Rating: 
Summary: I'm one of the mice. . .
Review: I found the book to be an excellent primer for analyzing where you are in life. Nobody 'stole' my cheese, but it has been moved a few times. Yes, the book is simplistic, but so are most of the decisions we make in life. As I look back on the major crossroads, those forks in the road that changed my life, most were based on very simple decisions: Going to the library on a whim and meeting a future mate, for example. How many times in our lives have we asked, "if only I had . . . " This book points out the possibilities of making good decisions when someone, or fate, hands us a hot potato. Excellent book and a fun read.
Rating: 
Summary: Reviewing the Cheese
Review: My younger brother once told me that if you stand still, you are moving backward. I think for a moment and imagine myself just standing in place. My imagination then places other people around me moving ahead. I soon realize that I am behind them and they have all progressed forward. I guess they were all chasing the cheese in this maze of life and I was hemming around not able to move with the cheese.
I thought of this unique scenario as I read through Spencer Johnson's book, Who Moved My Cheese. Spencer Johnson has written a book about how to deal with change. Whether it is the arrival of a new baby, the lost of a job, the lost of a loved one or any change in life, he has shown though his characters that the only thing consistent about change is that it will happen, and frequently.
My office manager suggested that all staff and healthcare providers read this book. I knew then that this book must somehow promote increase productivity thereby increasing production dollars. To my delight I soon found that this book did promote productivity, but it was lessons in movement and change. This book tells you how to manage change, what happens if you don't change, and when to recognize and accept change.
Mr. Johnson has used cheese as a metaphor to represent everything you want to achieve in life, such as love, success and power.
He developed the major characters in his book in a unique
manner. He is able to put forth life's messages in characters that we typically do not relate to but we possess many of their qualities. You find yourself wanting to be the successful character but he allows you to embrace qualities of the striving characters. The book compels you to self assess as you read through it.
It is no surprise that many corporations have chosed this book as a management tool for their employees. This book forces the reader to look at himself and make assessments that will ultimately lead to self improvement.
Who Moved My Cheese is a well written life management tool. This book is recommended for all ages. It gives the reader valuable lessons througout its entirety.
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Summary: Not new info. but valuable anyway
Review: At first blush this book seems so simple as to be insulting. However, once you get past the initial feeling of it almost being a children's book, Who Moved My Cheese still manages to be somewhat enlightening and informative. True, the lessons it teaches are quite simple and for most of us are common knowledge. However, most of the truly important lessons in life turn out to be simple ones anyway. Unfortunately, just like Hem and Haw we often feel too important, educated, or advanced to sit down and think these things through on our own.Had it been recommended to me at the time, I could have really found the book to be quite helpful a few years ago. The hospital that employed me had just closed down and a few weeks later my girlfriend decided to leave me for her ex-fiancee. I was very stressed out by the former and emotionally shattered by the latter. At the time I felt that two things that were owed to me due to my hard work - my job and my relationship, had been unfairly torn away from me. Over time, I found another equally satisfying job, met and fell in love with another woman and got married. In so doing, I ultimately learned the same lessons the book attempts to teach. That sometimes the cheese you've grown so attached to and comfortable with has gone a bit moldy and needs replacing. That you cannot allow complacency to set in once you've accomplished something. Finally and most importantly, that life just isn't fair and in the end it's nobody's fault. All you can do is put your running shoes back on and get back into the maze again. That I came to these conclusions was of no great consequence. Almost everybody experiences hardships during the course of their lives that forces them to do the same. However, had the book been available to me I most likely would have come to these and other conclusions much more quickly and with a lot less trauma and drama. Therefore, the value of this book for me was not that it revealed some original and enlightening new concept to revolutionize my life. Rather I found it valuable because it helped me to remember and focus on things that I knew already. Sometimes we just need a gentle nudge to remind us of the things we've known all along that for some unexplained reason we don't always put into practice.
Rating:
Summary: My Cheese
Review: Who Moved My Cheese?
