1. Who Moved My Cheese?
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Who Moved My Cheese?
Author(s) Spencer Johnson
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Self-help / motivational
Publisher Putnam Adult
Publication date 1998
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 96 pp
ISBN 0-399-14446-3
OCLC Number 38752984
Dewey Decimal 155.2/4
LC Classification BF637.C4 J64 1998
Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your
Life, 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 New York
Timesbusinessbestseller since release, Who Moved My Cheese?remained on the list for almost

2. five years and spent over 200 weeks on Publishers Weekly's hardcover nonfiction list.[1] It has
sold more than 26 million copies worldwide in 37 languages and remains to be one of the best-
selling business books.[2][3]
Contents
1 Synopsis
2 Who Moved My Cheese Inc.
3 Criticism
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Synopsis
Allegorically, Who Moved My Cheese?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 deciding that the cheese is indeed gone they get angry at the unfairness
of the situation and both go home starved. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same
cheeseless place. Starting to realize the situation at hand, Haw thinks of a search for new cheese.
But Hem is dead set in his victimized mindset and dismisses the proposal.
Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", new cheese. Back at Cheese
Station C, Hem and Haw are affected by their lack of cheese and blame each other for their
problem. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. However, Hem is
comforted by his old routine and is frightened about the unknown. He knocks the idea again.
After a while of being in denial, the humans remain without cheese. One day, having discovered
his debilitating fears, Haw begins to chuckle 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.

3. 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 venture. Still plagued with worry (perhaps he has waited
too long to begin his search...), Haw finds some bits of cheese that nourishes him and he is able
to continue his search. Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly vanished, but has dwindled
from continual eating. After a stop at 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 refuses the new cheese, to his friend's disappointment. With knowledge
learned along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Getting deeper into the maze, inspired 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:
Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese
Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
Monitor Change
Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old
Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese
Change
Move With The Cheese
Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again
They Keep Moving The Cheese.
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.
It is indeed the friend, who has found a way to escape the rat race.
Who Moved My Cheese Inc.
In 1990, Who Moved My Cheese Inc. was founded to handle the Who Moved My Cheese? book
order demands from businesses. For several years, the company worked 24/7 just to keep up with

4. the demand from the book. In 2005, the company was reorganized as Spencer Johnson Partners
with the idea of bringing in partners and additional content from Dr. Spencer Johnson, the
author. Spencer Johnson Partners focused on creating additional programs and services that
would continue to help clients navigate change, including Gaining Change Skills. Then, in 2009,
the company was purchased and renamed Red Tree Leadership.
Criticism
Some managers[who?] 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 reorganization," 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[who?] as an attempt by organizational management to make
employees quickly and unconditionally assimilate management ideals, even if they may prove
detrimental to them professionally. Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams said that patronizing parables
are one of the top 10 complaints he receives in his email.[4]
See also
Business fable
References
1. ^Maryles, Daisy and Dick Donahue. "Behind the Bestsellers." Publishers Weekly 10
December 2001: 18.
2. ^The Global Times on Who Moved My Cheese: "Who Moved My Cheese has sold over
26 million copies, staying on the New York Times bestseller list since its release in
1998." (23 November 2009)
3. ^"Who Moved My Cheese?".Time. Dec. 04, 2008.
4. ^What moves the 'Cheese' for books, Del Jones, USA Today, 26 December 2002.