[Laridae|shorebird]]”)</small>
|2020
|
|{{ISBNT|978-986-361-916-1}}
|Chinese
|-
|Galeb Jonathan Livingston
|1997
|V.B.Z.
|{{ISBNT|978-953-6216-64-2}}
|[[Croatian language|Croatian]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Racek
|1999
|Synergie
|{{ISBNT|978-80-86099-23-1}}
|[[Czech language|Czech]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Havmåge
|2006
|Lindhardt og Ringhof
|{{ISBNT|978-87-7560-587-3}}
|[[Danish language|Danish]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Zeemeeuw
|1991
|Strengholt
|{{ISBNT|978-90-6010-272-5}}
|[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Seagull
|1970
|Macmillan
|{{ISBNT|978-0-684-84684-2}}
|[[English language|English]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
|2003
|HarperCollins
|
|English
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Seagull:<br>The Complete Edition
|2014
|Scribner
|{{ISBNT|978-1-4767-9331-3}}
|English
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Merikajakas
|2003
|Pegasus
|{{ISBNT|978-9949-409-10-5}}
|[[Estonian language|Estonian]]
|-
|'''جوناتان، مرغ دريايي'''<br><small>(Jonatan, Morghe Daryayee)</small>
|
|
|{{ISBNT|978-964-175-033-8}}
|[[Farsi]]
|-
|Lokki Joonatan
|2010
|Gummerus
|{{ISBNT|978-951-20-7993-3}}
|[[Finnish language|Finnish]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston, Le Goéland
|1981
|Flamarrion
|{{ISBNT|978-2-08-010985-9}}
|[[French language|French]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston, Le Goéland
|2000
|Editions 84
|{{ISBNT|978-2-290-21562-3}}
|French
|-
|'''თოლია ჯონათან ლივინგსტონ'''<br><small>(Tolia Jonatan Livingston)</small>
|2009
|Nectar Publishing
|{{ISBNT|978-9941-0-0166-6}}
|[[Georgian language|Georgian]]
|-
|Die Möwe Jonathan
|2003
|Ullstein Tb
|{{ISBNT|978-3-548-25658-0}}
|[[German language|German]]
|-
|Ο γλάρος Ιωνάθαν Λίβινγκστον
|1992
|Ξένη πεζογραφί
|{{ISBNT|978-960-364-067-7}}
|[[Greek language|Greek]]
|-
|'''ג’ונתן ליווינגסטון השחף'''
|2017
|
|
|[[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]
|-
|A Sirály
|2005
|Édesvíz Kft. Nagykereskedés
|{{ISBNT|978-963-528-880-9}}
|[[Hungarian language|Hungarian]]
|-
|Jónatan Livingston Mávur
|1973
|Örn og Örlygur
|
|[[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]
|-
|Il Gabbiano Jonathan Livingston
|1995
|Rizzoli
|{{ISBNT|978-88-17-13162-9}}
|[[Italian language|Italian]]
|-
|'''かもめのジョナサン'''
|1977
|
|{{ISBNT|978-4-10-215901-9}}
|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]
|-
|'''갈매기의 꿈'''
|2003
|
|{{ISBNT|978-89-89929-40-6}}
|[[Korean language|Korean]]
|-
|Qaqlibaz
|1994
|Fırat Yayınları
|
|[[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]
|-
|Kaija vārdā Džonatans Livingstons
|2004
|Zvaigzne ABC
|{{ISBNT|978-9984-36-505-3}}
|[[Latvian language|Latvian]]
|-
|Džonatanas Livingstonas Žuvėdra
|2000
|Trigrama
|{{ISBNT|978-9986-9253-4-7}}
|[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]
|-
|Галебот Џонатан Ливингстон<br><small>(Galebot Dzhonatan Livingston)</small>
|2005
|Табернакул<br><small>(Tabernakul)</small>
|{{ISBNT|978-9989-171-17-8}}
|[[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]
|-
|Måken Jonathan
|1986
|Cappelen
|{{ISBNT|978-82-02-10651-5}}
|[[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]
|-
|Jonathan Livingston Meuchi
|1985
|Willemstad, Curaçao
|{{ISBNT|978-90-6010-591-7}}
|[[Papiamento]]
|-
|Mewa
|1995
|Rebis
|{{ISBNT|978-83-7510-380-9}}
|[[Polish language|Polish]]
|-
|Fernão Capelo Gaivota
|1997
|Europa-América
|{{ISBNT|978-972-1-03003-9}}
|[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|-
|Fernão Capelo Gaivota
|2015
|Record
|{{ISBNT|978-85-01-10612-4}}
|Portuguese
|-
|Pescărușul Jonathan Livingston
|2008
|Humanitas
|{{ISBNT|978-973-50-0364-7}}
|[[Romanian language|Romanian]]
|-
|Чайка по имени Джонатан Ливингстон<br><small>(Chaĭka po imeni Dzhonatan Livingston)</small>
|2003
|А́збука<br><small>(Ázbuka)</small>
|{{ISBNT|978-5-352-00509-5}}
|[[Russian language|Russian]]
|-
|Čajka Jonathan Livingston
|1999
|Gardenia
|{{ISBNT|978-80-85662-29-0}}
|[[Slovak language|Slovak]]
|-
|Jonatan Livingston Galeb
|2010
|Mladinska knjiga
|{{ISBNT|978-961-01-1407-9}}
|[[Slovene language|Slovenian]]
|-
|Juan Salvador Gaviota
|1970
|Pomaire
|{{ISBNT|978-84-286-0659-2}}
|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|-
|Juan Salvador Gaviota
|2005
|Ediciones B
|{{ISBNT|978-84-666-1249-4}}
|Spanish
|-
|Måsen: Berättelsen om<br>Jonathan Livingston Seagull
|2008
|Norstedts
|{{ISBNT|978-91-1-301725-9}}
|[[Swedish language|Swedish]]
|-
|Martı Jonathan Livingston
|1994
|Ocak
|{{ISBNT|978-975-331-008-6}}
|[[Turkish language|Turkish]]
|}

