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O que aprendi com Bob

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James encontrou o gato Bob em 2007 e desde então são inseparáveis.
Neste livro o autor partilha histórias que viveu com o seu companheiro Bob e em que este lhe ensinou verdadeiras lições de vida sobre o valor da amizade, o poder da calma e a importância de saber apreciar as coisas simples das vida.

Na compra deste livro está a contribuir com 0.50€ para a Animais de Rua, associação que ajuda muitos milhares de animais, tratando-os e alimentando-os.
Ajude-nos a ajudar. A Animais de Rua agradece. O James Bowen e o Bob ficam muito felizes.

160 pages, Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2018

76 people are currently reading
628 people want to read

About the author

James Bowen

72 books1,071 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

James Bowen is an author and musician currently based in London. He is author of A Street Cat Named Bob, which tells his life story.

James Bowen was born in Surrey in 1979. Following his parents’ divorce, he moved to Australia with his mother and stepfather. Home life was tense and, because the family moved frequently, James was unsettled at school. He was frequently bullied, and began sniffing glue while still in education, becoming a self-confessed “tearaway kid” who would later be diagnosed with ADHD, schizophrenia and manic depression. In 1997 he returned to the UK and lived with his half-sister, but this arrangement did not last; in time, he became homeless and began sleeping on the streets. From this point, James spent almost 10 years either sleeping rough or staying briefly in charity-run shelters; it was during this time that he began to use heroin in an attempt to escape the realities of homelessness.

In Spring 2007, James was enrolled on a methadone programme, busking in Covent Garden, and living in sheltered accommodation in Tottenham. One evening he returned home to find a ginger cat in the hallway of his building; assuming it belonged to another resident, he simply returned to his flat. When the cat was still there the following day, and the day after that, James became concerned and discovered the cat was wearing no collar or ID tag, and had an infected wound on his leg. James checked with other residents to see if the stray belonged to any of them, and when none of them claimed ownership of the animal James decided to help the cat himself.

He took the cat to a nearby veterinary surgery run by an animal charity, which provided antibiotics to treat the infected wound. In order to make sure he received the full two-week course of medication, James decided to take him in for a time while he continued to look for the stray’s owner. When he couldn’t find any information, he released the cat back on to the street, hoping he’d find his own way home. Instead, he began to follow James around, even following him onto the bus when he left to go busking. Concerned that the cat had nowhere else to go, James took him in on a permanent basis, naming him Bob after a character from the television drama Twin Peaks.[3]

Since Bob seemed keen to accompany James to work, he constructed a harness from shoelaces and began to bring him along to his regular spots in Covent Garden and Piccadilly, travelling in the window seat of the number 73 bus. The public reaction was positive and the pair became popular, their visibility increasing still further when James began selling the Big Issue. Soon the public began uploading videos of James and Bob to YouTube, and tourists from across the world would visit Covent Garden to see them. During this time, James decided to withdraw the methadone treatment; he credits his success to Bob, saying “I believe it came down to this little man. He came and asked me for help, and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body. He is what I wake up for every day now... he’s definitely given me the right direction to live my life.”

In time, James and Bob’s public appearances attracted the attention of Mary Pachnos, the literary agent responsible for the UK rights to John Grogan’s Marley and Me, who secured the pair a book deal with the publishers Hodder & Stoughton after she heard their story. The book was co-written by Garry Jenkins, and since its publication has sold over 250,000 copies, been translated into 22 languages and spent over 45 weeks at the top of the Sunday Times’ bestseller list in both its hardback and paperback format.

As of November 2012, two further books were at the planning stage - a follow-up to A Street Cat Named Bob, and a version of the book for children.

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5 stars
449 (43%)
4 stars
317 (30%)
3 stars
208 (20%)
2 stars
54 (5%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for Bianca .
547 reviews
June 19, 2020
3,5 Sterne - Es ist zwar mehr ein Ratgeber und die Tipps, die hier gegeben werden, sind durchaus keine, die man so noch nie irgendwo anders gehört oder gelesen hat, aber ich mag James und Bobs Geschichte einfach sehr und war gestern sogar sehr traurig, als ich erfahren habe, dass Bob diese Woche im Alter von 14 Jahren gestorben ist. Wenn man seinen besten Freund verliert, ist das nie leicht - egal, ob Mensch oder Tier -, und wenn einem dieser Freund durch eine schwierige Zeit hinweg gerettet hat, ist das sicherlich noch schwerer.
-- Pray for Bob!
Profile Image for Ana.
625 reviews119 followers
November 20, 2018
Um livrinho simples com algumas historias inspiracionais mas que já me parece muito a "esticar a corda" e a roçar um pouco os livros de auto-ajuda. Gostei de algumas frases mas acrescenta pouco ao que já conhecemos desta dupla de amigos.
Profile Image for Ivy.
1,505 reviews75 followers
October 28, 2019
5 stars

I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I chose to review this book because I love cats.

This book shows the wisdom and insight that James Bowen, the author of A Street Cat named Bob, has learned from his cat, Bob, during his many years with him. Basically, live life to the fullest and don't let things drag you down. Take opportunities.

