Introduction: This self help book by Dr. Spencer Johnson “Who Moved my Cheese?” is a marvelously written fun-to-read parable which pinpoints the facts that notice your ambience, anticipate changes and act along so that you do not lag behind. This is in fact very necessary in present time where changes occur almost every fraction of second. If you don’t anticipate change, you can become extinct. Johnson has spun this very idea so coherently that after reading this book one will agree that happiness and success can be achieved only by accepting and facing unanticipated changes rather than blocking one’s thinking by concentrating only on the reasons behind those changes. One striking feature of this book is lucidly written and practically relevance in the way in which it has portrayed a very inherent part of our life- The Inescapable Changes.
Synopsis: The story revolves around four characters Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw. The names are themselves are suggestive of the types of the characters they personify. Going by the dictionary meaning Sniff can be assumed as representing the person who is always alert and aware about his surroundings. He sniffs the situation for every small change. Similarly, Scurry is the person who is always ready to scurry off to newer fields with better opportunities. In the story, Sniff and Scurry enjoyed the cheese and quickly left in search of new cheese when it started tasting bad. Hem and Haw represents those persons who are slow responders to the changes as they hem and haw in trying new things. They are complacent in their very own microcosm. In the story, Hem and Haw were very attached to their cheese and so they could not get over the fact that their cheese is over now and were reluctant to go in search of new cheese.
Cheese in this story represents the desires of the people such as a promising career, a joyous life or working conditions. And Maze represents where we are right now!! The journey of these four characters represents the journey of life of an individual where he tries to fulfill all his desires. In this story, Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw all were surviving happily on a cheese stock within a maze. After sometime Sniff and Scurry notice dwindling supply of cheese and they start looking out for new stock of cheese elsewhere and they move out from that part of maze. It took a long time for Hem and Haw to notice this change and they took rest of the cheese for granted. They yearn for cheese but did not moved out of that maze until it became an urgent necessity for their survival. In the end they struggled hard to reach that part of maze where Sniff and Scurry had made themselves comfortable. Had they started moving earlier they could have found this fresh and large stock much before they suffered hunger fits.
Recommendation: YES This is something I wrote in college what you have read. But, today I feel every word in this book has a real meaning, though its just a parable but it works for real. Atleast for me it did Hope you too can draw some inspiration out of it.
Moral and Morale: After reading this book you might realize that at times, one experiences fear in adapting to the changes. But, one should anticipate what may be coming in the near future and be ready to tackle that for fruitful results. One has to remember that whenever life takes an unexpected turn, a quick decision is required. We can easily connect to characters and the problems faced by them, as they are symbolic to the real work problems. The story is very interesting as in our real life we also become complacent with what we have and don’t think about the future prospects i.e. if in near future we are denied the access to the given resources or the resources available to us utilized; then what we will do and whether do we have a contingency plan to cope with such a crisis. So, in the end we do not have to panic and shout, Who moved my cheese? Let us be prepared for welcoming the change.
As if someone will read it: Just few pages only, 92 if I remember. Already read Seagull or Alchemist?? Read it too.. You will enjoy it.
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