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

I had briefly saw the cover of this book and went out to get it...Adding to my TBR library... I didn't know, however, that I would pick this book one night recently to start reading after I had finished a book I really didn't like--a rare occasion for me, as you've probably guessed. I needed an immediate joyful diversion and saw Bob smiling up at me... Yes! Just gazing at the cover made me smile and calm down... I had not yet called my babies in to escape the still cold nights where I live, so I opened the book, highlighting the several quotes about cats, agreeing with them, of course... and then starting to read... It was clear from the very beginning that Bob had chosen his person himself, whose name happens to be the author of this book, James Bowen. I can count on the fingers of one hand, the number of cats who actually have chosen me--maybe I'll write a couple of short stories about them. Most of my cats are perfect blends of the male and females who have been born here at my cabin--or dropped off...starting with the small brownish-black long-hair that had been at the cabin before I was even living here, but who had been fed by my brother-in-law. She had her first litter shortly after I had moved in with my three cats... In many ways, this book can also be considered an ongoing memoir by Bowen as he shares not only stories about his new soulmate, Bob, but his life as a street person, homeless, and trying to make a living at the beginning, obviously from begging, or stealing... He had become hooked on drugs early in life while living in Australia. This book begins while he is now living in London, has managed to have a small room, and is now totally clean from drugs... Still, with the stigma of his past as well as what the drugs had done to his body, he was forced to work on the streets to gain enough money to keep living--barely... At first, I was impressed when I learned about the various services that London provided for the homeless, including a way to make money on the streets, and access to health care, even for Bob, the cat... But, of course, just as in America, there are always "those" people who have to make it hard for anybody that is different in some way. From shouting that strumming on a guitar was too loud or making false complaints about one vendor, for one reason, or another, or to even lost status of contract if a boss wants to give a favor to a buddy...Somehow, somewhere, people have forgotten all about the needs of anybody else other than themselves... How very sad... But that rarely will happen when you have a cat... I would describe it as it happened, but you need to read it yourself as Bob prevented a robbery of the day's earnings after noticing a man watching, smelling his evil or hatred... or whatever an animal has to instinctively know that somebody was dangerous... Bob, normally riding on the shoulders of James, as they left for home, had actually turned around to sit backward on the backpack and attack the thief who was trying to grab today's sales! Or the time that James was very sick with coughing, fearing to go to the doctor, that it might be really bad...only to have Bob begin to gently approach James while he was laying down, and spread his body across James' chest... Yep! you guessed it, when he went for an x-ray, the chest was clear of any permanent issues and after a short medication addition, he was fine again... Bob and James went everywhere together. James provided security, while Bob added a new and fun dimension to both his life as well as to his work activities...Bob began to get a following, including the daughters of a member of the Beatles! (Just had to share my favorite Beatles Song... Something in the Way She Moves...and by the way, Tom Jones was once a heartthrob of mine, too, so I had to play one of his hits first, LOL) While this book was my first from James Bowen, I've noticed that he has written many others which I'll check out from time to time when I need another "fix" from this chaotic world in which we live. I do want to point out that, Bowen is a natural storyteller... He moves from event to event and chapter to chapter without any sense of confusion, forever singing the praise of Bob and all that the two of them have found--together! I can imagine he and I becoming friends and perhaps Bob might one day come to visit the Cabin Cats who live somewhere in Pennsylvania... there's about 12 kittens and cats at any given time enjoying the four seasons of Our Father's World...happy to have found someone to love and to be loved by... Isn't that what's life all about!? This book needs to be read by people for many reasons... Especially now when government is spending more time trying to crush our lives, our joy in living, we need a cat or two or three to realize that there's always somebody out there needing to love and be loved and cared for. James Bowen found Bob and hasn't stopped talking about him! I snapped a pic of this last sketch in the book. There are several others and are wonderful line drawings by Dan Williams... GABixlerReviews

I don't even know what to say. Talk about a fantastic book!😃😃 James Bowen is a wonderful author! I couldn't put it down. I've had 37 pets in my life and learned from all of them! I could have never put it into words like Mr. Bowen has! I just love the both of you, James and Bob. I can't wait to read the next one!!!

What a fun book. My 100-year-old mother-in-law and I both loved this story. I am a life-long cat-owner and I loved the way James highlighted the many human-like qualities in Bob. I'm also a recovering addict who related to James' struggles and memories shared about his recovery. I could easily relate to the many ways Bob had positively impacted James through the years. There are so many positive aspects of Bob and James' story that those who would find joy and hope from it must be limitless. And like James, I believe in kharma too...this beautiful gem will shine for the joy of others for a long while.

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.

Since James and Bob have now become good friends because that is what happens when you read both of his books. You feel like they should keep on going with their adventures together, wish they would write another one. Bob is an extraordinary cat of great magnificence. James reveals himself in his books and thats hard to allow. It really puts you in a somewhat vulnerable state for all to see. It takes some guts to put that down on paper. Now Just like James I worry about Bob hope he is feeling good and stays that way for a long time.....Having had six cats throughout my life I know that Bob is an exceptional little fur ball. And that it was no accident that the two of them hooked up together. enjoy this book if you want more of what you read from the first one. Other wise its not for you for the rest of us well we have just become Bob groupies and loving it.

Great book, glad I got it. Very enjoyable.

good service and this was the second one about bob and it was interesting

I am so amazed by this story of Bob and his human. It makes homelessness more understandable and shows how hard one must work to escape it. Bob was a great help to James in this journey.

O livro chegou rápido e em bom estado.

読みやすい現代英語で一気に読んでしまいました。勿論内容が面白いから！

This sequel is as heartwarming as the previous installment. You wish this book never ends so that you can keep on following the adventures of Bob and his human! Highly recommended!

Tout comme la 1ere partie de l'histoire de Bob et de James, c'est un récit magnifique, plein d'espoir pour les périodes les plus difficiles. Qui fait, comme le souligne l'auteur, prendre mieux conscience de la vie des personnes que l'on croise tous les jours da ns le métro (vendeurs de l' "Itinérant" à Paris). J'ai rit, pleuré à n'en plus finir, de bonheur, d'émotion, d'émerveillements. Merci Bob, merci James. J'ai parlé de ce livre à beaucoup, beaucoup de personnes! Je le recommande à tous, y compris ceux qui ne sont pas déjà amoureux des chats.

Loved this book, laughed, cried and tells us through the love of Bob not to give up-also demonstrated the kindness and love that can be shown by people but warns us of the destructive behavior people can display. We should endeavor to be a kind and loving person not the other sort. Look forward to reading the other books.