From the moment I opened this book, I was drawn right in. The way James Bowen writes leaves people with an inability to put the book down, The reader will be wishing that they had a cat like Bob. Bob's wisdom can be used for everyone. Very glad that James and Bob found each other.
Profile Image for Julie.
327 reviews9 followers
March 27, 2024
I saw this book at the used bookstore at my local library and knew I had to buy it since I am such a huge cat lover. 

Too-be honest, I usually don't waste my time and energy reading self-help books because I find most of them to be poorly written. But in this case, the author did a great job of taking the wonderful insights and gems of wisdom that he obtained from living with Bob and translating into great one to two page daily devotionals. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

"Friends are free to make fools of themselves"
"We all need something to believe in"
"Don't dwell on the small stuff"
"Don't let a bad yesterday spoil a good today"
"Say what you mean and mean what you say"
"Fall down seven times, get up eight"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sue .
2,011 reviews124 followers
August 5, 2020
First I need to tell you that Bob is a cat. James found the injured ginger tom cat near his flat in London. When James found Bob, he was making his money by playing music on the street and barely making ends meet. This is one in a series of books about Bob the cat and how he's helped James through his life. In this book, James shares little pearls of wisdom that he's learned from Bob - all things that we should know but it was an interesting way of presenting it.

This is a fun little book to read through filled with wisdom - nothing too deep but things we should already know about life. If you are a real cat person, there is a whole series of books about Bob.
Profile Image for Kelly.
372 reviews14 followers
December 2, 2019
What an adorable book. I love how James took the concepts of mindfulness and related them back to Bob in ways that people can relate to and understand. It is a great way to not only introduce mindfulness to people but to show how much we can learn from animals. I already reserved his first book from the library to read. I haven't heard of James and Bob's life before this little book. Anxious to read how they both came together.
Profile Image for Shannon Rochester.
726 reviews41 followers
December 27, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I read my first Bob book (the original) years ago and it really touched me at the time. I have always believed that people and animals come into your life for a reason. James earned his money as a busker and was a drug addict as well. It was during these hard times that Bob just appeared one night in his hallway. He was injured at the time and James couldn't find who Bob belonged to so he got Bob the help he needed and both mutually decided to keep each other after that. That was when life started to change as James now had someone else to care for and Bob had his own person...they became a duo...James wrote the first book and now there is even a movie about the two.

Essentially, this particular book is a very positive "self help" book according to Bob but written by James. It was very cute, very positive, and a very easy read. Don't get me wrong, the stories will warm your heart and possibly even change the way you think. Sometimes that's all it takes- reading the wisdom of someone else, even if it is a ginger cat. :) I would definitely recommend the book but I would also suggest you go back to the beginning and start from the very first one. You really need to meet James and Bob in a proper way.

Profile Image for Cozy Reviews.
2,050 reviews5 followers
October 24, 2019
I have read the entire series and adored every book.. This new release may be my favorite yet in the series. Having a great life long love for cats I appreciate how James wrote this lovingly of Bob and what he has brought to his life. He writes of kindness and how Bob taught him patience and to have faith. Its a wonderful gift to cat lovers and absolutely endearing and reflective of their special love between Bob and James. I loved this book and highly recommend it for all who adore cats. I will be giving this to friends for gifts and buying a hard copy for myself to read time and time again.

Thank you with gratitude to the publisher, to James for writing this wonderful book and to Net Galley for promoting it through Net Galley for review. My review opinion is my own
Profile Image for M.C. Ryder.
Author 7 books19 followers
July 11, 2023
Point on in how to live life to the fullest! It only took a street-wise cat to teach his down in luck human and helping to pull him out of his darkest hour back into the light. Cats, animals, know how to love unconditionally without expecting anything in return, except maybe food. A must read especially to those who are struggling to find a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Profile Image for Usagi Shin.
26 reviews5 followers
January 31, 2021
Great insight

This was a great adventure for me. I found myself comfortable with the wisdom that both James and Bob shared. It got me thinking about many things I have been doing that does not do me any good. But also it gave me hope. Thanks James and Bob!!
Profile Image for Izzles25.
170 reviews
April 7, 2019
Beautiful. Lovely little stories that warm your heart and lift your soul! Definitely a book to read again and again for its wisdom!
528 reviews10 followers
September 14, 2023
I didn't read this all the way through. I thought it was going to be anecdotes about Bob, but I still gave it five stars because the world needs more cats.
Profile Image for Pontus Jurén.
10 reviews
March 15, 2020
Boken var väldigt bra och jag tycker att man lärde sig en del av boken som man kan ta nytta av i sitt eget liv och kanske tänka lite extra på. Gillar även hur författaren går mellan egna känslor till kattens. Jag skulle väll säga att i stort var boken väldigt bra och lärorik men ibland lite svårförstådd med hur han menar i mellanåt. Det som är bra är att den är uppdelad i 6 delar som blir som kapitel men i varje del finns det också kortare kapitel med olika rubriker.
Profile Image for Carla .
994 reviews56 followers
July 24, 2023
Vendría a ser un pequeño libro sobre la sabiduría de Bob o lo que pudo aprender de él su dueño —el autor—.
Es breve, se lee rápido pero es repetitivo con las historias que ya conocemos en los dos anteriores libros.
Profile Image for Maria Lavrador.
506 reviews33 followers
December 29, 2018
Nada de especial, no fundo é só para fazer render o peixe, neste caso, o gato, no filão que foi o livro anterior da dupla homem-gato
Profile Image for Gillian.
77 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2018
A must for every Bob fan. This book's full of one page chapters on Bob. Such a well written book and much welcomed. A quick read written well by James Bowen.
Profile Image for Tita.
2,201 reviews232 followers
December 27, 2018
Este é o quarto livro sobre o Bob e o segundo que leio mas estou completamente rendida a este gato maravilhoso.
Eu adoro gatos, não é segredo e o Bob é tão fofo.
Bob surgiu na vida de James e mudou-lhe literalmente a vida e neste pequeno livrinho o James conta-nos pequenos episódios em como o Bob mudou a forma de ver a vida.

