Nala's World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe

Written by Dean Nicholson and Garry Jenkins

Narrated by Angus King

Discover the heartwarming true story of a life-changing friendship between a man and his rescue cat, Nala, as they adventure together on a bike journey around the world -- from the Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world.

When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn't bargained on the lessons he'd learn from his unlikely companion.

Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn't leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health.

Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond -- both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers -- and still counting!

Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala's inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Sep 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781549104466

Dean Nicholson

Dean Nicholson set off from his hometown of Dunbar, Scotland, in September 2018 to cycle around the globe. While cycling through the mountains south of Bosnia, he came across a scrawny grey-and-white kitten that had been scampering along the road, trying to keep up with his bike. This was the start of an unusual friendship, as the newly named Nala joined Dean on his travels. Dean's video of his first meeting with Nala was featured on the Dodo and international news media and has now been viewed over twenty million times. They continue to document their adventures together on Instagram as @1bike1world for their hundreds of thousands of followers all around the world.

Reviews for Nala's World

[narilka · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As the title infers, Nala's World is the story of how Dean Nicholson rescued an abandoned kitten while cycling through the mountains in Bosnia. Dean names the cat Nala and she joins him on his journey to cycle around the world. Nala and Dean's story is absolutely heartwarming. The book focuses on the relationship between man and cat and many of the adventures they have in their first year and a half together.

It's absolutely amazing how much they experienced, the kindness of strangers and how they have been able to raise both awareness and funds for animal rescues across the globe with their story. I love how at the end Dean shares just how much Nala has impacted his life for the better asking the classic "who saved who" question. This part of Dean and Nala's story ends in spring of 2020 just as the world was locking down for Covid-19. I have started following their YouTube channel and am enjoying videos of their continuing adventures. I hope there's a follow up book at some point.

[Evatxu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a follower of Dean and Nala on their account 1bike1world on Instagram and I couldn't resist reading the book in which they recount their first meeting and the adventures they have lived together traveling on their bicycle.
Dean met Nala by chance when she was just a baby, and Dean didn't hesitate to help her. From that moment on, they became inseparable and have lived, and continue to live, a ton of adventures together.
A very beautiful and inspiring book that makes me admire Dean and Nala even more and everything they do to help animals and for a slightly better world.
I recommend reading their book; I'm sure you'll like it ? (Translated from Spanish)

[infjsarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I follow Dean and Nala on YouTube. They never fail to cheer me up. So it was interesting to read how it all began. May they continue for many years :)

[edwardsgt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An uplifting story of a young Scotsman who finds himself whilst travelling across Europe on a bike, after he adopts a stray cat, Nala, whilst travelling through Bosnia. The two become inseparable, interdependent and an Instagram hit internationally as Dean documents their travels.

[adonisguilfoyle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So I am one of the five gazillion people who started following Dean Nicholson and his cat Nala on Instagram when The Dodo made a video about how they met. I thought I should buy the book of the social media account - and the calendar! - out of a weird kind of loyalty. The pair are impossibly cute, biking around Europe - Dean rescued Nala when she was a stray kitten in Bosnia - and saving the lives of other animals along the way. He is a big, bearded Scot, she is an affectionate tabby cat with big green eyes who likes to ride on his shoulders and sleep on his chest. What's not to love?