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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
My daughter suggested I read this, and I'm glad I did. It has been getting a lot of press lately...I've seen it mentioned in both my teaching magazine and in Runner's World! I am definitely not a Tiger Mother...maybe I should be! :) The ending was a good resolution.
I didn't find her to be as crazy as the media has made her out to be. That being said, she is still pretty extreme in some of her parenting choices. Quick, interesting read.
This book was easy enough to read, and even though I never grew up with a Chinese mother, I certainly did grow up with a stubborn one. I think there's a lot of interesting points in this book, mainly that the extreme parenting style of demanding perfection at all times works wonders for some children and destroys others. Luckily, it turned out well for both of Ms. Chua's children, but I enjoy that she shows the struggles she has with her younger daughter as well, and certainly does not tout her style of parenting as the best. In the end, she comes down, as I do, on the side of balance--many children, myself included, are far too young and inexperienced in the world to understand regret; and I heard often in my childhood that my mother had wished she would have pushed me harder, made me try more things, rather than just only offering what would make her happy and then being disappointed when it didn't work out. Of course, there was huge controversy about this book when it was first published--in our age of self-esteem, it was unimaginable that someone would parent their children through screaming them through the tough times that would get them to the better ones.
That said, I don't think I would have survived with Amy Chua as my mother; I would have never saw her pushing as her way of saying 'I believe in you, I believe you can be better than this', but if it works, I am sure that it does, and no one can say that she didn't sacrifice for her family. However, if you're looking for something really dramatic and scandalous, that's something this book isn't.
That said, I don't think I would have survived with Amy Chua as my mother; I would have never saw her pushing as her way of saying 'I believe in you, I believe you can be better than this', but if it works, I am sure that it does, and no one can say that she didn't sacrifice for her family. However, if you're looking for something really dramatic and scandalous, that's something this book isn't.
Until a friend mentioned this was (or seemed to be) intended to be self-satire, I was prepared to dismiss this one as just plain terrible. I still don't think it's a great book, nor do I think it imparts good 'parenting' advice, but it was at times an entertaining read.
The coda of this book was its saving grace when Chua pointedly said the first 2/3 of the book were a satirical take on her life and parenting philosophy and that some of the lines ("I'm going to burn all your stuffed animals!!!") were supplied by her daughters since it sounded like something she would say.
The first 2/3 of the book Chua was insufferable - she was demanding, demeaning, and demoralizing to her daughters. She forced them to practice their respective instruments - piano and violin - for hours while constantly critiquing them. She once handed back birthday cards they had made for her because she felt they hadn't put enough thought or effort into them. Everything she thought, said, and did goes so much against the parenting philosophy I'm creating for myself. It was hard to read at times because her daughters were just kids and she was demanding what felt like the world from them.
Not surprisingly, her younger daughter eventually rebels and gives up her sole focus on the violin. Chua seems to immediately unclench and decide that choice is not such an awful thing after all while still clinging to the fact that her Chinese parenting is what got her daughter this far.
I will admit that there are some aspects of Chinese parenting that are intriguing since the children - in spite of everything - most of the time do seem to deeply respect their parents. But as Chua admits it can also go very wrong, as it did with her own father, who escaped his parents the first chance he could and was essentially estranged from them. Western parenting can go wrong in its own myriad ways, as well, of course.
Overall, this one was just ok for me. I think I'll be sticking with Dr. Jane Nelson and her positive discipline approach for parenting advice.
The first 2/3 of the book Chua was insufferable - she was demanding, demeaning, and demoralizing to her daughters. She forced them to practice their respective instruments - piano and violin - for hours while constantly critiquing them. She once handed back birthday cards they had made for her because she felt they hadn't put enough thought or effort into them. Everything she thought, said, and did goes so much against the parenting philosophy I'm creating for myself. It was hard to read at times because her daughters were just kids and she was demanding what felt like the world from them.
Not surprisingly, her younger daughter eventually rebels and gives up her sole focus on the violin. Chua seems to immediately unclench and decide that choice is not such an awful thing after all while still clinging to the fact that her Chinese parenting is what got her daughter this far.
I will admit that there are some aspects of Chinese parenting that are intriguing since the children - in spite of everything - most of the time do seem to deeply respect their parents. But as Chua admits it can also go very wrong, as it did with her own father, who escaped his parents the first chance he could and was essentially estranged from them. Western parenting can go wrong in its own myriad ways, as well, of course.
Overall, this one was just ok for me. I think I'll be sticking with Dr. Jane Nelson and her positive discipline approach for parenting advice.
Even as someone without children I thoroughly enjoyed this book which gives insight into Chinese parenting methods in a Western society.
Bittersweet in the telling of how she tried to raise her children the "chinese" way and how one day they all changed. I enjoyed it. I at times felt really sorry for her children and in turn sometimes I felt really sorry for her. Some parts were funny and some were not. I liked reading it.
"Given that life is so short and so fragile surely each of us should be trying to get the most our of every breath, every fleeting moment but what does it mean to live life to it's fullest? We all have to die but which way does that cut?"
With this [a:Amy Chua|59966|Amy Chua|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1297618787p2/59966.jpg] ends her long ponderings and thoughts on what worked and what didn't when it came to raising her two daughters.
Armed with the knowledge of her own upbringing, Amy brings up her children in ways best known to her, the methods of which are sometimes hilarious and sometimes downright questionable.
I liked the book for it's honesty and self deprecating humor. I also liked it because it is not far from the truth. Being an expat child of Indian parents myself some of the things described in this book were very relatable. For example Amy can't understand the deal behind playdates and sleepovers just as my dad or any other Subcontinental/Asian parent. If you are a parent, western or asian, this book will make you think about your own parenting style and you might even learn a thing or two!
…miksi? Sitkeys on hyvästä, mutta onko kunnianhimo ja suorittaminen elämän tarkoitus?
An acquaintance foisted this on me, with the famous comment "you'll love it". I had chosen not to read it up until then, I had no interest in it. But take it I did.
I will be able to give it back to her now. I did in fact skim it and sure enough, did not enjoy it.
It's the story of the proverbial "tiger mom" - a woman of Chinese descent who controls and manipulates every aspect, every minute of her daughters' lives in an effort to "make them the best they can be".
Why her daughters didn't strangle her in her sleep, I don't know. I certainly would have.
I will be able to give it back to her now. I did in fact skim it and sure enough, did not enjoy it.
It's the story of the proverbial "tiger mom" - a woman of Chinese descent who controls and manipulates every aspect, every minute of her daughters' lives in an effort to "make them the best they can be".
Why her daughters didn't strangle her in her sleep, I don't know. I certainly would have.