Rating: 
Summary: I think it just might help
Review: I work for a company that has undergone severe changes in the past few years. Including moving from manual data & inventory storage to updated, on-line computerized everything, along with the opening of 1 new location and merger with 2 other companies, which moved us from banch distribution to distribution centers. I've heard gossip and rumors of job losses and branch closings and watched talented co-workers move on to other companies and occupations. All generated by fear of the unknown, and what was percieved as unfair treatment. I'm recommending this book to the CEO of our company. They keep saying they're trying to find ways to get people to come "on board" with the upcoming changes. I think this book, with it's light hearted, childrens story parrable, just might help. It's not offensive, and no one tells you what you "have" to do. It presents itself simply and leaves you to figure out how it applies to your own life or work situation. It gets 4 stars because it's a little pricey for the length and size, after all it's a 20-30 minute read - max.
Rating: 
Summary: Who recommends this glop?
Review: Basically I take exception to most of the authors' beginning assumptions. Things like 'change always requires a reaction', 'only fear stops us from pursuing change', and 'change is always for the better.'First of all he has his mice & people living in a maze. He asserts that they should not fear the maze and in addition, he has added a benign greater being (i.e. God or a Scientist?) who always renews the supply of cheese and intends no harm to our inhabitants. As we are led through the maze, running, we see that there is no real harm to be experienced in the maze and the only goals and experiences are limited to self gratification and survival. Amazingly, there are no consequences for running blindly towards change (I would think one might experience feelings of loss, grief, betrayal, etc.). And we are further directed to continually reevaluate our cheese and if it is moldy cast it off and go in search of new cheese. Yes change is inevitable. Sometimes gradually and so discreetly as to not even be perceived and sometimes in a split second our lives can change so dramatically as to be virtually unrecognizable. But surely not all changes require us to 'run' or to even change in an equally reactive capacity. Common sense alone tells us that sometimes it is better to hunker down and NOT MOVE AT ALL. Some changes must simply be endured. Not everything that happens in our lives is 'fixable' or made better by running forward and embracing that change. In my version of the book, I need additional characters to Hem, Haw, Sniff & Scurry. We as humans are not relegated to one of these four responses to change. The characters I would add are Patience, Fortitude, Loyalty, Trust, Faith, Charity and Perseverance. Poor Hem, he could have used some Charity and Loyalty. I can't help but wonder if he will now stalk and kill Haw who betrayed and abandoned him in pursuit of new cheese. And is Haw so selfish that he experiences no remorse over abandoning Hem? Secondly, I don't live in a maze in a pristine world where cheese just appears and replenishes and where there are no dangers or consequences for my actions. I live in a real world that is sometimes joyous to belong to and at other times filled with very real dangers or threats. Here are these rather intellectually limited creatures living blissfully in a maze being supplied their cheese on an ongoing basis and all they have to do is run after it. Last time I looked, just running to a new locale didn't solve anything. If you want real change, then jump the wall of the maze, buy a cow and set up your own dairy. Then feed all the creatures, teach them self-sufficiency and branch out into farming and other pursuits. Take charge of the direction of your life, run blindly through no mans' maze. Some changes will call for a rallying of resources and action on my part. Some change that may affect me, may be only residual fallout from changes affecting another. Should I now go off half cocked and assume I must change also? Am I to live my life constantly reacting to others? Am I not permitted to just endure some changes? As for constantly reevaluating and sniffing my cheese: What is cheese but a dairy product that has gone moldy? Mold is inherent in the nature of cheese (and all things living). Some of the best cheeses in the world in the opinions of connoisseurs and myself (blue, Roquefort, Stilton) actually have large visible veins of mold running through them and reek to high heaven. Yet they are highly prized over newer younger cheeses like Camembert or Brie. They are considered 'ripe', a very desirable characteristic. I prefer the complexities of an older, moldy cheese. If we were to continually to question the merits of what we have versus the merits of what we might have, I think we should never experience a happy or content moment in life ever again. That to me would be tragic and intolerable and require a BIG change. Life is not guaranteed to be always happy and smooth, without pitfalls and pratfalls, anger and laughter, etc. But it is guaranteed to be all those things and to be changing continually. Some change we will embrace, some we will push away, some we may flat out deny and some are to be simply endured. The idea that, by changing ourselves and/or our behavior on a continuous basis to accommodate changes as they occur will somehow make these changes less traumatic or easier or more valid or okay, just strikes me as fallacious reasoning. Are we to be so fickle to our beliefs as to constantly be adrift on the current of change? Are we no longer to live life in the here and now savoring all the small good things that make life worthwhile? Are we now to live with all thoughts focused ahead anxiously seeking out, identifying and dealing only with anticipated changes? Life is not made up only of the pursuit of cheese. A long or short term absence of cheese is not what defines the meaning of life and it therefore does not require immediate action. There are other pursuits: physical, academic, artistic, spiritual and emotional that are also worthwhile and sustain us at times when the cheese is less than perfect.
