Out of the Maze is the long-awaited sequel to the best selling homily Who Moved My Cheese, providing insight to a whole generation facing the turbulence of twenty-first century technological, industry and cultural changes. The sequel considers the question of what happened to Hem, the mouse who waited for the cheese to return, exploring how beliefs are made and unmade and how to deal with changing circumstances when our beliefs are holding us back from development.

I thought this was a thought-provoking and concise parable and it would be perfect for those seeking some self-development or for those embarking on new challenges in their life. It was perhaps a bit too on the nose for me but it would work well to read in a group or for a discussion as I found there were many themes to ruminate on after finishing this read.

On reflection, the story of Hem is pretty straightforward though not particularly interesting. It really only worked for me on the level of the lessons that can be employed by the reader in their day-to-day lives. It was not entirely to my tastes but, with that being said, I would wholeheartedly recommend for an employee development course.

Out of the Maze is a tricky book to review. I haven't read the prequel Who Moved My Cheese, apparently the biggest selling book on Amazon a couple of years after its publication, but I don't believe that's necessary - the first book covers embracing change, this book deals with how inflexible belief systems can be detrimental and restrictive. The writing is fine, the messages useful, and the book educates by way of a fable - a style I'm not fond of as I explained in my reviews for Pig Wrestling and the Goal - but that's not why it's hard to review.

My problem is the length - it took less than half an hour to read, cover to cover, including the acknowledgements and some details on the author's battle with cancer. Like Pig Wrestling, the author knocks out a dozen or so short proverbs, punchy little 10 word sentences which sound authoritative, then they get padded into a story, someone designs a cover, and bam, a book is produced. This would've been fine as an essay or a magazine article, it just doesn't have the legs for a self-contained book.

But given I enjoyed it for what it is, and the price isn't an issue for me (I'm reviewing an ARC), I can only score it on the content, not the package as a whole. So, 4 seems fair to me, but I suspect if you'd paid hard-earned money for it, you would feel differently.

Short and easy to get through, not the greatest self-help book I have ever read, but it has a useful message. I am sure that most who have read the original 'Who moved my cheese' will appreciate hearing the rest of the story and taking the original message a stage further.
A nice tribute to the author.

Thank heavens this is a short book!

There are some sensible ideas here but I loathed the idea that it was written as a fable - that just annoyed me

Not very much to say as the book was a very short read.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it - I found the story oversimplified to the point of patronising and generally boring.

I haven’t read (or heard of) the first book Who Moved My Cheese? which was published in 1998 but I don’t think that matters to those reading this sequel, Out Of the Maze.
Who Moved My Cheese? is a fable about two mice and two little people who live in a maze and find pieces of cheese. One day the pieces of cheese disappear and so do the mice. One of the little people, Haw, moves out of the maze a few days later to seek more cheese but Hem stays in the maze hoping that life will go back to how it was. Haw returns after a few days to bring new cheese he’s found to Hem but Hem is still hoping for his old cheese. Haw goes off again and that is the last Hem sees of him.

Out Of the Maze starts with a class discussing ‘what happened to Hem?’ This book continues in the same fable mode as the first where Hem learns to notice and question old beliefs and how to decide what new beliefs to trust and act on.

It’s a short and interesting read. I think this is a book that needs reading more than once and maybe if you have an especially challenging situation to overcome.

The book also spoke about, Spencer Johnson, author of the original book dying with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and how he used the principles and philosophy in this book to deal with his illness.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read who moved my cheese many years ago and found it really helpful at the time - this book is as good, only takes an hour or so to read but very insightful

A valuable sequel to "Who Moved My Cheese"

I was sent a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley, never having read any of Spencer Johnson's work before.

The book begins with questions posed by a seminar group. "Who Moved My Cheese" is summarised. Then follows a new parable building on the old. The group then discuss it. The book ends with a letter from the late author which gives an insight into the character of the man and how he "walked his talk".

A very short, thought-provoking book. It has caused me to question where I am at the current stage in my life and whether I am being held back by beliefs.

Recommended.

Free book offered to "live life better" for 2019 - how could I resist?? Self help books are always somewhat useful, even if only to reinforce what you already know :-)

This sequel by the late Dr. Johnson expands on the ‘who moved my cheese’ fable which has been applied to various business thinking concepts and ideologies. It’s not the best business self-help book out there but not the worst. It’s a little bland and repetitive but short enough to get through it.

Having not read Who moved my Cheese? I approached this book thinking that I might be at a huge disadvantage. However the book is set out so well that it is easy to pick up the previous scenario and then read on in this one.
A great conversation starter for change management focusing on looking at challenging and adapting beliefs which I will revisit and introduce others to.
It should be compulsory reading for all those facing new challenges - even for those who don't believe they need to change - and probably on all the 'healthy reading' lists too

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was enjoyable and certainly gave me a few ideas and things to think about as a senior manager for a large organisation.

It picks up well from the concept of people being averse to ‘new cheese’

Having not read (nor even heard of) Who Moved My Cheese?, I wondered how I would get on with this book. My worries were unfounded as the previous ideas are re-explained before being expanded. I loved the brevity and the clear analogy and would not hesitate to recommend this. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and will hopefully inspire me to change some of my ingrained thought processes.

Interesting little book that gives a reader a lot to think about. I haven't read the previous book by the author, but I believe this one gives me a good view into the main premise for his philosophy. I truly enjoyed this book and I'll try to incorporate the main points presented there into my life. Hopefully it'll work for me as well as it did to the mouse at the end.

Just as delightful as the original. Lovely to have 'the end' of the story. Perfect to use when supporting yourself or others through change. Helps to mitigate fear of new directions

A sequel to Who Moved My Cheese? A nice homily about opening your mind to new ideas. It will be a useful tool for making teams think about working better together and bringing everyone on board, even the Luddites.

Thought provoking and engaging, any fans of Who Moved My Cheese will be happy to revisit the characters and concept. It’s a quick read but will stay with you.

Understand the premise of this book but didn’t find it particularly engaging or enlightening, just common sense really. I think for this type of genre I prefer discussion form podcasts rather than a fable.

Thank you for the opportunity to read 'Out of the Maze'. I had not read 'Who Moved My Cheese' before but this was not an issue of my understanding of this book. It was an easy read and a delightful tale with a good message not just for businesses but for life.

As other reviewers this seems like common sense to me. Not the best business book or the worse. A good average book.