Product Description

Who Moved My Cheese? is a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy.

Two are mice named Sniff and Scurry. And two are "little people" -- beings the size of mice who look and act a lot like people. Their names are Hem and Haw.

"Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life -- whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind.

And "The Maze" is where you look for what you want -- the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in.

In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change. Eventually, one of them deals with it successfully, and writes what he has learned from his experience on the maze walls.

When you come to see "The Handwriting on the Wall," you can discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life.

Written for all ages, the story takes less than an hour to listen to, but its unique insights can last for a lifetime.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-08
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 96 pages

Amazon.com
Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler

From Library Journal
This is a brief tale of two mice and two humans who live in a maze and one day are faced with change: someone moves their cheese. Reactions vary from quick adjustment to waiting for the situation to change by itself to suit their needs. This story is about adjusting attitudes toward change in life, especially at work. Change occurs whether a person is ready or not, but the author affirms that it can be positive. His principles are to anticipate change, let go of the old, and do what you would do if you were not afraid. Listeners are still left with questions about making his or her own specific personal changes. Capably narrated by Tony Roberts, this audiotape is recommended for larger public library collections.AMark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Over and over listeners are subjected to one self-help lecture after another. WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? is different! Listeners learn invaluable life lessons about "change" by way of a humorous parable narrated by Tony Roberts. His memorable interpretation of two mice and two tiny people caught in a maze (life's many paths) searching for cheese (a metaphor for your heart's desire) is gratifying and good fun. Hem and Haw, the tiny people, emulate us humans with all our faults, fears and frustrations. Roberts provides them with distinct personalities that mimic many stressed-out individuals we have grown to know. Overcoming stress and discovering successful living is the goal, and Roberts takes the listener on a curious and offbeat journey to discover the path. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Inspirational? Really?
30 minutes (the time it takes to read the book) of my life I'll never get back.

Who Moved My Cheese?
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is easily the least intellectually challenging book I have ever read. The plot line implemented in the story is brain numbingly simple and contrived. Rather than allowing the reader to understand and interpret the meaning of the story Johnson continually insults the intelligence of his reader by placing the message of every couple of pages in a block of cheese. The basic structure of the story resembles a bastardized version of Aesop's Fables. Not only are the structure and writing style of the book completely mindless the message of the story is also meaningless.
This story imparts less wisdom upon its reader that a Dr. Seuss book. It does nothing more than rehash and regurgitate common clichés regarding success through change. This story is so poorly written and argued that the only point of reflection possible following a close reading of the text is which character the reader is most like. The message of the book is stated and restated endless amounts of times through the painfully obvious style. Any wisdom imparted though this book can only be useful to a pouting 3-6 year old child, or an adult that is completely oblivious and disconnected from reality. The essential message is react to change, a principle the average human being conceptualizes before they can speak. The notion that any functioning adult can benefit from this unintelligible children's book systematically murders all hope I have invested in society. If corporate America's new trend is reading children's books they would be better served rereading and analyzing Dr. Seuss' The Sneetches and Other Stories.

The only book you need on the subject
Johnson's book was a life saver. It is informative, it responded to my doubts and fears, it answered my questions. It showed me a way to live with change. It taught me to think positively about something that was making me very negative.

I have given the book to several family members and friends who are lactose intolerant and even they have liked it. I highly recommend this book.