By Spencer Johnson. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1998. 94 pages. Approximately three years ago, after a 2-day management retreat, several of my colleagues came back raving about this book, Who Moved My Cheese? The most information I could retrieve from them about the book without getting into a lengthy discussion was that it was about a maze, rats and cheese. Me being the cynic that I am and further, not being able to grasp how rats and cheese could make my job any easier, decided it was just more corporate propaganda and not worthy of any further investigation. Later, after being forced to read the book (required reading) I was pleasantly surprised and soon discovered how rats and cheese could relate to my job. In order to show the dichotomy of how change should ideally be handled and how change is most often handled; Johnson weaves an interesting story about two mice, Sniff and Scurry and two little people, Hem and Haw who live in a maze where cheese is strategically located. The mice are simple, to find cheese one sniffs the air and points in the general direction of where cheese may be and the other scurries off in that direction to locate possible cheese. While the little people on the other hand, are human like and use more complex methods of finding cheese. Each pair has their successes and failures in their quest for cheese. Where the mice and little people differ is in the mindset upon finding cheese. The mice view the cheese as, "its cheese, it's good, let's eat it, and it's not going to be here forever". Whereas the little people view the cheese as "it's my cheese and it's not going anywhere". Given this scenario, you can imagine what happens when the cheese is moved. I found Johnson's symbolism of cheese and the overly simple way he has portrayed life as humorous and lighthearted. This book unlike some others used by managers has no real target audience or profession, no large amounts of time has to be side aside to read this little jewel, it can be completed in less than one hour. As a matter of fact, this is Johnson's genius to be able to craft a book, that can be read in minimal time, where both, young and old, professional and non-professional, can read the same book and the principles are applicable across the board. Not only are the principles applicable to any profession but to life in general. This book, though at the most elementary level, through the characters Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry, can be used as a framework to guide you through downsizing, reorganization, reinventing government, divorce, bankruptcy and many other life changing events. How you get though the event/maze will depend on the character you choose to play.
Rating: 
Summary: Deceptively Simple
Review: This book is quite deceptive. At first glance, this little fairy tale seems overly simplistic, something that children should read. I actually read it twice and enjoyed it more the second time around. "Who Moved My Cheese" is the story of two mice, Scurry and Sniff, and two 'little people', Hem and Haw, who spend their time searching for and acquiring "cheese". The characters in the tale go through a maze to find the best cheese. Scurry and Sniff, the two mice, are prepared at all times to find the best cheese. When the current supply of cheese dwindles, they lace up their running shoes and take off through the maze. On the other hand, the two little people, Hem and Haw, are in denial about the diminishing and stale cheese, preferring to stay in their comfort zone and avoid the maze. Going through the maze is scary but the reward of finding good cheese makes it worthwhile for Scurry, Sniff and eventually Haw. Hem is so afraid of going through the maze that he would rather starve than take the risk of getting lost in the maze. When I read this story, I immediately identified with Haw. I too prefer a comfort zone and am reluctant to change. However, once I accept change and move forward, it actually becomes a welcome challenge. When Haw finally accepts that he must venture into the maze to find new cheese, he writes his lessons learned on the walls of the maze. My favorite lesson learned was the question "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I can apply this in both my personal and professional life. I asked myself this question before considering a career change and found that I actually was looking forward to the change once I realized that I was simply afraid of a different situation, not afraid of the actual responsibilities of the job. In my personal life, this question helps me move forward with my favorite sport, horseback riding. Riding can be an intimidating and complex sport. A little healthy fear is prudent but too much hinders progress. It is difficult leaving the comfort zone of what you do best. Once you do, new skills are learned and the rewards are wonderful. This book is a quick read but the fable sticks with you. It is easy to identify with the characters. I know several people who fit the profile of the mice and little people in my professional and personal life. I would recommend this book. It seems simple at first, but the messages can definitely alter how you perceive change. With change comes freedom, if only we are not afraid.
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Summary: Moving the cheese hits home
Review: I must admit that the book Who Moved MY Cheese is an over simplified way of looking at change and change management. This was actually my second time reading the best selling management tool and I can honestly say that the first time I read this book I was not impressed. In fact, I was a little put off by the thought that I needed to compare myself to what seemed like such impish creatures.
However, the second reading was much different for me. I decided not to take the book so seriously and discovered that in some way, shape or form we can either relate on a personal level or know someone who fits the personality traits of one of the characters found in this book.
I thought about how the book and its concepts related to my life. I determined that like most, my career is my "Cheese", the hardest part was figuring out which character I most identified with. I have come to the conclusion that I am one part Sniff, one part Scurry and two parts Haw. When the scope of my profession began to change moving more toward automation, I was very aware that I needed to be proactive about the impending changes taking place(Sniff). I hurried into action by pursing a degree in Public Health as it had been a passion of mine for some time(Scurry). This was my "new" Cheese. Since it has taking me longer than desired to finish the program (get through the maze to the next cheese station)I have often wondered have I made the right choice to pursue this degree in hopes of changing my career(Haw). As I walk the maze in pursuit of my public health degree(Cheese), I hope that I continue to gain insight, direction and the ability to laugh at myself from time to time getting to the next abundant cheese station....... At least until they move the cheese again.
Good book, easy read, almost to simple to possibly be true.