Podem ver também a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
Profile Image for Surya.
Author 0 books68 followers
Read
May 6, 2023
If you have an angry teenager who loves cats, this would be the perfect gift. Filled with bumper sticker quotes that appeals to netizens.

Had to push myself to finish this book. Happy for the author tho. From rags to riches. Not being a cat lover myself couldn't relate. I used to think all possible wisdom that could have ever be written is already written. But apparently there is no dearth of demand for diluted wisdom.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,951 reviews38 followers
November 23, 2019
This is a quick read that would make a great holiday gift for a cat lover or Bob fan. In The Little Book of Bob James Bowen recounts some of the life lessons he's learned from having Bob the cat in his life. The book's stories are organized into 6 sections - lessons in friendship, what we need to be happy, how to get the most out of life, how to survive all that life throws at us, how to be good to ourselves, and lessons in day-to-day life. Each section has a few stories about James and Bob that highlight that section's theme. A quick, uplifting read.

One quote I really liked:

"Boats don't sink because of the water around them. Boats sink because of the water that gets into them. Bob seems to have the gift of not allowing what happens around him to get inside him. He merely sails serenely on." (p. 103)
Profile Image for Jayne Hood.
161 reviews
October 2, 2024
It's a wonderful book full of wisdom and delightful stories of Bob and James .
Profile Image for mollyreads.
226 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2020
I’ve always felt inspired and moved by the story of Bob and how he came to James. This book was really emotional reading especially after Bob’s unfortunate death. (I got this before the death at a book signing). It was a very moving book about life lessons and what he’s learnt from Bob and I found his stories really interesting and what he’s seen.

If you haven’t read this book, it’s only 160 pages yet I leant more from this book than I do from most books series. It’s such a quick but meaningful book.
Profile Image for Julie.
528 reviews3 followers
November 28, 2018
What a genius idea of a book. It's great to to read this book and make you thankful with hat you have in life.
Profile Image for Raymond Just.
430 reviews2 followers
November 25, 2018
A slim and delightful little volume in which James imparts anecdotal pearls of wisdom he's gleaned from Bob over the years, accompanied by heartwarming illustrations. If you're a fan and admirer of James and his previous books, you'll enjoy this for the chance to once more hear his voice in the words.
Profile Image for Katherine.
191 reviews
December 31, 2018
I absolutely loved this little book. It is for cat lovers mainly -if you didn't love cats I don't think you would get as much out of it as I did. However, on saying that - it is also like a little book of mindfulness, full of hope and inspiration that is actually probably accessible and relevant to most people. Bob has touched so many lives and completely transformed James's life and this is a truly inspiring little book that contains snippets of wisdom that James has acquired in his ten years of living with bob.

At times, the book is genuinely moving and the philosophies explored - though simple - hugely inspiring and heart warming. An absolute must for a cat lover: but at the same time a very current and relevant book of mindfulness.
Profile Image for Therese.
2,244 reviews
December 4, 2024
$1.99

I had to pick this book up when it showed up in one of my feeds because I had read other books about Bob and his human, James. This doesn't really tell their story, but James tells the things he has learned from Bob and I was smiling pretty much throughout all of it in knowing. After all, I am owned by Molly and Elsa and have learned these lessons from other felines who have owned me at different times.
430 reviews8 followers
January 11, 2020
If you own a cat this is the book for you. The author shows the soul of the cat and finds his own along with him. Beautiful insight into the world especially if you are lucky enough to share it with a furry friend. It will make you laugh, smile and shed a tear. Loved it! Thank you to NetGalley for a copy
Profile Image for roxana.
86 reviews3 followers
September 7, 2020
Poate un motan sa-ti dea lectii de viata ? Si inca in ce fel.... Doar il urmaresti pe Bob si descoperi ca si viata ta de om poate deveni mai usoara daca iei lucrurile mai usor,daca pretuiesti ceea ce ai si lasi in urma ceea ce a fost ramanad doar cu lectia invatata. Aceasta este varianta pentru copii a cartii lui Bob dar abia astept sa o citesc si pe prima . Si sa vad si filmul...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews

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