The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Streetwise Cat

Inspiring. I am going to give it as a gift

very good book

I am so glad I got my paws on this book. Bob is absolutely stunning and I am grateful the author shared his insightful experiences with his beloved cat.

I must admit that I was super late coming into the land of James and Bob as far as the books go, but after seeing the movie, my husband and I were hooked. We, too, have a "Ginger" tabby cat but I don't think with his name being "Orange" that it is quite up there with James's "Bob"... He doesn't have a book series as he hasn't done a whole lot but attack my living room carpet (he isn't quite into saving lives as of yet). Here in these wondrous pages, the great saving grace of a story about the World's happily adopted by the written word, cat, - Bob - continues on with a look back at how James and Bob got to where they are now and that is to wellness; Hallelujah! It proceeds to tell us of how Bob continues to be a constant reminder to James to know just where his life has been and how far of a leap he has made to get out of it by caring for his kitty and with extraordinarily difficult work on his own part. Bob keeps James well-grounded, keeping his feet firmly planted in his life now while not looking back at dark times... Bob is his four-pawed orange sunshine with big smiling eyes. What a beauty of a kitty to behold and that scarf!After seeing the movie and immediately being so moved by it, I wrote about the pair here in the movie section but didn't order the book (but did the film) until a while later; darn - I regret that now, but am glad to be too late than never concerning the idiosyncrasies of a man and his love for his pet tabby cat. Books about the story along with movies of people and their amazing restorative pets are almost unbelievable to me in their honesty, showering of happiness for the readers of them, and the resurrection of a wonderful life for the pet owner, and, of course, the pet himself. In this case, Mr. James Bowen (keep those books coming as you two have a faithful following, James) knows just how fortunate he is to have the love of a great ginger tabby cat so they can look into this big old "World According to Bob". This is the sumptuous sequel to the inspirational story that has swept the world and swept away my own heart. What a great read... Again.

If James' and Bob's lives could be summed up in a patchwork quilt, with would be a wild tapestry of rainbows and storm clouds. That could be said of most of us, but then, most of us didn't have to worry about putting food on the table based upon 'the kindness of strangers' . While Bob brings more hope and enjoyment, making a living as a busker and/or magazine vendor comes with risks. Not the least of which was being approached by those who are trying to lure James into those dark paths. And when one of them ends up unconscious on the steps of his apartment, the experience cements James' determination to stay clean. Bob, as per usual, acts as both the one James takes care of and the one who watches over him as they 'weather' adversity and just plain strangeness of some people, as well as ...the weather itself. However, there is light on the sometimes gloomy London horizon. And that light comes from those who are interested in making the daily struggles of James and Bob into a human interest story. Not to mention the dozens of posts on Youtube. Little do Bob and James know, but their little story is about to free them from the street. Spoiler: They find out. Just before finishing this book, I sat down and watched the movie (A Street Cat Named Bob ) and appreciated my creature comforts so much more after. LIVING that life, I'm 100% certain, makes the best friends thankful for the good fortune that came from a single act of kindness shown to a homeless and lonely creature. I was going to say I love a happy 'ending' but they're still at it. Only now, the occasional bit of busking is for a specific cause (Blue Cross or RSPCA) . And the wider profile James and Bob have given to The Big Issue has helped more of the vendors, since more people know that they simply need a hand UP, not a hand out.

A few years ago in London, a lonely recovering drug addict street musician named James Bowen met a lonely injured ginger cat and they quickly became a twosome. James named his new roomie Bob. Bob soon joined James and his guitar on the streets and, over the next two or three years, this twosome became well known among Londoners. One day a fan who was in publishing suggested their story might make a good book. Turns out he was right. "A Street Cat Named Bob" came out in 2012 and skyrocketed to the top of bestseller lists in London and all over Europe. Soon after, the book came to America with similar results. Then came a children's version titled "No Ordinary Cat" (basically the same story minus the drug mentions) and and it, too, became a bestseller.Now it's two years later and a new pair of Bob & James books have hit our shores. "The World According to Bob" quickly summarizes "A Street Cat..." then moves on to what their lives have become over the past two years since the book made them world famous. A terrific read, but it has no photos. Which is why I also recommend the other new one, "My Name is Bob," a colorful, gorgeously illustrated book that imagines Bob's version of his story, before and after meeting James, then signs off with a two-page montage of full color photos of the two of them. (It is this reviewer's opinion that this colorful book which is being sold here on Amazon as a child's book, will have equal appeal for adult fans as well. It certainly did for me. But that's not the only "seeing is believing" option. You can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook or streetcatbob.blogspot.com and or/watch James & Bob videos...mostly taken from TV interviews... on YouTube.

