Book summary

In this deceptively simple handbook, written in the form of a fable, Spencer Johnson presents strategies for coping with professional and personal change and, in the process, determining the path of true fulfillment. Two mice (Sniff and Scurry) and two little people (Hem and Haw), each with different personalities, navigate their maze, searching for the elusive, ever-changing cheese. Basic lessons become clear as we see the mice successfully reaching their goal, while the people sometimes complicate their lives by overthinking. Chapter titles such as "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" and "Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt to the Bigger Changes That Are to Come" add up to a coherent schema that can help us prepare for and accept change while reducing the stress associated with it. WHO MOVED MY CHEESE remained at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list for over a year, and has been used in staff development seminars at many corporations. Dr. Johnson is also the co-author of the famed business book THE ONE-MINUTE MANAGER.

Media reviews

"Johnson makes a strong case for his book by offering insightful, bite size advice, told by a character who deals with change successfully."

  "In a previous job, we were required to watch an insipid cartoon based on this book as part of an orientation. Its difficult to express how entirely demoralizing the implication is that you are merely a mouse trapped in a maze, for whom the sole goal in life is "cheese." Gives new meaning to the phrase "rat race." One person nearly lost their job on the spot for standing up in the Q&A session afterwards, and asking, "What if I don't like cheese? What if I like salad instead?""

  "I found the book too basic. Life is not that simple. Often times life provides you the opportunity to make your own cheese rather than searching for crumbs or the rare Cheese Station(Dream Job or that perfect business Deal).



I also didn't like the fact that the book hinted on dumping people who are set in their ways. There is a need for people who can change quickly but there is also a need for people who are set in stone. Some of the hardest working people tend to be people who put themselves into a set groove. The book, in my opinion, stereotyped inflexible people as ignorant, lazy, selfish people which is not always true. Sometimes work environments try to change constantly but shouldn't and people who like change can often make huge mistakes by changing when the situation did not call for it.



I believe that management should balance their workforce with the best of all types and not make quick judgments based on how flexible a person is. If some employee under your management is inflexible but a hard worker, smart, and reliable - give them some time to change. As long as they do not hinder your work flow, finding good employees are hard to come by - regardless of their ability to change quickly or not."

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