Rating:
Summary: People & cheese
Review: I thought the book was a laugh. Lots of parallels could be seen with typical working people... especially (so called) high-power office-types who think the world revolves around them. Naturally, these types would see the book as overly simplistic to the point of seeming patronising: however, that attitude is tantamount to missing the obvious. The whole message of the book is about keeping an open mind; not so much with one's job (though, I suppose the book is aimed at those who have a regular job) but in life generally.
Rating: 
Summary: Change in the rapid environment
Review: Reading the book "Who moved my cheese?" make me reflect on my situation in the working place...it's good to know how i am so slow to response to the world...and it also make me to know "What matter most" in my life in react to the changing world....
Rating:
Summary: Nice Anecdote, but rather too simplified.
Review: The writers are using a nice analogy as of how to deal with changes in our life, the two mice representing a simple mind that can foresee (smell in this case) changes by instinct, while the two small men are representing the more complicated mind that must over analyse each problem. Though I still think this analogy is over simplified, real-life problems are much bigger than this.
Rating: 
Summary: Great idea in an interesting and memorable story
Review: There are countless books in public libaries which are attempted to teach you about change management, very thick books with over a thousand pages in very deep language that you will tell yourself it's too "serious" for you. I read some of them and learnt great theories and concepts, too. However, I forgot them real fast. The reason why "WMMC" is so outstanding is that it tells the whole thing, at least 98% essence about change management, in an interesting story that you wont forget and you can even tell others (self reinforcement). I am sorry for those critics who expect something more complicated than rocket science from a thin story book. Afterall, it's human nature that deters taking action, the major enenmy against change. Most of the time, a cute reminder (the 2 mice) is good enough. If you seldom find that simple is beautiful, or you think that those 1 or 2 star critics are experts in change management, dont buy the book. Otherwise, ....
Rating: 
Summary: Who Got Bored with Cheese?
Review: I read this book because my employer at the time recommended it. First of all, if the CEO of your company encourages everyone to read this book because of new management... BEWARE! It means "We're going to change things, and like it or not, some of you will be forced to look for new types of cheese at other cheese factories" or "We're cutting back on your cheese allowances, so deal with it and don't complain." I found the book to be trite and condescending. The reading level seemed to be geared toward a 3rd grader instead of a business professional who's been through college. If you have to read this book to learn to deal with change, then heaven help you. Anyone could've written this "parable," and probably have done a better job. Why this is a best seller is beyond me.
Rating:
Summary: Cheesy but delicious
Review: This book is not for everyone. It is a simple parable meant to speak to folks like myself who fear change and as a result tend to hope for the best and do nothing to "read the writing on the wall." If you enjoy the simple truths found in fables, you'd appreciate this. If you are looking for a how to book on change management, this ain't for you.
Rating:
Summary: Who Moved My Limberger Cheese?
Review: This book stinks! If you need this book to tell you how important change is you're doomed. Honestly, the only people that need to read this book are exactly the kind of people that will never read this book.
Rating:
Summary: You don't need a book to tell you this
Review: These concepts are not new. To anyone thinking of purchasing this book, set out a half-hour of an evening to think about change, instead of taking that time to read this book. Plus, you can probably infer what the author is going to write. Johnson shows the "revolutionary" new concept that you have to adapt to change...does anyone else find this funny (adapt and change mean the same thing)? Don't waste your money on a book that takes a large amount of time to tell you what your subconcious can do on its own.
| 