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Summary: James Joyce's Official Seal of Approval
Review: "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson is probably the most well-known and widely read books related to professional and personal insight. This is the quintessential story about change in a person's life, whether it is at work, at home, or somewhere else. I personally believe that it is a book that everyone should read by age 17 and possibly read every 10 years afterwards until the end of his or her life. It is so easy to wrap yourself up in the environment in which you currently inhabit, and when that environment changes, people on a whole usually find it very difficult to accept, much less spring forward without fear to the next challenge. One of my personal favorite sayings from this book is "what would you do if you weren't afraid?" This is the question that all of us need to ask ourselves from time to time. We get so lost and turned around in our own fear that we do not realize that it is affecting our lives. This book is the one source of reason that can hopefully get you to step back and evaluate the situation from a different perspective, and perhaps understand that change should be viewed as a new opportunity presenting itself, not the collapse of everything that you have taken for granted and now cannot live without (like your current supply of cheese). This book would have been most helpful for me about four years ago when my job was threatened by an upcoming layoff. The time of the layoff was never announced; so many people were proactively finding new jobs outside the company and leaving before "the axe fell". These were the sniffs and scurrys of the group. There were the definite hems, which I can vividly remember complaining and voicing that it was not fair that "their cheese was about to be moved". In the end, almost all of them did in fact have their cheese moved, and they had to go back into the maze, whether they had their running shoes on or not. As for myself, I would like to think that I was more like haw, since I did not immediately sniff or scurry out a new job, but yet did not take myself too seriously and new that if I had to enter the maze once again, I was prepared. I called the six months of waiting for the layoffs "playing chicken with my career". Luckily, my cheese was naturally replenished, and therefore the maze continued to remain a mystery. However, who knows what opportunities present itself when you have the courage and strength to put on your running shoes and face the maze head-on. This book will put you into the correct frame of mind when any monumental change such as layoffs or reorganizations at work, marriage or even when a baby is on the way. Since it takes so little time to read, and can be read by anyone at any level of education, it is the perfect book that teaches a simple but crucial lesson in a manner that is easy to understand. The lessons related to change and especially fear are critical in the civilization in which we currently find ourselves in. Under this criteria, I would consider it the essential fable for our modern times.
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Summary: Review for class
Review: Review for class. edited version I have heard about this book for a number of years but never read it. Overall I thought it was a nice but sometimes tedious short story. Many themes were emphasized throughout - knowing that change is inevitable, the importance of overcoming fear of change, envisioning success, and enjoying the ride. Although we are all familiar with these concepts, we all need to be reminded of them. Although I have created change in my life, I, like almost everyone else, need to constantly challenge myself and be aware of change. I enjoy reading books like "Who Moved My Cheese?" often to remember the importance of these themes. I sometimes feel worried about having my "cheese" taken away. I have to constantly reread the writing on the wall. ae
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Summary: who moved the cheese - from the Cooker in Georgia
Review: This is an excellent book presented as a childlike story. The two mice,"Sniff and Scurry" are goal oriented and do not suffer remorse and blame when their "cheese"is moved. Conversely, the Littlepeople, Hem and Haw portray human characteristics such as complacency,denial,fear and depression. Significantly,the story clarifies the point that once the cheese disappears, things will never again be as they were. Haw realizes this and moves out into the maze(life)to find new cheese. His friend Hem remains where he was hoopong that the old cheese will be restored. His spirit is sad.
The book points out what most adults already know. It presents it in a fresh manner that allows one to view their personal situation in a new vantage point. It points out the vigilance of the mice and their mobility without emotional encumbrances.
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Summary: Who Outsourced My Cheese?
Review: "Who Moved My Cheese?" is based on a simple allegory about the necessary and fundamental tenets that individuals must follow when faced with a changing environment. The story revolves around four characters, each of whom represent a distinct response to this change, or "loss of cheese". Metaphorically, cheese represents a customized need to what each of us may want/seek in life (e.g., spiritual connection or committed relationship). And the location of where we and the characters of the story search for such cheese, takes place in the "maze" of life. The parable is told through the eyes of one character, Haw. Although Haw experiences the loss of cheese, he is able to adapt to this change and ultimately succeed in finding new cheese. It is along Haw's journey to success that the fundamental tenets are revealed as written thoughts on the maze wall. When applied to the real world, however, these tenets fail to recognize that not all change is created equal. Outsourcing of jobs, corporate downsizing and massive layoffs cannot always be anticipated despite how often we may smell the cheese. Therefore, the tenets like most theories, I have read, should be taken with a grain of "cheese" and a little common sense.
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