5 Jonathan Livingston Seagull
In 1959, writer Richard Bach, an avid aviator, heard what he called a “disembodied voice” whisper the title of this novella into his ear. He immediately wrote the first few chapters of the work before running out of inspiration. He shelved the half-finished manuscript and it wasn’t until eight years later, after he had a dream about the now-famous titular seagull, that he was able to complete what is one of the most profound and philosophically-moving novellas ever written. Bach’s fable was a surprise best-seller, eventually surpassing the hardcover sales record, set by Gone With The Wind. He is quoted as saying, “You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.
