Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: July 27, 2023 by Crystal Uys
I love stories about cats who changed their humans’ lives, and few cats have made as significant a difference in someone’s life as Bob, the orange street cat who James Bowen found outside his apartment building when he was a recovering drug addict who was trying to get his life together after being homeless. Since the publication of Bowen’s first book, A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life in 2012, the book has become a bestseller in more than 25 countries around the world. The sequel, The World According to Bob, also became an instant bestseller.
Now, in his latest book, A Gift from Bob: How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas, James Bowen shares the story of how Bob helped him rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Bowen takes us back to 2010, when he and Bob were still barely scraping by while trying to make a living busking and selling Big Issue, a newspaper published on behalf of and sold by homeless people to help them get a step up in life. It’s a particularly cold and snowy winter in London, and Bowen is barely making enough money to keep the heat on in his apartment.
Like all of Bowen’s book, this uplifting and heartwarming story will touch your heart. I found it particularly remarkable reading this with the perspective of knowing how much James’ and Bob’s lives have changed since the publication of the first book. It’s easy to lose sight of just how much the pair struggled after watching them in the media for the past two years, from book signings that draw thousands of fans to television appearances around the world.
While reading this inspiring book, written in Bowen’s captivating, sincere, and sometimes brutally honest voice, I fell in love all over again with this remarkable duo. There are hundreds of stories out there about how someone discovered the true meaning of Christmas. I dare you to find one that will touch your heart more than this story of how Bob saved Christmas for James.
Click here to read our recent exclusive interview with James Bowen!
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