In 1980, a Spanish edition was published by Pomaire (Barcelona) featuring illustrations by photographer Jordi Olavarrieta, translated by Carol and Frederick Howell.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Juan Salvador Gaviota by Bach, Richard|language=en|isbn=978-8428-60-659-2|oclc=431981602 |last1=Bach |first1=Richard |date=1981 |publisher=Pomaire }}</ref> In 1981, a French edition was published by Flammarion (Paris) featuring illustrations by photographer Jordi Olavarrieta, translated by [[Pierre Clostermann]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bach|first=Richard|title=Jonathan Livingston le Goéland|date=1981|publisher=Flammarion|others=Jordi Olavarietta, Pierre, ... Clostermann|isbn=2-08-010985-5|location=Paris|language=French|oclc=419739538}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
=== Parodies ===
* A 1972 parody, ''Marvin Stanley Pigeon'', was published by [[Thomas Meehan (writer)|Thomas Meehan]] in ''[[The New Yorker]]:'' "Marvin Stanley Pigeon was no ordinary pigeon. While other pigeons spent their time grubbing for food, Marvin Stanley Pigeon worked away on his book on the window ledge outside the Manuscript Room of the [[New York Public Library|Public Library]] in [[Bryant Park]]. He wanted to get his novel done in time for [[Macmillan Publishers (United States)|Macmillan]]'s spring list."<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1972/11/18/1972_11_18_053_TNY_CARDS_000309083 |last= Meehan |first= Thomas |author-link= Thomas Meehan (writer) |date= November 18, 1972 |title= Marvin Stanley Pigeon |magazine= The New Yorker |page= 53 |location= New York City |publisher= Condé Nast |issn= 0028-792X |access-date= September 8, 2012 |archive-date= June 3, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130603141829/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1972/11/18/1972_11_18_053_TNY_CARDS_000309083 |url-status= live }}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Primary source|date=December 2024}}

=== Music ===
* The novel was one of the inspirations for the band name of [[A Flock of Seagulls]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Walter |last= Bird Jr. |title= Mike Score still flying with Flock of Seagulls |magazine= [[Worcester Magazine]] |date= 26 April 2017 |access-date= 30 December 2024 |url= https://worcestermag.com/2017/04/26/mike-score-still-flying-with-flock-of-seagulls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130174126/https://worcestermag.com/2017/04/26/mike-score-still-flying-with-flock-of-seagulls|archive-date=30 November 2020}}</ref>
* [[Sampha]] has a song called "Jonathan L. Seagull" on his 2023 album ''[[Lahai]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fewx |first=Jake |date=December 14, 2023 |title=Sampha's Heavenly Vocals Shimmer on the Blissful "Jonathan L. Seagull" Off Sophomore LP 'Lahai' |url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/sjls-sampha-jonathan-l-seagull-song-review/ |access-date=July 19, 2025 |website=Atwood Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=May 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516112058/https://atwoodmagazine.com/sjls-sampha-jonathan-l-seagull-song-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jardine |first=Ben |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Sampha ''Lahai'' |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/lahai_sampha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030160713/https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/lahai_sampha |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |access-date=July 19, 2025 |website=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Television ===
* At the end of [[El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)|''The Simpsons'', season 8 episode 9]], the Sea Captain exclaims “Jonathan Livingston Seagull!” upon realizing his ship full of hot pants is headed for the rocks when Homer and Marge restore the lighthouse light.

