This is my first book review post! I have been wanting to start reviewing and reflecting on different books that I am reading for my studies or in general. I love jumping into a story or having to think critically about new information. So, I went for a walk yesterday with some friends and we happened to find a bookstore with an English section in Songdo. Guess what I happened to stumble upon when looking through? Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson!
I was ecstatic to find this book as it has been referenced multiple times over my last two years in grad school. So I bought it immediately and went home to settle down and read. It is a rather short book but extremely powerful in describing change and how to face it. If you need a quick read over the weekend to get you thinking about how you handle change, this is a fantastic book.
Simple or Complex
Who Moved My Cheese? starts with a simple story about handling change and because of its simplicity we as readers are able to quickly identify with one character or another. These 4 main characters, , Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw, show different ways of thinking and looking at change. In these 94 pages we look at the thoughts and process of each of these characters when dealing with a change.
I realized quickly that I identified with one character in particular and because I had an overarching view of the situation, I could see the difficulty that “my” character was having and how much more complicated they were making it. I reflected on different times in my life when I was faced with change and how complicated I made it when in reality, if I had just got up and laced my shoes, the answer would have been clearer. My biggest take away from this book is that in most situations when I encountered the answer, it was a simple one. There is beauty in simplicity that we as humans overlook because we often look for complex answers.
“The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.”
― Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese?
Who are you?
So when reflecting on different changes in my life, how have I handled those situations? Which character was I? Could I have handled it better with a more simple solution? Probably. Change is inevitable and with that, I know it is coming. By working together and continued reflection, I can sniff out problems so they are not so mountainous when they arrive. Can I scurry with possible solutions to get myself back on track? While reflecting I realized that we need to know who we are when faced with change. So I ask, who are you?
Have you read this book? What did you think? Was there a time in your life you were one of these characters? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Share your learning,
Levi