book review

Book Review
Who moved my cheese? By Dr. Spencer Johnson.
All right I must admit I don’t like those self help books, but I thought I would give this one a try. It was one of those books which don’t tell you to do this or do that, but it accounts the experiences of the author and tells us to choose what we feel is the best. The author has used a story to share his experience.
It goes like this………….
Once upon a time there were four beings in a Maze searching for cheese to feed themselves. Two were mice-Sniff and Scurry and the other two were Littlepeople – Hem and Haw who resembled us humans. Sniff and Scurry used simple trial and error methods to find cheese whereas Hem and Haw used complex, analytical methods, due to which both groups were able to reach a Cheese Station C.
Hem and Haw were so overwhelmed by this discovery that they moved into this comfort zone almost immediately, forgetting one basic thing-nothing ever is permanent. On the other hand, Sniff and Scurry were able to detect the shrinking size of the cheese and were well prepared for any adversity.
Finally the day arrived when the Cheese Station vanished, landing Littlepeople in a soup. Sniff and Scurry on the other hand put on their running shoes and left in search of greener pastures. Hem and Haw who were quite baffled by this loss just kept on asking “why did this happen to us?” and kept asserting “I do not deserve it”, unable to accept the fact that change is the only thing permanent in life. They waited and waited but there was no cheese, which added up to their frustration.
Sniff and Scurry by that time had found a New Station N which had all kinds of cheese. They profited because they dared to venture out of their comfort zone. Haw had by that time become restless and finally left searching for new cheese, scared and apprehensive and without his companion. When he was scared he asked himself “what would I have done if I had not been afraid?” and he found the way. After a while he joined Sniff and Scurry at New Station N, relishing the cheese. Hem on the other hand simply refused to budge due to his rejection of change.
Here cheese symbolizes the thing we desire-money, fame, social status, etc. Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw represent the 4 types of people in our society. The decision is left entirely to us to become either one of them and adapt ourselves to the changing times. After all change is the only permanent thing in the world.
Explained in simple language, this one is a must-read for those who find it difficult to cope with the changing business environment and also for those Hems to become Haws.