Richard Bach

Richard Bach (born June 23, 1936) is an American writer. He has authored numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970), Illusions (1977), One (1989), and Out of My Mind (1999). Most of his books have been semi-autobiographical, using actual or fictionalized events from his life to illustrate his philosophy.

Related Topics:
June 23 - 1936 - American - Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Illusions

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Bach was born in Oak Park, Illinois to Roland Robert and Ruth Helen (Shaw) Bach; he is a distant descendant of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He attended Long Beach State College (now California State University, Long Beach) in 1955.

Related Topics:
Oak Park, Illinois - Composer - Johann Sebastian Bach - Long Beach State College - California State University, Long Beach - 1955

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Bach was once an Air Force reserve pilot, and he later became a barnstormer. Nearly all of his books involve flight in some way, from the early stories which are straightforwardly about flying aircraft to his later works in which flight is a complex philosophical metaphor. Bach had a huge success with Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a fable about a seagull who flew for the sake of flying rather than merely to catch food. Though his later books have not matched its popularity, his work has retained a dedicated fan base.

Related Topics:
Air Force - Pilot - Barnstormer - Seagull

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Many of his later books contain New Age philosophy and wisdom.

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Bach appeared online in the early 1990s in a section of his own at Compuserve, and answered all e-mails personally until he received too many to deal with. He also had his own website, which has since disappeared.

Related Topics:
1990s - Compuserve

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Bach had six children with his first wife. His second wife was actress Leslie Parrish, whom he met during the shooting of the movie Jonathan Livingston Seagull in 1973 and married in 1981; The Bridge Across Forever is based on their courtship. They are now divorced.

Related Topics:
Leslie Parrish - 1973 - 1981

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