Book Review
Which Cheese? Which Mouse? Which Person?
An Overview of the Concept of Change in the Renowned Books “Who Moved My Cheese?” and “The One Minute Manager”
Author: Dr. Morteza Majdafar
Dr. Spencer Johnson۲ is recognized as a thought leader, an author of diverse and reputable management books, and an exceptional speaker. Some even refer to him as the “Preacher of Modernity.” His books have been featured in various mass media outlets, including CNN, Today Show, Larry King Live, Time magazine, Business Week, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Associated Press, and others.
Many of his books have also been translated into various languages. He often provides simple solutions to complex issues, which prove effective in practice. You may have come across the Persian translations of Dr. Johnson’s books “The One Minute Manager” and “Who Moved My Cheese?”. These two books are among his bestsellers, each translated into Persian by at least five different translators and published multiple times.۳ Particularly, “Who Moved My Cheese?” has gained significant attention in recent years and is often recommended, along with Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog,” for individuals facing challenges.
“Who Moved My Cheese?” tells the story of four characters, two mice and two little people, who navigate the ups and downs of life in pursuit of their desires. Cheese is used as a symbol representing something desirable and sought after. “Cheese” actually signifies human desires and aspirations, which can vary from person to person, encompassing things like a suitable job, effective human relationships, physical health, material gain, mental and emotional peace, and many other things that may differ across societies, cultures, and races. The four characters in this story represent different aspects of each of us; the simple and complex traits embedded within us all. The maze in the story symbolizes the various environments we encounter throughout life, such as home, school, workplace, society, and so on.
Moving in a new direction helps you find new cheese.
Change and the Lives of Mice and Men
The book “Who Moved My Cheese?” consists of three main sections:
In the first section, former classmates gather at a reunion and discuss their efforts to cope with life’s changes.
The second section is the core of the book, depicting the reflective behaviors of two mice and two little people as they confront changes, presented in an engaging story format.
The third section presents the opinions of individuals about the story and how they intend to apply its lessons in their work and personal lives.
The book “Who Moved My Cheese?” begins with the theme of change and resistance to it, with Spencer Johnson identifying the fear of change as the primary cause of confusion and the inability to adapt, leading to failure in life. At the start of the story, a character named Michael shares a simple yet intriguing story with a group of old friends, which encourages some to adapt to changes in their workplace and even helps them in their personal lives. We then read about the four main characters, two mice and two little people, who daily search for their specific cheese in the maze. The mice use the simple and traditional “trial and error” method to find the cheese. When they discover a station full of cheese, the little people assume it to be an inexhaustible supply.
However, the mice regularly assess their situation, so when the cheese runs out, they are not surprised, as they had anticipated this in their previous evaluations, and they promptly set off again through the maze. On the other hand, the little people initially fail to grasp the reality and search for someone to blame for moving their cheese. They complain about their situation and resist the change. But eventually, when weakness and hunger overwhelm them, one of the little people realizes that if he doesn’t change, he will perish. Thus, he overcomes his fear of the maze, letting go of the comfort of the empty cheese station. Instead of asking, “Who moved my cheese?” he asks himself, “Why didn’t I get up sooner? Why didn’t I start searching for cheese earlier?” and then wonders, “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?”
The importance of embracing change in life and work is recognized as a key to success in all aspects of life.
The Little Person sets out alone. He strives to take control of the situation rather than letting events dominate him. He tells himself, “If those two small mice could do it, then so can I.” Moving forward towards the future gives him a strange feeling. He realizes that he has been imprisoned by his own fear. As a result, he writes on the wall: “When you overcome your fear, you will feel free.”
Meanwhile, his friend remains at the previous station, clinging to his old beliefs and resisting any change. However, with his newfound courage, he continues his efforts and eventually finds the mice at a station full of cheese. He has now learned to laugh at his mistakes, let go of the past, and move forward toward the future. He has realized that the mice do not overanalyze or complicate things; they simply adapt to changing circumstances. Now, he inspects the cheese station daily to avoid being caught off guard by unexpected changes again.
In the final section, as Michael’s story about the mice, people, and cheese concludes, the old friends discuss the four main characters. They compare themselves to the story’s characters, share their experiences, and in doing so, their weaknesses become apparent. They also conclude that repeating past behaviors will yield the same results, and therefore, they must let go of old habits and strive for better ones.
Footnotes
- Who Moved My Cheese?
۲. For more information about Spencer Johnson, refer to: Roshd Management School Magazine, Summer 2006, an article titled “The King of Parables.”
- To date, the author has come across translations of “Who Moved My Cheese?” by the following translators: Najmeh Hatami (Mehrdad Publishing), Shamsi Beheshtani (Akhtaran Publishing), Naeimeh Baratifard (Behzad Publishing), Mehdi Gharacheh Daghi (Asim Publishing), Fahimeh Kaffai and Zahra Najati (Ali Publishing), Mohammad Vakili and Zeinab Azampour (Rahnama Publishing).
