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Who Moved Your Cheese...?
No, you haven’t inadvertently stumbled across the Disney© web site, this is a genuine book review. For those of you who haven’t yet discovered the phenomenon, this little book, ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ by Dr Spencer Johnson, is something of a legend already.
I first heard of it from a friend who asked me if I had read the book. I hadn’t of course, but it seems I was one of the few. ‘Over 12 million copies sold worldwide’ it states on the back cover. I’m still not sure if this book has sold so many copies because people have read it and recommended it as a ‘must read’ or, which I suspect is more likely, they have heard about the book and have bought it through curiosity. The more I think about it the more I think it’s the latter. Either that or the vast bulk of the sales were in the US where I imagine something of this nature would have greater appeal.
So, anyway, I find myself scooping it up in WH Smiths at Marylebone and settling down to be ‘amazed’ by its contents. Certainly, before you even get to open the book, it is already making some very bold claims - ‘One of the most successful business books ever’ apparently. EVER? Really? Wow! Although that was the assessment of the Daily Telegraph.
The endorsement and reminder that this is from the author of that all time classic, The One-Minute Manager gives me some hope of a reasonable read. It is also very small and the text is quite large so it is possible to devour its entire contents in one medium length commuter journey, which in itself is quite appealing. By page two of the intro however, the claims for the book start to concern me. 'People have reported that what they discovered in the story has improved their careers, businesses, health and marriages.' Now im curious.
The said medium commuter journey later, I am indeed at the end of the book, but I have to say, whilst I was pleased that reading the book had made the rather tedious journey seem much shorter, my fellow passengers would not have likened the look on my face to one of ‘amazement’. And I wasn’t feeling on the brink of a life-changing experience either.
Ultimately, it does contain some very simple messages, which as we all know, in busy times are easily lost and forgotten. We seem to overcomplicate things so much these days that it can be refreshing to be reminded of some of the more simple principles that are presented in the book.
But for me, the messages are just too simplistic, dated and, unfortunately, dare I say it, cheesy! They are the sort of messages that have graced many a children’s book from the 50’s and 60’s. The story that ends the book in particular will turn many off. It reminds me of that annoying feature of US sitcoms in the 80’s where every episode had to end on a moral message and a reminder of what we should be doing or thinking. It’s ‘discussion in the bar’ format, spelling out for you how these messages apply to you in your everyday life, as if you missed the point in the first place, verges on the patronising. Jessica, Jill, Mike et al, all characterised to represent a cross section of us all, grudgingly admitting that they had all behaved like ‘Hem’ but had now seen the light as a result of the story. Cringe worthy to be frank.
You get the impression that even the author wasn’t sure himself, when you read the first few intro pages. In there he tees up criticism by stating that critics ‘say the story is so simple a child could understand it’ and that it ‘insults their intelligence as it is just obvious common sense’. He even goes on to say that they are ‘right in their own way’. This neutral stance, however, is swiftly followed with the old chestnut - ‘its not what’s in the story... but how you interpret it and apply it to your own situation that gives it value'. A tad condescending and you cant help think it is intended to make you feel just a little inadequate if you are not ‘inspired’ by its contents.
Overall, I’m afraid I wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for change, and for keeping it simple. But 12 million copies? Life changing? Amazing? The only amazing thing about this book is that it has sold so many copies in the first place.
My good friend told me that one of his clients, a UK based American CEO, who shall remain nameless, purchased 150 copies and gave them to all the managers in the business, hailing this book as ‘fantastic’. Unfortunately, most of the recipients didnt agree, but were too afraid of him to say otherwise. Somewhat conveniently perhaps, the book makes no mention of, or allowance for, such real life barriers to change.
Having said all that, I’m now off to pen my own little 80 page, 12,000 worder based on some obvious piece of common sense that most of us have lost sight of due to our busy lives. I shall have it penned, proof read and ready for publishing within 3 of those medium length commuter journeys.
Watch out for ‘Who Ate My Cheese’, a thought provoking reminder of that often forgotten message that if we eat to excess we will turn into a lard bucket…
I expect it to fly off the shelves at Harrogate.
Verdict?
Bin it!
Other things you could buy for £5.99
- Value pack of M&S men’s ‘boxer briefs’
- 1 brick in a three story house overlooking Regents Park in London
- 6 houses in a ‘slum improvement’ deal with a Local Authority in a depressed area
- 8 cans of Carling Black Label
- Single to zone one from zone D after 9.30am, weekdays