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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
This was a fascinating tale about clashing parenting cultures. I felt both admiration and distaste for Chua's strategies, which I think is kind of the point of the book. On the one hand, I really admire her transparency and honesty in sharing her experiences as a stubborn and difficult-to-please mother, as well as her natural belief in her children being able to do hard things. On the other hand, I also felt myself recoiling from her brutal honesty, lack of flexibility, and blatant comparison between her children. Overall, there were many great lessons from this book that I'm sure I'll continue to consider as I go on my own parenting journey.
This book has me torn whether or not I was either truly fascinated from terror or if actually really loved it.
I can relate to the author's children; though I did not have such a demanding upbringing, the morals, thoughts and opinions of what my family thought of westerners were completely true. It is a strange thing to read and see the opinions of other Asian moms and how they think of the Westernized culture and upbringing. Especially since my mother was the same way too.
Once I'm off my phone, I DEFINITLEY want to expand upon my review. This book will probably linger on my mind for a very long time
I can relate to the author's children; though I did not have such a demanding upbringing, the morals, thoughts and opinions of what my family thought of westerners were completely true. It is a strange thing to read and see the opinions of other Asian moms and how they think of the Westernized culture and upbringing. Especially since my mother was the same way too.
Once I'm off my phone, I DEFINITLEY want to expand upon my review. This book will probably linger on my mind for a very long time
One of the reasons for me to love reading is that one single book can extract a different reaction from different people. Amy Chua’s memoir about raising her Chinese-Jewish American children the Chinese way, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, has done just that. From ferocious shocked reactions in the United States, of parents who could not imagine a more evil mother, to an unexpected reception in China, actually portraying her raising methods as the cool american mom who gives make-up tips.
Me, I thought she narrated her story in a funny, honest way, even doubting herself and a child-rearing method she fully believed in. A thing I did not expect was that I also felt slightly sad after Ifinished the book. As a half-Asian/European child myself, I could recognize the stern Asian mother that only wanted the best, honostly thinking less than an A as a grade was embarassing and the relaxed, easy-going father that did not care if I got an A or a B. My mother mercilessly drilled me too at occassions, not completely to Amy Chua’s extent, but I can say without a doubt those were moments I will NOT forget, ever.
When I turned 12 my mother moved to Indonesia, for she got a good job there and me, I stayed in Amsterdam finishing school. This is where Chua’s book hit a chord, I realized that, had my mother stayed in Holland during my teen years, I could have been molded into someone “better”, if the freedom of liberal Amsterdam had been thoughtfully combined with Asian parenting brought forward in this book. As Chua says, nothing is fun untill you’re good at it, I now wish there actually was someone that would force the practicing and studying DOWN MY THROAT if it had to be that way.
All in all, I think it was a good read. Besides it being an entertaining story it is food for discussion, a discussion about parenting but about the various reactions it has received as well, for I do agree that a lot of the extremely negative comments and remarks in the West could have a deeper root than just the parenting itself. Chinese kids and China itself, excel these days in a lot of fields, at the same time the US is slowly falling of its mighty international throne, with China as its current big competitor climbing up ever so fast in terms of global significance. No wonder this little book that ‘reveals’ the secret to the succes so many Asians achieve is intimidating for the mainstream liberal American parent.
I don’t agree with every method this Tiger mom uses or rule she sets out but ahh, if just everyone would discipline and train their children more! What a marvelous world we would live in, absolutely not something to be afraid of!
Me, I thought she narrated her story in a funny, honest way, even doubting herself and a child-rearing method she fully believed in. A thing I did not expect was that I also felt slightly sad after Ifinished the book. As a half-Asian/European child myself, I could recognize the stern Asian mother that only wanted the best, honostly thinking less than an A as a grade was embarassing and the relaxed, easy-going father that did not care if I got an A or a B. My mother mercilessly drilled me too at occassions, not completely to Amy Chua’s extent, but I can say without a doubt those were moments I will NOT forget, ever.