=== Film ===
* In the 1995 film ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'', Mike Brady is seen in bed reading a copy of ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull''.

== Adaptations ==
The novella inspired the production of a [[Jonathan Livingston Seagull (film)|film of the same title]] in 1973. The film was made by [[Hall Bartlett]] many years before [[computer-generated imagery|computer-generated effects]] were available. In order to make seagulls act on cue and perform aerobatics, [[Mark Smith (R/C modeling pioneer)|Mark Smith]] of [[Escondido, California|Escondido]], [[California]] built [[radio-controlled glider]]s that looked like real seagulls from a few feet away. This footage was not used in the final cut of the film.<ref>(18 November 1973). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_hgiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5326%2C885411 Seagull Shots Done With Plastic Gliders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706035816/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_hgiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5326,885411 |date=July 6, 2022 }}, ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' (UPI)</ref>

Bach had written the film's original screenplay, but he sued [[Paramount Pictures]] before the film's release because he felt that there were too many discrepancies between the film and his script. Director Bartlett had allegedly violated a term in his contract with Bach which stated that no changes could be made to the film's adaptation without Bach's approval.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19731011&id=zoBRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oTMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4871,2106784 |title='Seagull' Author Sues |publisher=The Evening News |date=October 11, 1973 |access-date=January 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615160027/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19731011&id=zoBRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oTMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4871,2106784 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ultimately, the court ruled that Bach's name would be taken off the screenplay credits, and that the film would be released with a card indicating that Bach disapproved of the final cut. Bach's attorney claimed, "It took tremendous courage to say this motion picture had to come out of theaters unless it was changed. Paramount was stunned."<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-13-me-lucas13-story.html Campbell M. Lucas, 80; Judge Became an Entertainment Law Mediator] (obituary), Elaine Woo, ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 13, 2005.</ref>

The [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]-winning [[Jonathan Livingston Seagull (album)|soundtrack album]] was composed and performed by [[Neil Diamond]] and produced by [[Tom Catalano]]. It won the [[16th Annual Grammy Awards|1974 Grammy Award]] as Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special. The album apparently also made more money than the film, selling two million copies in the United States,<ref>"American album certifications – Diamond, Neil – Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Soundtrack)." Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH</ref> 400,000 in France,<ref>"French album certifications – Neil Diamond – Jonathan Livingston Seagull (B.O.F.)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.</ref> 250,000 in Germany,<ref>"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Neil Diamond; ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull'')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.</ref> 200,000 in Canada <ref>"Canadian album certifications – Neil Diamond – Jonathan Livingston Seagull." Music Canada.</ref> and 100,000 in the United Kingdom.<ref>"British album certifications – Neil Diamond – ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull."'' British Phonographic Industry. Enter Jonathan Livingston Seagull in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go.</ref>

The Irish actor [[Richard Harris]] won a Grammy in 1973 for the [[Audiobook]] [[LP record|LP]] ''Jonathan Livingston Seagull.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0150571.html |title=Private Tutor |publisher=Factmonster.com |access-date=2011-07-26 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222047/http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0150571.html |url-status=live }}</ref> To date, Harris's reading has not been released on any other format. Versions read by the author, Richard Bach, have been released on LP, cassette, and CD.<ref>{{cite book|title=Richard Bach reads his Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Audiobook on LP, 1981) |oclc = 443077158}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Richard Bach reads his Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Audiobook on cassette, 1981) |oclc = 7887346}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition (Audiobook on CD, 2016) |oclc = 953793484}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Richard Bach|state=expanded}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album 1970s}}
{{Birds in culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1970 American novels]]
[[Category:American novellas]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Books about birds]]
[[Category:Books about spirituality]]
[[Category:Fables]]
[[Category:Fictional seabirds]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]]
[[Category:Macmillan Publishers books]]
[[Category:Self-help books]]
[[Category:Xenofiction novels]]
[[Category:Works by Richard Bach]]