"Who Moved My Cheese," by Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese?

"Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, is the story of two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, Hem and Haw, who are searching for Cheese. When I recommended this book to a friend, he seemed pretty skeptical. I bet he was thinking: how interesting could a book about mice and little people looking for cheese be?!? I think that if he would read it, he'd be in for a pleasant surprise! This book is actually very powerful, encouraging, and inspiring since we can learn a lot from the four imaginary little characters depicted in the story.

Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw run through the maze looking for Cheese. The mice and little people each have very different ways of exploring the maze and looking for Cheese. The mice search using their instincts, while the little people use their complex brains and emotions to think and learn from past experiences.

English: Feeder mice.

English: Day-old mice

Hi Haw

When they all discover a huge supply of Cheese one day at Cheese Station C, both the mice and little people enjoy the Cheese. However, the little people become a little too comfortable. They feel happy, successful, and perhaps a bit arrogant. It never occurs to them that perhaps one day the supply of Cheese could end. Sniff and Scurry on the other hand, are more prepared for this to happen.

Then one day, the inevitable occurs, and there was no more Cheese! Sniff and Scurry are not surprised. They don't overanalyze the situation. They just follow their instincts and hurry off in search of new Cheese. However, when Hem and Haw make the discovery, they are devastated. They return to Station C day after day hoping that somehow the cheese will reappear, but it never does. Finally, Haw recognizes the silliness...