When I turned 12 my mother moved to Indonesia, for she got a good job there and me, I stayed in Amsterdam finishing school. This is where Chua’s book hit a chord, I realized that, had my mother stayed in Holland during my teen years, I could have been molded into someone “better”, if the freedom of liberal Amsterdam had been thoughtfully combined with Asian parenting brought forward in this book. As Chua says, nothing is fun untill you’re good at it, I now wish there actually was someone that would force the practicing and studying DOWN MY THROAT if it had to be that way.
All in all, I think it was a good read. Besides it being an entertaining story it is food for discussion, a discussion about parenting but about the various reactions it has received as well, for I do agree that a lot of the extremely negative comments and remarks in the West could have a deeper root than just the parenting itself. Chinese kids and China itself, excel these days in a lot of fields, at the same time the US is slowly falling of its mighty international throne, with China as its current big competitor climbing up ever so fast in terms of global significance. No wonder this little book that ‘reveals’ the secret to the succes so many Asians achieve is intimidating for the mainstream liberal American parent.
I don’t agree with every method this Tiger mom uses or rule she sets out but ahh, if just everyone would discipline and train their children more! What a marvelous world we would live in, absolutely not something to be afraid of!
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Undeniably, Chua is an intelligent and well-thought out writer. Her "teachings" on motherhood, however, will certainly not be everyone's cup of tea. Despite this fact, the book certainly has interesting things to say.
I did not expect to like this book, but I did. I would never do or say some of the things that the author reports that she did or said, but it was an enjoyable read.
I had heard the uproar about this book when it came out and wouldn't have wanted to read it unless someone told me it was valuable. I really enjoyed it. It took awhile to not feel like Amy Chua was personally judging me as a parent, but that's just normal parent insecurity. I think all parents assume other parents are judging their choices. Once I got past that I was able to really enjoy the book. Chua isn't judging other parents, she's judging herself, and it's nice to hear how other people parent. No parent has it all together, and you're bound to make mistakes.
I became surprisingly engaged over whether Lulu would quit violin. The afterward was a nice touch and was so lighthearted, it was a fantastic change of pace. I would recommend it, don't take it or yourself too seriously and it's wonderful.
I became surprisingly engaged over whether Lulu would quit violin. The afterward was a nice touch and was so lighthearted, it was a fantastic change of pace. I would recommend it, don't take it or yourself too seriously and it's wonderful.
I knew I had to read this, because it was obvious from the media coverage that the actual book would be more nuanced and interesting than the way it was portrayed - and indeed, this is true. But I do still have very mixed feelings about this book, and about Chua's ideas. This is definitely a memoir, not a how-to manual, and she is surprisingly open and revealing about her own foibles and mistakes. I wish we got to see more of her husband in these pages, because I would love to know his take on all this. In the final chapter "Coda", she writes about the writing process of the actual book, and about her daughters reading and criticizing her drafts. Despite all the harsh words that have gone before, here you can really see the heart of their relationship, and how loving, supportive, and funny they all are. And in the end, isn't that (most of) what counts?
It was very thought-provoking, thinking about my own upbringing and how I am raising my child now. Ultimately, I realized, I wouldn't take this road myself - not so much for my child's sake (though I do not think my ultra-sensitive child would respond well to the methods Chua describes) - but for my own selfish reasons. Chua does not seem very happy, and in fact, she admits that personal happiness has never been a big thing for her. I am too selfish and like my personal time and my hobbies, and in the end, wouldn't want to trade in my happiness for a chance at having my daughter play at Carnegie Hall. If that makes me a Western parent, then so be it. I'm okay with that.
It was very thought-provoking, thinking about my own upbringing and how I am raising my child now. Ultimately, I realized, I wouldn't take this road myself - not so much for my child's sake (though I do not think my ultra-sensitive child would respond well to the methods Chua describes) - but for my own selfish reasons. Chua does not seem very happy, and in fact, she admits that personal happiness has never been a big thing for her. I am too selfish and like my personal time and my hobbies, and in the end, wouldn't want to trade in my happiness for a chance at having my daughter play at Carnegie Hall. If that makes me a Western parent, then so be it. I'm okay with that.
