Book Review:

Who Moved My Cheese

Parable teaches children,adults to accept change by JOE NATHAN

Recently a friend gave me one of the briefest, best books I’ve read in a

long time. “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson, is a

national bestseller. Parents can read it by themselves or with their

children in less than an hour. But the story’s ideas will last a long

time. “Who Moved My Cheese?” is a parable about the conflicting

emotions we feel when there are major changes in our lives. Do you

remember when a best friend moved away, a job you liked ended or your

company encountered major new competition? Many of us feel a combination

of sadness, depression or anger. These are not situations we seek or

that we would prefer. But change is inevitable. “Who Moved My Cheese?”

helps us consider the healthiest way to deal with what life hands us.

The book introduces us to four characters. Two are mice: Sniff and

Scurry. The other two are little people named “Hem and Haw.” For some

time these four went through a maze daily to reach their food — some

cheese. They learned that the cheese was in the same place every day.

They settled into a comfortable routine. They “felt happy and successful, and thought they were now

secure.”

One day someone moved the cheese.After briefly looking around the

accustomed place, which no longer had the cheese, Sniff and Scurry

moved on. After a while, they found new cheese. It wasn’t the same as

the old cheese, but it was also very good. Meanwhile, Hem and Haw kept

going back to the same place, hoping that the cheese would be there. It

wasn’t. They argued and blamed each other. “They ranted and rave at the

injustice of it all.” They had made plans based on the cheese being

there. But it was gone.Finally Haw laughed at himself: “We keep doing

the same things over and over and wonder why things don’t get better. If

this wasn’t so ridiculous, it would be even funnier.”

So Haw began looking for new cheese. He wrote discoveries on the wall,

like “When you move beyond your fear, you feel free,” and “Noticing

Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt to the Bigger Changes that are to

Come.” Haw called these notes, “The Handwriting on the Wall.”

Ultimately, Haw and Hem find cheese in new places and the two mice. They

also conclude that they must “be ready to change quickly, and enjoy

it.” This may sound dumb. By author Spencer Johnson has a gentle way of

writing that encourages us to think not only about the four characters,

but our own lives.

We all will encounter unexpected, unwanted change. The way we react is

critical. We can get angry, bitter and depressed. Or we can move on.

“Who Moved My Cheese?” can reduce stress and help us lead much more

satisfying lives.

Joe Nathan is director of the Center for School Change at the University

of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. You can reach him

in care of the Pioneer Press at 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, Minn. 55101, or

via e-mail at jnathan@hhh.umn.edu .

– Joe Nathan