IllusionsIllusions
Score Classic
What it's about
Richard Bach, a barnstorming pilot giving rides in his old biplane over the Midwest, meets Donald Shimoda, another pilot who turns out to be a former messiah who quit the job because people wanted miracles, not truth. As they fly together, Shimoda teaches Richard that the world is an illusion, and that we can choose our own reality.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Award finalist and a huge bestseller. It's a short, playful spiritual fable from the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
You'll love it if you liked
Siddhartha
The Razor's Edge
The Five People You Meet in HeavenGood to know
It's very short. It's spiritual but not tied to any religion.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics28 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller57 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Adventurous
More by Richard Bach
If you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood
The Killer Angels
The HobbitExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Illusions worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Award finalist and a huge bestseller. It ranks #625 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Illusions about?
Richard Bach, a barnstorming pilot giving rides in his old biplane over the Midwest, meets Donald Shimoda, another pilot who turns out to be a former messiah who quit the job because people wanted miracles, not truth. As they fly together, Shimoda teaches Richard that the world is an illusion, and that we can choose our own reality.
How long does it take to read Illusions?
About 5 hours (196 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Illusions?
If you liked it, try Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham or The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.