Rating: 
Summary: It works up to a point....
Review: "Who Moved My Cheese" is an allegorical race to find the hidden treasure of "cheese" within a complex, and sometimes frightening maze. The characters within that race reflect the tendencies we all share as we deal with change and choice: the pragmatic few who accept what they see at face value and move on; the reluctant majority, who fear change but ultimately decide that they need to embrace it if they hope to survive; and the embattled, denying remainder, who refuse to believe that change has occurred and cling to the past with stubborn tenacity. The simplicity of the story allows the characters to display their roles in a way that is non-threatening to the reader, so that we can each see the reflections of those tendencies within our own characters. In that light, the story helps us better understand which roles we usually play, and how we might need to change to better face the shifting world around us.As a simple story about the inevitability of change, and the need to be flexible to meet that change, the story is effective. However, the simplicity of the story does limit its ability to address other aspects of "finding your cheese". Most important, I believe, is that the story does not really address the need to have a personal vision within one's career. I often find it interesting to look at resumes and read the "objective" the potential employee lists at the beginning. How often is that objective amazingly, and unerringly, geared towards the exact job to which that person is applying? I rarely see an objective that is career-encompassing, that will take several changes in jobs and locations to attain. The value of a strategic vision and plan for a company is essential for it to flourish, but it is not often that people recognize the same need for their own careers. The deliberate development of that plan, and assessment of that plan's continued viability and value, does a great deal to provide a framework that is less susceptible to the changing work environment. Although the book does discuss planning ahead, it is always in terms of knowing when you need to look for new cheese; in other words, how to react more quickly when things change around you. A personal strategic vision is more overarching than this. The other dimension of a career that is not addressed in this story is rarely addressed by most of us within our work environments: changing direction when there is no apparent need to do so. After Tiger Woods won his first Master's tournament, he completely broke down his swing and started over. Ultimately, he improved his swing and his game as a result of his daring, but the road to that improvement was very difficult. My organization is doing better financially than it has ever done, and yet we are spending this year in a reorganization of our administrative functions. Our goal is to ultimately be more effective, but we are all having difficulty understanding what our roles should be now, and how we should transition. Within the allegory, this would be leaving the cheese when there is still plenty and it still tastes wonderful, believing that there is something better out there. Although there are few of us who ever get to the point where we risk what is good for what we believe (but do not know) could be better, it is this type of person who has the potential for greatness within his or her field. Perhaps we do not need to emulate them to have satisfying lives, but it would be helpful to know that they are in the maze with us, and finding new paths we will never dare explore.
Rating: 
Summary: Nuances of Change
Review: The Webster's Dictionary defines change as: "Mutation, permutation, vicissitude: Change may imply any variation whatever, whether affecting a thing essentially or superficially." Change comes in many variations in intensity, and in my opinion, cannot be trivialized. There are valid reasons to be afraid of change. The ability to manage change properly does not come naturally to most people. This may explain the success of the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Dr. Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D. and the franchise built around it. He simplifies change as well as the adaptation process. It is much easier to resist change than to embrace it. Staying in the same situation (job, work habits, living location, relationship), is not necessarily bad, as long as you are getting what you seek out of life. As the book rightly points out, some of us are Hems, others Haws, others Sniffs and others Scurreys. The key thing is to recognize who we are. Some of us thrive in changing conditions more than others. Some of us even like to seek it, and enjoy the search thoroughly. Some people even introduce small changes and adjustments to their lives, to keep it interesting. Still, only drastic change can bring about big rewards. But it is the most difficult to implement, and this must be recognized. I have been through a fair amount of change in my life. I thrive in it and enjoy the newness and the adventure of learning how to manage a new situation. But it hasn't always been easy to let go of old cheese. I think the book may be slightly naive on this score. No matter how much you can imagine and look forward to new things, the old ones pull back, and even enrich you. In addition, some changes are more welcome than others, naturally. The book misses these nuances. Not all change is positive, although we may try our best to make it look that way. Moreover, a transition period is required to fully enter a new situation. Even if one is not afraid, one must at first be cautious. In fact, there are payoffs to thinking change through, like Haw. This has been my experience. Many factors are involved in life changes. These cannot be dismissed and simplified. Rather, they need to be absorbed and understood. Yes, change happens, but it's not always easy to anticipate it. One must smell the cheese, I agree. However, to expect a quick adaptation to change is to simplify life. Finally, by all means, change should be enjoyed once implemented. Amazing things can happen in life. But the challenge should not be underestimated.
Rating: 
Summary: Who moves your cheese?
Review: This is a changing world and we all have one of two choices; adapt to change and grow or be confused and fight change and be left behind.Be proactive. Get with the times. Get Who Moved My Cheese and thank me later.I also recommend Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy and Super Self by Charles Givens.
Rating:
Summary: Change is important to you and I
Review: I think the most interesting and the most powerful part of the story was when Haw ran past his fear and painted a picture in his mind of finding ¡¥New Cheese¡¦. Running through the maze became less fearful and more enjoyable. And he lastly got a better deal. I am impressed because there is many challenge projects in our university lives. My New Cheese is to get a better result and to paint my picture in my mind. And to do it so clearly and realistically that I and the other people I worked with could all enjoy changing and succeeding together. Also, I realize that change is going to happen whether I am afraid of it, or whether I like it, or not. Change could surprise us only if we did not expect it and were not looking for it. Some fear should be respected as it keeps us from changing when I needed to change. In my view of point, we cannot only stay in the current situation and never change. The reason is we will become weaker and led behind of others when move on. We will competitive advantage and get lost. I think it is a lot better to initiate change while I can than it is to try to react and adjust it.
