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Patrick Spencer Johnson

1938 – 2017

American writer

Physician writerConsultant Lecturer
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About Patrick Spencer Johnson

Lived 1938 – 2017 (aged 78). Patrick Spencer Johnson was an American physician writer, consultant, lecturer, writer, psychologist and author.

Patrick Spencer Johnson (November 24, 1938 – July 3, 2017) was an American writer. He was known for the ValueTales series of children's books, and for his 1998 self-help book Who Moved My Cheese?, which recurred on the New York Times Bestseller list, on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover nonfiction list. Johnson was the chairman of Spencer Johnson Partners.

Biography Spencer Johnson was born in Watertown, South Dakota, graduated from Notre Dame High School of Sherman Oaks, California, in 1957, and his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Johnson lived in Hawaii and New Hampshire. He was employed by the Harvard Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He died in San Diego on July 3, 2017, at the age of 78.

Notable works Johnson wrote the book "Yes" or "No": The Guide to Better Decisions (1992).

He co-authored the One Minute Manager series of books with management writer Ken Blanchard, though each author has added their own books to the series.

Johnson's last book, Out of the Maze, is a sequel to Who Moved My Cheese that references Johnson's struggle with cancer (which ultimately ended with his death in 2017) and was published posthumously in 2018.

Johnson's books have been translated into twenty-six languages.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Physician writer, consultant, lecturer, writer, psychologist, Author
Nationality
Education
University of Southern California, Notre Dame High School, Royal College of Surgeons
Also known as
Spencer Johnson

People in Patrick Spencer Johnson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Patrick Spencer Johnson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Patrick Spencer Johnson?

American writer

When was Patrick Spencer Johnson born?

Patrick Spencer Johnson was born on 24 November 1938 in Watertown.

When did Patrick Spencer Johnson die?

Patrick Spencer Johnson died on 3 July 2017 in San Diego.

What was Patrick Spencer Johnson's occupation?

Patrick Spencer Johnson was a physician writer, consultant, lecturer, writer, psychologist and author.

What nationality was Patrick Spencer Johnson?

Patrick Spencer Johnson was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Patrick Spencer Johnson

· Wikidata: Q200760

· DBpedia: Spencer Johnson (writer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Patrick Spencer Johnson. https://biography.guide/patrick-spencer-johnson/

MLA: "Patrick Spencer Johnson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/patrick-spencer-johnson/.

Chicago: "Patrick Spencer Johnson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/patrick-spencer-johnson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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