First, I enjoyed the book and found it very readable. It was a very honest self deprecating memoir. I read the hoopla in the press about the book and expected to dislike the author. I didn't. I thought she was a bit too neurotic and demanding but I also found her really funny. You do not get the full story just listening to the sound bites and interviews in the press. They are pulling the most outrageous portions of the book.
Chua's book is a brutally honest account of her parenting style and she doesn't holdback on a critique of herself. She also shares her family's critique of her parenting style which mirrors alot of the criticism that I've heard in the press. The thing is, if you haven't read the book you don't realize that she eased back and changed her parenting style when it wasn't working and her daughters rebelled or pointed out to her they wanted her to change. That part of her experience doesn't make an exciting headline.
I don't have children so I was reading this from the perspective of being a daughter and how I was parented. My issue was the generalization of "Chinese" vs. "Western" parenting styles because I grew up with strict parents. Although my parents were not over the top like Chua' they definitely had no nonsense parents with high expectations who believed their job was to raise nice, productive and successful children. They weren't concerned about whether we liked them or not. I would have dubbed my parents "Midwestern" style parents who stressed hard work, academics and respect for authority. In fact, one of her daughters calls her out on this and says that none of her friends parents have the "Western" style parenting that Chua was always deriding. Chua makes the point of saying that she understands that a Norwegian father in South Dakota could have the Chinese parenting style.
Her book is definitely not about how her parenting style is superior and the way we all should be parenting. If anything, she focuses why she parented the way she did and admitted what didn't work. I did enjoy reading about the immigrant culture because you do read how children from China, India, and Korea excel at school. Perhaps it is the parenting style. I know alot of "Western" children who also excel and probably for the same reasons--parents who are very involved.
I did think Chua was over the top and harsh in her parenting style but I also think it was more about her uber competitive drive. I think there was alot she and her husband did right. Would I have wanted her for a mother, probably not but her daughters seem to have turned out well.
I definitely recommend reading the book because it really is a fun read.
Chua's book is a brutally honest account of her parenting style and she doesn't holdback on a critique of herself. She also shares her family's critique of her parenting style which mirrors alot of the criticism that I've heard in the press. The thing is, if you haven't read the book you don't realize that she eased back and changed her parenting style when it wasn't working and her daughters rebelled or pointed out to her they wanted her to change. That part of her experience doesn't make an exciting headline.
I don't have children so I was reading this from the perspective of being a daughter and how I was parented. My issue was the generalization of "Chinese" vs. "Western" parenting styles because I grew up with strict parents. Although my parents were not over the top like Chua' they definitely had no nonsense parents with high expectations who believed their job was to raise nice, productive and successful children. They weren't concerned about whether we liked them or not. I would have dubbed my parents "Midwestern" style parents who stressed hard work, academics and respect for authority. In fact, one of her daughters calls her out on this and says that none of her friends parents have the "Western" style parenting that Chua was always deriding. Chua makes the point of saying that she understands that a Norwegian father in South Dakota could have the Chinese parenting style.
Her book is definitely not about how her parenting style is superior and the way we all should be parenting. If anything, she focuses why she parented the way she did and admitted what didn't work. I did enjoy reading about the immigrant culture because you do read how children from China, India, and Korea excel at school. Perhaps it is the parenting style. I know alot of "Western" children who also excel and probably for the same reasons--parents who are very involved.
I did think Chua was over the top and harsh in her parenting style but I also think it was more about her uber competitive drive. I think there was alot she and her husband did right. Would I have wanted her for a mother, probably not but her daughters seem to have turned out well.
I definitely recommend reading the book because it really is a fun read.
A recommendation by my girlfriend.
A memoir of what it's like to grow up in a Western-Chinese family. It's funny, raw, and at times ridiculous.
I can't argue, that although I disagree with the author's philosophy on parenting/life, I respect her honesty and admire her conviction. The way she justified her draconian parenting style had me simultaneously perplexed and entertained.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
A memoir of what it's like to grow up in a Western-Chinese family. It's funny, raw, and at times ridiculous.
I can't argue, that although I disagree with the author's philosophy on parenting/life, I respect her honesty and admire her conviction. The way she justified her draconian parenting style had me simultaneously perplexed and entertained.
Thoroughly enjoyable.