Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life - By Spencer Johnson, Kenneth H. Blanchard (Hardcover, released 01 September, 1998)
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Manufacturer: Putnam Pub Group (Paper)
ISBN: 0399144463
ASIN:
0399144463
SalesRank: 89
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
REVIEWS:
- By Spencer Johnson, Kenneth H. Blanchard
Rating: 4 I received _Who Moved My Cheese?_ as a Christmas 2000 gift. The book languished on my bookshelf for a good three weeks when I decided to give it a whirl. It was, after all, a Christmas gift and the guilt involved in ignoring a gift increases exponentially over time. _Cheese_ is split into three major sections. The "pre-story" which sets the stage for the actual story by first giving some background about how the story came to be. Second, the author creates a fictional gathering of friends... one of whom tells the actual Cheese story. The writing in these two sections almost forced me to stop reading altogether. The characters are terrifically simplistic and dull... the dialog follows suit. Remember junior high? Think about the stories you read then, dumb them down a bit, and you're ready to go! The actual _Cheese_ story kicks in and, well, it's actually worth it. The lessons hover around the basic idea that "Change creates opportunity" which is a good thing to remember when your life is good. It's even more important (and harder to remember) when life is hard. The story delivers the message in a palatable way using the metaphor of mice (and little people?) looking for cheese in a maze. The reason I'm not ripping on this portion of the book is that the simple messages continue to pop into my mind for the next few days and was actually useful in extricating me from sticky situations. The final part is how our fictional gathering of friends felt and dealt with the story. I have no idea what happens here as I'd had just about enough of Nathans, Angelas, and Carlos antics and set the book down for good. It is amusing to hear and read about people who have an intense negative knee-jerk reaction this story. They appear either to believe the book is an attempt at brainwashing or that it's message is just too obvious and; therefore, useless. _Cheese_ is neither. _Cheese_ creates a pleasant metaphor for delivering a simple message. Change always creates opportunity. Rating: 4 The many reviewers who are giving this book one star are probably individuals who are apparently upset with their employers - and not the author. So what if the book is simple, the author is only keeping within his publisher's suggestions and guidelines for short books. Big deal. The book is simple, short but has basic strengths we need to think about. Often as humans - we simply overlook them. There is a need to sometimes pull away from your present structure (company) or other areas in your life (parenting or personal) and begin your own cheese. Stop complaining and do something about it. You must admit, it took this book to get you motivated to blow off steam. Since Amazon.com doesn't allow us a space for recommended books or comparisons, we have to force our suggestions in "added" comments into our reviews. In fact, sometimes they get in and sometimes they don't. For example, I'd like to offer some worthy words from two other authors for all adults and hope they get in. ALL people - including MOMS AND DADS - should read "Ten Things I Wished I'd Known Before Going Out Into The Real World." This book is for personal, business and even parenting. "MOMMY-CEO," by Jodie Lynn is another title which is promoted as parenting and self-help but can be utilized as personal and business. We used it in staff meetings and it opened all of our eyes with simple rules. It is about changing your life plan to follow 5 Golden Rules to enhance a better family environment (same as Cheese can do). Just like Who Moved My Cheese, the book can be interchanged among various individuals - whether you are male or female - working or not. In other words, some parenting books can be utilized as business and personal reference books and vice versa. I use Ten Things I Wished I'd Known, Mommy-CEO, and now, Who Moved My cheese in the office and in my home with my spouse and kids. For the record, Mommy-CEO is not about breaking the glass ceiling. The comparison between the three books are real and here's hoping the review editors at Amazon.com realize this and offer my suggestions for all three books as being top producers for change in business, personal, and yes, parenting. Remember, all three books can be interchanged for all people married or single with kids or without. Face it, elaborate plans falter - simple cheese is better. Rating: 5 Some people just don't get "Who Moved My Cheese?" This is prefectly acceptable, because it will not work for everybody. Just like biblical parables, it is often interpreted in different ways. If you have not read it, I suggest that you give it a chance. I first encountered the book in graduate school and enjoyed it a great deal. Only recently, has my cheese been moved. Although prepared for my cheese to be moved, I find myself looking for my new cheese. The theme of the book deals with the adjustments or adaptations we must make in our lives periodically. All facets of life are really based in social darwinism, or survival of the fittest. While you may not like the book, you must agree that adaptation is the key to success and satisfaction in life.
Change Creates Opportunity (Not Cheese)
It's Simple And Powerful
A Modern Day Parable