Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I would give the beginning of the book 4 stars as I really did enjoy her Chinese parenting and thought I needed to step up my parenting and stop letting my kid by a quitter. I know this book had a lot of controversy because of her comparisons to the Chinese parents vs Westerns parents. I saw no problem with that. We are lax in our parenting. My mom was more like a Chinese parent than a Western parents. Maybe that is why I don't find it disturbing as some have. My mom was actually abusive, but at the time, I thought that was normal to get beat everyday.
At any rate, I don't like how the book took a different turned out. Once she lost control of her second daughter, the book got boring for me and I couldn't wait to finish.
At any rate, I don't like how the book took a different turned out. Once she lost control of her second daughter, the book got boring for me and I couldn't wait to finish.
Nothing like the media made it out to be. Well-written, engaging. Chua takes no guff from anyone, and I admire that.
I think the fact that Amy Chua has been ostracized so much goes to show the depth of ignorance suffered in the Western world about other cultures. The reactions also go to show just how judgmental Americans like to be - as if we do it better. Ms. Chua has said that her book is a satirical memoir, so it's based on facts with varying twists in order to make her story more entertaining. Nevertheless, those of us raised by immigrant parents will recognize the logic and actions behind her parenting style. Many of us have had experiences with the Chinese mom style of parenting, even though we are Nigerian, Dominican, etc. It's not that serious.
I found Ms. Chua's writing style engaging, witty at times, slightly self-deprecating, but thoroughly honest. Great read.
I found Ms. Chua's writing style engaging, witty at times, slightly self-deprecating, but thoroughly honest. Great read.
4 stars not for the literature quality, but for the story told, and the courage to bring it out into public. The book is supposed to portray the differences between Chinese and Western parenting education culture, however the book ends showing much more than that. Anyone with kids worried about their education and future will understand how brilliant kids achieve high standards. How much effort must be put by parents and children, and will get a glimpse into how harsh and difficult all this is.
The book tells a true story, a story well told, with full crescendo and changing characters. After knowing all characters it'll be hard to put the book down.
Will review about the education factors in the book in my blog soon.
Análise em Português: http://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com/2013/05/educacao-e-criatividade.html
The book tells a true story, a story well told, with full crescendo and changing characters. After knowing all characters it'll be hard to put the book down.
Will review about the education factors in the book in my blog soon.
Análise em Português: http://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com/2013/05/educacao-e-criatividade.html
This woman is crazy and selfish. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because I managed to keep reading and finish it. I'm glad I'm done; I'm ready to move on to something else.
It was actually not nearly as shocking as I had expected but really interesting. It was told in such a way that it felt like you were sitting above the family, watching their lives and reserving judgment until the end. A good, quick read.
I think it's pretty insane how confident she can feel about what's right for her daughters and what would actually help them "succeed" in life. Entertaining and eye-opening!
Some points that stuck out to me:
- letting your kids choose whatever they want isn't parenting. In many ways they often don't know enough to choose themselves (but I think there's also a degree to which you should allow your child to express their preferences)
- getting your child to persevere instead of giving up helps build character (but I do think she went way overboard). There's a default state for giving up or doing what's easiest and sometimes it takes someone who knows better to show the child that the harder path will be better in the long run.
- Really would like to know if there's some research done about why second children tend to be more rebellious than the eldest child
Some points that stuck out to me:
- letting your kids choose whatever they want isn't parenting. In many ways they often don't know enough to choose themselves (but I think there's also a degree to which you should allow your child to express their preferences)
- getting your child to persevere instead of giving up helps build character (but I do think she went way overboard). There's a default state for giving up or doing what's easiest and sometimes it takes someone who knows better to show the child that the harder path will be better in the long run.
- Really would like to know if there's some research done about why second children tend to be more rebellious than the eldest child
Finished this book in one sitting because I couldn't wait to find out what all the controversy was about.
As I read this book, I expected to find the author own up to some of her regrets and mistakes she made while parenting, as she pushed her daughters to the absolute brink of their limitations in the name of perfection.
But instead, the final chapter has a little glimpse of regret, but no sense of real owning up to the full extent of how damaging her idolatry of success at any cost must have affected her daughters, and her husband.
I think the final chapters say it all when even as her daughters read the almost finished product of the book, one bursts out crying, and has to leave the room, since reliving it and reading about it was too much for her.
I know that we all make mistakes in parenting, and I agree with Chua that we might have gone to the other extreme too of erring on being "soft" on our children for fear of hurting their self esteem, but it's difficult for me to see that several hour long screaming matches between her and her daughter is worth a few moments of shining glory, not really for her daughters, but ultimately, glory for herself.
So much more to say and discuss about this book. I need a book club just on this book! Any takers?
As I read this book, I expected to find the author own up to some of her regrets and mistakes she made while parenting, as she pushed her daughters to the absolute brink of their limitations in the name of perfection.
But instead, the final chapter has a little glimpse of regret, but no sense of real owning up to the full extent of how damaging her idolatry of success at any cost must have affected her daughters, and her husband.
I think the final chapters say it all when even as her daughters read the almost finished product of the book, one bursts out crying, and has to leave the room, since reliving it and reading about it was too much for her.
I know that we all make mistakes in parenting, and I agree with Chua that we might have gone to the other extreme too of erring on being "soft" on our children for fear of hurting their self esteem, but it's difficult for me to see that several hour long screaming matches between her and her daughter is worth a few moments of shining glory, not really for her daughters, but ultimately, glory for herself.
So much more to say and discuss about this book. I need a book club just on this book! Any takers?
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced