Richard Bach. Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah and Johnathan Livingston Seagull are amazing and lovely books, full of memorable sentences and thoughtful philosophy. They just make you think, and basically give you permission to trust yourself to be your best.

BUT...

A Gift of Wings is the source material and experiences that led to the creation of those two books. Alone, it is an interesting read. But, reading it AFTER the other two, makes this book an amazing experience.

It is basically a collection of stories about his time being a Barnstormer.

In the 1920s-1960s, it was common for a group of pilots - mostly biplanes, but some other aircraft too - to fly in groups around the countryside, set up camp in an empty field, and give people flights for cash. It was a roving gypsy lifestyle, with the glamour and hard work/skills of flying.

As he tells the stories of his summers spent barnstorming across the US unfold, you can see where the ideas for Illusions and Johnathan came from... which makes those books even better.

And you wind up feeling very close to Richard Bach. Like he's a close friend you shared these experiences with.

It's a lovely journey.