Rating: 
Summary: Change in a Vacuum
Review: Who Moved My Cheese
A Critique "Who Moved My Cheese" is a brief, simple story that quantifies the tumult that comes with change. The story revolves around four characters, Sniff and Scurry (mice), and Hem and Haw (little people), who live in a maze and search for cheese. These four characters represent four perspectives on change.
• Sniff - sniffs out change early. This character is aware of what is going on. He assesses the situation, determines his alternatives, and adapts quickly to the change.
• Scurry - scurries into action at the first hint of change, whether beneficial or not, with no real plan.
• Hem - this character fears what change will bring, and thus denies and resists change, to his detriment.
• Haw - this character learns to adapt to change over time.
The maze represents the journey through life, and the cheese symbolizes what we want or desire (security, happiness, health, wealth, etc.). Change is the focus of the story, and how each of these characters reacts to change. The heart of the book is on the introspection of one character, Haw. This book allows the reader to experience the transformation that occurs in this character, as he realizes that he must adapt and change to survive. Haw finds he must initiate an adjustment in his attitude regarding change, in order to conquer his fear and find his "cheese". This story uses Haw's interaction with Hem (the character who lives in fear and resists change) to show the contrast in their attitudes and actions. The culmination of the story is the summary revelations of Haw in the "Handwriting on the Wall". The seven revelations of Haw are:
Change happens
Anticipate change
Monitor change
Adapt to change quickly
Change
Enjoy change
Be ready to quickly change again and again
Total refusal or complete acceptance of change seems to be the underlying theme of this book. The author talks about change as if it occurs in a vacuum. We know change doesn't occur in a vacuum. Change is a constant in life. The sooner one is able to recognize change and adapt, the more beneficial it is. This does not mean that the basis for change or the manner of change shouldn't be challenged. Organizational change has more challenges than individual change. The same principles apply, but the process is different. The organization I work for is currently planning a change based on a survey that was done by Press/Ganey, a national survey organization. There is a lot of change that needs to occur, as several areas surveyed were judged to be in the 0% percentile in national comparison.
Rating: 
Summary: A short-sighted aplogy of change
Review: This book worships change upon a single example of a situation obviously desperate where change is mandatory. The characters have nothing to loose changing and have no real choice to do but changing or dying. The book purely denies situations where one has something to loose, what is the most common situation. Change is presented as a caveat-less solution for a better life.
The references the book gives are 2 mice, one scurrying without thinking and another one spending her time monitoring change.
The main character is a coward who learns to fight his fears and pretends to discover great truths of life which happen to be trivial statements, or partial and short-sighted thoughts valid for his only situation. It finishes in a fairy tale's happy-end.
Moreover, this book is pretentious. Both the introduction and the conclusion pretend that it is a life-changing book, while the discussion after the story introduces how to use this book to brain-wash prudent conservative employees, or to make them into aliens. The discussion even contain a disguised blackmail when one of the members tell that in his company, the employees who refused to change were fired.
To summary, I think that this book is a pretentious and short-sighted apology of change for company managers who think of their employees as a herd likely to be brained washed by such a childish debriefing.
Rating:
Summary: Of Mice and Men
Review: This is the story of Sniff and Scurry, 2 mice, and Hem and Haw, 2 little people, who go through life in a maze searching for cheese. The cheese in this case represents something desired, such as happiness, food, wealth, etc. The maze represents the labyrinth of life; the path of twists, turns, and straight-aways that everyone embarks upon daily. Once found however, the cheese does not always stay put. Sometimes it gets moved rather quickly; sometimes it takes a good long while but eventually the cheese is gone. The 4 characters are true to their names once the cheese is moved. Sniff looks over all the options and decides which one is best (which leg of the maze to look for new cheese). Scurry immediately runs off, oblivious to where he is going and what he will find, but knows he must find new cheese. Haw is afraid and unsure about the future, wants to believe the cheese will come back without his having to go out and explore, but knows he needs to conquer his fear and look for new cheese. Hem is steadfast; sure the cheese will return without his doing anything. The book is a simplistic, cute parable outlining the notion that change is constant and that those who do not change are left behind. The concepts outlined in the story of Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw are ones that each person is familiar with on some individual level either through personal, professional, or social context. The message is clear: change is a continuous and constant occurrence. One should always be prepared to deal with it. The method of writing is such that it keeps the reader's attention throughout the story; the reader does not get bogged down in a myriad of big words and diffuse concepts. The author presents the story in a style that is straightforward and to the point as well as entertaining albeit a little juvenile. I did enjoy this book from perspective that the author meant for it to be (at least I hope he did) a gentle reminder to look at life simply, don't over analyze or make things so complex as to not be able to get through the day. Also to use common sense about things; be alert and aware; move beyond the fear; believe and you will achieve.
Rating:
Summary: This book will change your life!
Review: My wife died two years ago and I wanted to go with her for almost a year. I had no will to live and couldn't adjust to the change. My daughter gave me two books, and they changed my life. Who Moved My Cheese made me realize that there is more life for me to explore and that I can find some happiness again. The other book, Optimal Thinking-How To Be Your Best Self inspired me and showed me how to put my best self in charge and how to make the most of my life. I highly recommend these two books.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it used. Don't pay to much. Not worth it.
Review: Read this book as part a "company change program". The book is very basic and easy to read. The ideas of this book are simple and should be already common in living. Another Self-Help book that reminds you of things you already know. Might be a good refresher type book. Easily read in a couple of hours.
Rating:
Summary: Corporate Mind Control for Peons
Review: Another corporate, mind control book written in elementary school fashion. This is a type of book that you earn after completing leadership classes. Gee, thanks. I'll display it proudly and flanked between the Kama Sutra and Green Eggs and Ham. Beware of Spencer Johnson, and Kenneth H. Blanchard . They are the devil.
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