Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson - Book Report/Review Example

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? Who Moved My Cheese? Is a story that involves four characters who live in amaze: two mice (Sniff and Scurry) and two little people, Hem and Haw. All is going according to plans because they have found they have found their favorite food, cheese, after a very long search. What they found was not just a mere cheese but a huge source of cheese. Haw and Hew have even relocated their residence to be near the source and it has becomes the center of their lives (Johnson Spencer, p26).

However, they fail to notice that the cheese is getting smaller, and are devastated when they arrive at the site one morning to find the whole that the cheese has all been depleted. This is where the story deviates into two parts. Scurry and Sniff accept the reality that all cheese has been depleted and go off into the maze in search of other available sources (Johnson Spencer, p78). The littlepeole, feel they are the victim of some kind of theft or fraud simply because they have built their lives around the big cheese.

This only worsens the situation as their overdependence on the invisible cheese ensures that they go hungry. Meanwhile their neighbors, Sniff and Scurry, move on and find new cheese. The story, who moved my cheese? Is a wonderful parable about change and it specifically outlines the difference between management and leadership. The ever constant star in the horizon of our lives is unavoidable. Each and very person has a unique way of dealing with a challenge when confronted with one. From the book, Dr.

Spencer Johnson realizes the importance for finding tools and language to deal with change. Change is an issue that makes every individual nervous and uncomfortable. In most circumstance, people are fearful of change because they believe they do not have any control over when and how it happens to them. However, since change happens either by the person or to the person, the author shows that the most important thing is the resultant attitude an individual will have towards that change. In this case Spencer utilizes the concept of attitude in passing the all important of change (Johnson Spencer, p90).

The book starts with a gathering of numerous former schoolmates for lunch. Their conversation continues and results to work and relationship. Those present in the conversation was trying to cope with unexpected changes that have affected their lives in the recent times. In this case the writer uses the story within a story concept to pass his message of change. The story utilizes other important literary and communication concepts in passing the information (Johnson Spencer, p18). Cheese is a metaphor for what a person wants in life-healthy life, good job, loving relationship, money, good housing, power and much more.

The maze is where one looks for the cheese-society, family, workplace, worship place and much more. The mice characterized with good instincts and simple brain and the littlepeople having the complex brains, filled with many beliefs and emotions are involved in daily operation of searching for cheese. Sniff and Scurry showed the same eagerness and dynamism everyday while Hem and Haw awoke each day a little later, dressed a little slower and grew ill-mannered to the consequences once they found the cheese.

The issue of transformation is also highlighted in the book. From the book it is clear that success in today’s changing times is defiantly assured through revolution of his/her’s outlook and attitude towards change. The beauty of reading this book is that it uses a simple language that makes the reader effortlessly flow with a lot of precision. Its simple nature makes one to understand the situation and the solution and thus helps in transforming his attitude towards change (Johnson Spencer, p56).

This parable can be applied to schools, business, church groups, military organizations or any other place where you find people who may resist or fear change. Even though more skeptical and analytical readers may find the tale too simplistic, its other beauty is the ability to sum up all natural history in just 94 pages. Often, people get too comfortable and they feel entitled to the kind of lifestyle they are living. Most individuals plan the future based on the current lifestyle and that is okay provided they know that change can come fast and hard.

It is important to look forward to and adapt to change. That is what makes the differences between being great and being average. Despite the changes that you might experience in your daily life, stay focused and go out to get the next “cheese” that is planned and waiting for you. Every moment that we adapt our lifestyle to change, the result is a stronger person with a lot of experience to help us paddle forward in a more successful version of ourselves (Johnson Spencer, p93). Work cited Johnson, Spencer.

 Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life. New York: Putnam's Sons, 2001. Print.