c
 

c

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Who Moved My Cheese)

a

  


×
 Spencer Johnson

 
 United States


 English

 Self-help / motivational

  Putnam Adult

 



 1998



 Print (Paperback)


 96 pp
 ^
  £-399-14446-3

   38752984


  155.2/4 21




  BF637.C4 J64 1998

a

  
 a
  
a


, published in 1998, is a motivational book by Spencer Johnson written in the style
of a parable or business fable. It describes change in one's work and life, and four typical
reactions to said change by two mice and two "littlepeople", during their hunt for cheese.
A Œ

 
 business bestseller since release, c
 

c remained
on the list for almost five years and spent over 200 weeks on c
 's
hardcover nonfiction list.[1]




[hide]

1 Synopsis

2 Criticism

3 Variations

4 References

5 External links

[edit]Synopsis

Allegorically, c
 

c features four characters: two mice, "Sniff" and

"Scurry," and two littlepeople, miniature humans in essence, "Hem" and "Haw." They live in
a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of
happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans, paired
off and traveled the lengthy corridors searching for cheese. One day both groups happen
upon a cheese-filled corridor at "Cheese Station C". Content with their find, the humans
establish routines around their daily intake of cheese, slowly becoming arrogant in the
process.
One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left, but they are not
surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared beforehand
for the arduous but inevitable task of finding more cheese. Leaving Cheese Station C
behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive
at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem
demands, "Who moved my cheese?" The humans have counted on the cheese supply to
be constant, and so are unprepared for this eventuality. After verifying that the cheese is
indeed gone they rant at the unfairness of the situation and both go home hungry. Returning
the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the
situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese. But Hem is dead set in his
victimized mindset and nixes the proposal.

Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back
at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw are affected by their lack of cheese and blame each
other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new
cheese. However, Hem is comforted by his old routine and also afraid of the unknown. So
again he knocks the idea. After many days in denial (including a search for cheese behind
the wall of Cheese Station C), the humans remain without cheese. One day, having
discovered his debilitating fears, Haw begins to laugh at the situation and stops taking
himself so seriously. Realizing he should simply move on, Haw enters the maze, but not
before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese
Station C for his friend to ponder.

Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall
and, after thinking about that, he begins his journey. Still plagued with worry (perhaps he
has waited too long to begin his search...), Haw finds some scattered cheese that nourishes
him and he is able to continue his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the
cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the
older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a letdown, an empty cheese
station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's
new mindset allows him to again enjoy life. He has even begun to smile again! He is
realizing that "When you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese
station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed
to find.

Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese, to his friend's dismay. With knowledge
acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Going still deeper into the maze,
impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall
("The Handwriting On the Wall"). These clarify his own thinking and give him hope that his
friend will find aid in them during his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day
comes across Cheese Station N, abundant with cheese, including some varieties that are
strange to him, and he realizes he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw
reflects on his experience. He ponders a return to see his old friend. But Haw decides to let
Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:

?


c

 
c
c
×


?



 
c
c

 
Ê 

?


c
c


 


c




×
  ?
 

c
!" 
 
#



c$
c
 
 

%& 
Œ

c
?

 
c
c
c
x ?

 
c
'
'
%& 
c


Œ

c(
u
 ?
 
×x  ×


c

 
c
c)

Cautious from past

experience, Haw now
inspects Cheese Station
N daily and explores
different parts of the
maze regularly to prevent
any complacency from
setting in. After hearing
movement in the maze
one day, Haw realizes
someone is approaching
the station. Unsure, Haw
hopes that it is his friend
Hem who has found the
way.

[edit]Criticism

Some managers are

known to mass-distribute
copies of the book to
employees, some of
whom see this as an
insult, or an attempt to
characterize dissent as
not "moving with the
cheese". In the corporate
environment,
management has been
known to distribute this
book to employees during
times of "structural re-
organization," or during
cost-cutting measures, in
an attempt to portray
unfavorable or unfair
changes in an optimistic
or opportunistic way. This
misuse of the book's
message is seen by
some as an attempt by
organizational
management to make
employees quickly and
unconditionally assimilate
management ideals, even
if they may prove
detrimental to them
professionally. D car
toonist Scott
Adamsclaims that
patronizing parables are
one of the top 10
complaints he receives in
his email.[2]

[edit]Variations

With over five million

copies in print, c

 

c has
spawned many
variations, two of them by
Spencer Johnson, c

 

c
 

 and c
 


c
 
*
'

'+


c


(. 1.6 million
copies (just over one
copy per 1,000 people)
have been sold in China.
Inspired by the "cheese"
concept, variations and
critical answers to
Johnson's books
include[3]:

V '$
'

c
V 

 
 

c
V c
 
%

c ,,c




-
V
D .
- c


 
 
c
V  
c
c


 (
V 
'"

/0
 
c
c
V Œ
 
c(
V Œ


 


c(
c
Œ


' 

c$

c
Œ


%c


' 
V '
"

c*


 

 




c
 
V c
D

 


c
V c 
c

c 

  by
Chen Tong (English
translation: Augustine
Quek), 2003, ISBN
981-244-505-6
Additionally, parodies hav
e been based on the
"cheese" concept:

V c

c

c
,
'
',
+
 
 

c
1
2






2


 3,
V c

c

c *
'


 %




c


c
c
-,
V 
c ((*
'

'+



 
 
 

 
c
 

" 
c

c

 
 



 
#
V c
 


  *
c
%.






 
V 2
#%


2%%% ( ( ( ( ( (
: A RED blog about a
cheesy mystery story.
This blog is not about
the 'cheese' concept,
but actually about
cheese.
V When author Michael
LaRocca moved from
the USA to China, he
wrote a book about
adapting to change
entitled 2
4%D


 % It was a
2005 EPPIE finalist.
Books Unbound,
2004, ISBN 1-59201-
031-8
V Π 
 
 

c(
2



  
c
%5



 

 by Ross Shafer
V
 
 

c, by Darrel
Bristow-Bovey