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1-Page Summary of Illusions
Overall Summary
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah is a novel by Richard Bach. His first book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, was popular and he wrote Illusions to share his wisdom and truth through the story of one man’s journey. It is described as a story with an allegorical message that teaches us how to see reality for what it really is.
The book is about a master who was born in Indiana. He remembers his past lives and decides to teach what he has learned to the world. While working as a mechanic, he preaches that people can be free, but they don’t believe him. The master later tells them to let go of their fears and worries because it’s all an illusion anyway, but they still don’t listen. Finally, tired of trying to convince them otherwise, the master prays for guidance from God and hears a voice telling him not to worry about other people’s problems—to just focus on himself first and foremost.
Bach then narrates the story of a man who was flying over Illinois and spotted another plane. He decided to land and meet his fellow pilot, Don Shimoda. The two men bonded over their knowledge of planes and tractors, but Richard was surprised that Don’s plane was so clean despite him claiming he had only been flying for a few weeks. Don said there were some things Richard didn’t know, but Richard shared his theory that humans could fly if they just figured it out.
A man and his granddaughter are at the airport. The girl is terrified of flying in a plane, but her grandfather convinces her to fly with him anyway. She says that she wants to be a pilot when she grows up because she’s no longer afraid of heights.
Richard has a dream about a man who disappears into the ocean and reappears as a pilot. When he awakens, Don tells him that he is the one called the Mechanic Messiah, who famously once disappeared in front of a huge crowd. The next day, the two chat about what Don’s job as a Messiah means as Don uses his power to float tools in Richard’s direction. Richard believes a Messiah shouldn’t be able to quit and live like a normal man, but Don maintains that he is free to do whatever he wants with his life. He explains that people saw miracles only for their entertainment value rather than their spiritual meaning.
Richard is amazed when Don shows him the Messiah’s Handbook, which has no pages. Don explains that this book can open to any page. Richard thinks this is magic, but Don says it’s a trick one can do with any book. Later, Richard asks how he made a difficult landing in a field and Don gets angry and tells him that knowing the world as they see it is an illusion will help them perform miracles.
Don has the power to cure people, and Richard panics when he sees a mob on the field. He takes off without Don, leaving him behind. The next morning, Richard discovers his wrench floating in the air and knows that Don is nearby. Don claims that Richard made it float while sleeping and says they were friends in a past life.
One day, Don asks Richard why they’re in the office. Richard responds by taking him to watch a movie. The movie is about two outlaws who are on the run from the law and have a lot of adventures together. It’s like life—a show that doesn’t really matter but teaches us things and gives us something to do while we’re alive. Everyone decides what kind of show they want to see, just as everyone chooses how they want their lives to be.
Don eventually teaches Richard that everyone is free to do whatever they want, and you can only be responsible for your own happiness.
Richard continues to learn from Don, and he becomes a Master himself. Don goes on TV to talk about his career as a pilot, and one of the callers criticizes him for not working hard enough. Many other people call in and criticize Don for his beliefs.
