Features
- Cover Type: Hard Cover with 96 pages
- Published by: G. P. Putnam's Sons September 8, 1998
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0399144463
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0399144462
-
Book Dimensions:
8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
- Weighs: 7.2 ounces
Product Review
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 will not 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 human being 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 greater public library collections.AMark Guyer, Stark Cty. Dist. Lib., Canton, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
Reader ReviewsThe unbelievably large number of people who think this is a good book is very scary. I hope these people are not important decision makers. Everything bad that can be said about this book has been said before, so I'll just compile a "Best of" list for you. (By the way, in case you're wondering, "Dr." Johnson's degree is in education.) Regarding management and corporate American in general * This book is the cop-out for managers who believe in change for change's sake. * It's corporate brainwashing of the kind that science fiction writers have been warning us about for decades. * Never have I come closer to the mind crushing monotony and impersonality of corporate America than when I read this book. * No, change is not a good thing when it happens on a regular basis. That means upper management can't make up their minds. * If you are thinking about buying this book, I assume you are a manager of some type Regarding the intellectual level of the book: * I have never felt my intelligence more insulted than when reading this. * It's patronizing, shallow, insipid, and still manages to be patently insulting to those employees who might actually be capable of analytical thought. That's quite a feat. * Should appeal to intellectually challenged only. * It is a sadon our culture, society, and educational system that so many people have found this inane drivel to be "life-changing". * (...)BR
Search for books at
