Spencer Johnson was an American author best known for his influential self-help book "Who Moved My Cheese?", which became a long-running fixture on the "New York Times" bestseller list and the "Publishers Weekly" Hardcover nonfiction list. He also gained recognition for his "ValueTales" series, a collection of children's books designed to teach moral lessons through historical figures. His works have reached a global audience, with over 46 million copies in print across more than 47 languages.
A trained physician, Johnson held an M.D. from the Royal College of Surgeons and completed medical clerkships at prestigious institutions, including the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School. Despite his medical background, he transitioned into writing, blending psychological insight with accessible storytelling. His books often explored themes of adaptability, personal growth, and resilience, resonating with both children and adults.
Johnson served as the chairman of Spencer Johnson Partners, further cementing his influence in the realms of leadership and motivational literature. His ability to distill complex life lessons into simple, relatable narratives earned him widespread acclaim. Though he passed away in 2017, his works continue to inspire readers worldwide.
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Present
1981
2
Yes or No
1993
3
Peaks and Valleys
2009
Children's Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
A ValueTales Treasury (With: Dan Andreasen)
2010
One Minute Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The One Minute Father
1983
2
The One Minute Mother
1983
3
The One Minute Sales Person (With: Larry Wilson)
1984
4
The One Minute Teacher (With: Constance Johnson)
1986
5
One Minute for Myself
1987
ValueTales Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Value of Kindness: The Story of Elizabeth Fry (With: Steve Pileggi)
1975
2
The Value of Patience: The Story of the Wright Brothers (With: Steve Pileggi)
1975
3
The Value of Believing in Yourself: The Story of Louis Pasteur (With: Steve Pileggi)
1975
4
The Value of Determination: The Story of Helen Keller (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1976
5
The Value of Honesty: The Story of Confucius (With: Steve Pileggi)
1976
6
The Value of Humor: The Story of Will Rogers (With: Steve Pileggi)
1976
7
The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1977
8
The Value of Caring: The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1977
9
The Value of Curiosity: The Story of Christopher Columbus
1977
10
The Value of Courage: The Story of Jackie Robinson (With: Steve Pileggi)
1977
11
The Value of Imagination: The Story of Charles Dickens (With: Steve Pileggi)
1977
12
The Value of Fairness: The Story of Nellie Bly (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1977
13
The Value of Saving: The Story of Benjamin Franklin (With: Steve Pileggi)
1978
14
The Value of Sharing: The Story of the Mayo Brothers (With: Steve Pileggi)
1978
15
The Value of Responsibility: The Story of Ralph Bunche (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1978
16
The Value of Fantasy: The Story of Hans Christian Andersen
1979
17
The Value of Love: The Story of Johnny Appleseed (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1979
18
The Value of Understanding: The Story of Margaret Mead (With: Steve Pilligri)
1979
19
The Value of Imagination: The Story of Jim Henson (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1979
20
The Value of Helping: The Story of Harriet Tubman (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1979
21
The Value of Learning: The Story of Marie Curie (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1979
22
The Value of Giving: The Story of Beethoven (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1979
23
The Value of Dedication: The Story of Albert Schweitzer (With: Steve Pileggi)
1979
24
The Value of Truth and Trust: The Story of Cochise (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1980
25
The Value of Friendship: The Story of Jane Addams (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1980
26
The Value of Foresight: The Story of Thomas Jefferson (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1980
27
The Value of Adventure: The Story of Sacagawea (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1981
28
The Value of Charity: The Story of Paul-Émile Léger (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1983
29
The Value of Facing a Challenge: The Story of Terry Fox (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1983
30
The Value of Self-Discipline: The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1984
31
The Value of Tenacity: The Story of Maurice Richard (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1984
32
The Value of Creativity: The Story of Thomas Edison (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1984
33
The Value of Boldness: The Story of Captain Cook (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1985
34
The Value of Compassion: The Story of Florence Nightingale (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1987
35
The Value of Leadership: The Story of Winston Churchill (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1989
36
The Value of Laughter: The Story of Lucille Ball (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1990
37
The Value of a Positive Attitude: The Story of Michael Landon (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1992
38
The Value of Humility: The Story of Mother Teresa (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1993
39
The Value of Dignity: The Story of Arthur Ashe (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1994
40
The Value of Conviction. The Story of Cesar Chavez (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1995
41
The Value of Overcoming Adversity: The Story of Wilma Rudolph (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1996
42
The Value of Optimism: The Story of Amelia Earhart (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1997
43
The Value of Commitment: The Story of Jacques Cousteau (By: Ann Donegan Johnson)
1998
Who Moved My Cheese? Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Who Moved My Cheese?
1999
2
Who Moved My Cheese For Teens
2002
3
Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids (With: Steve Pileggi)
2003
4
Out of the Maze: An A-Mazing Way to Get Unstuck
2018
One Minute Manager Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams: New and Revised Edition (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Eunice Parisi-Carew)
1950
2
The One Minute Manager (With: Steve Scott, Kenneth H. Blanchard)
1981
3
Putting the One Minute Manager to Work: How to Turn the 3 Secrets into Skills (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Robert Lorber)
1984
4
One Minute Manager Salesperson (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard)
1985
5
Talking with the One Minute Manager (With: Kenneth H. Blanchard)
1985
6
Leadership and the One Minute Manager (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Drea Zigarmi, Patricia Zigarmi)
1985
7
The One Minute Manager Gets Fit (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Marjorie Blanchard, Dee W. Edington)
1986
8
The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, William Oncken Jr.)
1989
9
Gung Ho! (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard)
1996
10
The One Minute Manager Balances Work and Life (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Marjorie Blanchard, D.W. Edington)
1999
11
The One Minute Golfer (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard)
1999
12
Leadership by the Book (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Bill Hybels, Phil Hodges)
1999
13
Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Lawrence Hawkins, Susan Fowler)
2005
14
The 4th Secret of the One Minute Manager (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard, Margret McBride)
2008
15
One Minute Mentoring (By: Kenneth H. Blanchard)
2010
16
The New One Minute Manager (With: Kenneth H. Blanchard)