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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I'm only reading it because it was available from the public library for Kindle lending. Not sure it's something I'd go to great lengths (ie pay) for. Pretty sure that a lot of it is exaggerated for dramatic effect, and the media hubbub surrounding it was engineered for publicity. I'm not looking to Chua for parenting advice.
Edited to add:
After finishing this, I still wasn't crazy about it. First, I'm just not in to other people's parenting memoirs, generally speaking. That aside, it's just not a great book. It's all in complete sentences, coherent, and grammatically correct, but the writing isn't particularly moving - she writes like the attorney she is.
Chua seems to go to great lengths to justify her own parenting style by denigrating "Western" style parenting. For the record, Chua has never set foot in my home, so understandably I bristle at her assumptions about my Western parenting style, particularly that Western parenting is easier than Chinese parenting.
Chua failed to convince me of the inherent superiority of Chinese parenting. It was interesting that she originally was denied a job at Yale because she clammed up in the interview and couldn't converse with her interviewers. And yet she sees activities like playdates and sleepovers completely pointless, what with all their purposeless socializing. Other examples like this abound. It's curious how unaware she seems of these contradictions.
I'm not sure what the point of her airing her family's dirty laundry in public was - to make herself feel better, to further shame her children, or to roil up some good, old-fashioned Mommy wars controversy.
Edited to add:
After finishing this, I still wasn't crazy about it. First, I'm just not in to other people's parenting memoirs, generally speaking. That aside, it's just not a great book. It's all in complete sentences, coherent, and grammatically correct, but the writing isn't particularly moving - she writes like the attorney she is.
Chua seems to go to great lengths to justify her own parenting style by denigrating "Western" style parenting. For the record, Chua has never set foot in my home, so understandably I bristle at her assumptions about my Western parenting style, particularly that Western parenting is easier than Chinese parenting.
Chua failed to convince me of the inherent superiority of Chinese parenting. It was interesting that she originally was denied a job at Yale because she clammed up in the interview and couldn't converse with her interviewers. And yet she sees activities like playdates and sleepovers completely pointless, what with all their purposeless socializing. Other examples like this abound. It's curious how unaware she seems of these contradictions.
I'm not sure what the point of her airing her family's dirty laundry in public was - to make herself feel better, to further shame her children, or to roil up some good, old-fashioned Mommy wars controversy.
4/16/21 review:
What difference a decade makes. Perpetuates the model minority myth, which makes sense because she upholds some sexist, establishment conservative guys. Between how her husband uses his power and her advice to women who want to clerk for a certain justice, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A memoir from an talented but unreliable writer.
Original review:
This book is a funny and wonderful memoir. I think she did a good job of parenting even as she had to be strict. Her family is upper-middle class, but she didn't want them to be entitled and spoiled and decided to be a strict parent.
Most people only talk about how strict she was, but when her daughters were older she relented. I also loved the stories of her mother-in-law and sister and how their experiences also led her to examine her parenting style.
What difference a decade makes. Perpetuates the model minority myth, which makes sense because she upholds some sexist, establishment conservative guys. Between how her husband uses his power and her advice to women who want to clerk for a certain justice, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A memoir from an talented but unreliable writer.
Original review:
This book is a funny and wonderful memoir. I think she did a good job of parenting even as she had to be strict. Her family is upper-middle class, but she didn't want them to be entitled and spoiled and decided to be a strict parent.
Most people only talk about how strict she was, but when her daughters were older she relented. I also loved the stories of her mother-in-law and sister and how their experiences also led her to examine her parenting style.
I first read this in high school and at the time I probably would've been an advocate of "Chinese parenting" as Chua defines it because I was really interested in fancy colleges and prestige (lol). Reading this now is wild because my world view has shifted a lot; Chua sounds so much more delusional than I remember! Her parenting story is fun to read, but I don't think it contains enough meaningful reflection till the veryyy end. Also the writing isn't that impressive.
*audio book
I quite enjoyed the first quarter of the book, where the author makes some interesting observations regarding Chinese parenting vs. Western style parenting. It's controversial at times, but for the most part, the book was surprisingly tame. In fact, it was as much a mother-daughter memoir as it was an exposition on parenting. I thought the last half of the book was a bit slow.
I quite enjoyed the first quarter of the book, where the author makes some interesting observations regarding Chinese parenting vs. Western style parenting. It's controversial at times, but for the most part, the book was surprisingly tame. In fact, it was as much a mother-daughter memoir as it was an exposition on parenting. I thought the last half of the book was a bit slow.
I took a lot away from this tireless mom's successes and failures along with gratitude and awe for the author. Telling a true tale of one's own parenting and allowing for people to judge (especially when so many disagree with her) is so brave. She definitely gave me a lot to consider when it comes to wanting to help my kids achieve excellence in their work.
A book that doesn't know what it wants to be been it grows up. The author says that she changed directions on this book while writing it, and it shows. It doesn't seem to have a point to it. The book is simultaneously a overwrought memoir, a story about change, a justification for extreme parenting practices, and a criticism of more lenient parenting practices. I can see why so many people got worked up about this book. It paints both Western parenting practices and Asian parenting practices (as defined by the author) with very broad strokes and, in the end, presents neither in a good light.
The best thing I can say about this book is that it was a fast read.
The best thing I can say about this book is that it was a fast read.
4.5 on 5 from me on this one. I might change my thoughts and opinions that emerged or rather, had to be revisited after reading this book, and I am sure I would need to revisit this entire review once I have kids of my own! But as an Indian who grew up with liberal parents, I was not able to relate to the Chua or her kids on the upbringing parts of it, but when it comes to Chua's opinions on why Chinese parenting is better or rather, what appear as Western parenting pitfalls, I find myself agreeing with her to quite a good extent. My partner was, on the other hand, brought up very strictly, and till date credits his disciplined lifestyle and aggressive and smart functioning to his strict upbringing. While I was in the middle of this book, I told him, "All my friends think that I will be a strict parent, and I know for sure you are going to be one, waking the poor kids at 4 am the way you were, giving them assignments during their summer holidays and all the seemingly torturous things you went through while growing up. Will it work, with both of us being the "Bad Cops"?", he replied that he loved me for exactly the way I am and exactly the way I have been raised. While I love being raised the way I was, I do wish the concept that you will start enjoying something once you get good at it was taught to me. But it's not too late to implement it; and is certainly in time to exercise it on my kids!
lol i remember i read this when i was p4 bc my mum told me to … i found it so hilarious but in retrospect perhaps concerning that my mother thinks that amy chua is a genius (two daughters, one harvard one yale…