When you've got a cat - or three cats - people seem to think it's perfect to buy you books ABOUT cats. It's like imagining that because you've got a car or an oven, you'll want to have books about driving or cooking. The world is full of cutesy books about our feline friends but the books about Street Cat Bob are surprisingly good. My mother bought the first for me for Christmas one year and I picked up this - the second - as an inexpensive Kindle deal. When my husband (who rarely reads) asked for me to recommend something for his holiday reading, I suggested Bob. He read the book, loved it, and told me so much about it that I hardly needed to read it myself.....but I did.The special thing about the Bob-books is that they are as much about James, his recovering heroin addict human side-kick as they are about Bob himself. And James writes about Bob as an equal - not a cutesy little anthropomorphised buddy. James challenges the reader to think differently about homelessness and life on the streets, life outside the 'system' and the dangers therein. People who probably wouldn't read about such issues will do so when they are wrapped around the story of a friendship between a man and his moggy. Many will find they are rather disappointed with the way James and Bob were treated by the Big Issue staff - a shame after all the positive publicity they got from his first book.It's not a particularly polished or elegant book but it's one that does - in its own small way - make a difference.

I didn't read the first book by James Bowen - 'A Street Cat named Bob' but I feel having read this I probably don't need to.This was a very easy book to read and in many ways quite heart warming as this cat no doubt saved this young man from self destruction.The cat and the young man were both in need of support and they gave it to each other.I am a cat lover but I don't think of them in the same way as I do my children. I love them but as animals and not like my offspring and I found it interesting that James put all his parental instincts into looking after Bob.He sounds a lovely cat and obviously quite a special cat and it is an uplifting book that has done a lot to raise the image of 'Big Issue' sellers and the plight of the homeless.People become homeless and live on the streets for so many varied reasons and often they have had good jobs and have just had a melt down. They are not all on drugs, they just cannot cope with life in general. One of the people on the streets in Derby was a dentist and it does make you wonder why he is now in that state.James it seems was a troubled teen from a broken home. Mother lived in Australia with him and struggled to cope. James went down the glue sniffing drop out route and came to London to study music and live with his father. For what ever reason that failed and he ended up on the street doing serious drugs.Bob it seems broke this cycle of self destruction and hence the very close relationship developed between Bob and James.I wish him well and I am happy the book sales have changed his life. he has had and has taken good advice about his earnings and it seems that things are looking up for him finally.A quick and interesting read and I will look at 'Big issue ' sellers in a new light. I have always talked to them and treated the as people not part of the floor or wall but it did make me think how lucky I am that my children and step children have all got jobs and are happy in their lives as so many fall by the way side.

I have enjoyed reading this book and the first book of James's and Bob's life together. I couldn't put it down as I found it very interesting. It made me sad at times and I cried and at some passages in the book I laughed out laud. Its incredible how James and Bob the ginger cat met and bonded so deeply that they saved each others lives. In the book James is talking about openly and honestly about his dark days of his past, about his drug addiction and struggle to get clean, about his relationship with his family and few friends, his days living on the streets etc. It opened my eyes what live is like for homeless people and how hard it is to live like this. But what I have most enjoyed reading about was when James was talking about his everyday live with him and Bob and what was like for them to work on the streets of London and how their life turned around in a positive way. I also saw him once near Neal Street in London walking with Bob on his shoulders. It was such an unusual sight which I will never forget!This is a real life story of hope, love and determination...James and Bob's story is fascinating and I truly believe that their destiny was to meet one another and inspire others to be kinder, more loving and understanding not only to homeless people but to animals and each other. God bless you James and Bob!

Reading this book gets you engulfed in james life ,feel his fear every time he goes out ,feel his love for his cat and his struggle to feed them both on a day to day basis even having to go out when sick in all weathers.Bob is a very special cat who could see the good in James and stuck by him even though the life style he lived would have made both man and beast run off for the hills, marvellous cat.pleased James didn't turn his back on the blue cross that did so much for him and bob what a great pair they are.

The second book about Bob the amazing cat/guardian angel - certainly the protagonist- and James, who continues telling his true story. This is a follow up from a Street Cat Named Bob but it also stands alone for anyone who has not read the first book. You certainly don't have to be mad about cats to pick up this book in the first place, but might become so and might also see homelessness and Big Issue sellers in a new light as you read this incredible story. As in the first book , James continues his tale of his once difficult life fighting drug addiction and surviving on the streets of London; the unexpected invitation to write a book and events leading to the publication and huge media interest make for another riveting and read. Again, some of the story makes for painful reading but there is also humour and yet more almost incredible details where Bob is revealed as a true guardian angel and friend to James. The interest in and popularity of Bob and James has been phenomenal and is worldwide; they have their own Facebook page with an unbelievable following of people wishing them both well and suggesting more publications such as calendars.There are numerous comments referring to the change in attitude towards the homeless as a result of reading about Bob and James. Really, everyone needs to read this book !Definitely a book to give as a gift ( together with the first book ) or buy for yourself and keep- some lovely pencil drawn illustrations too.