Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
An easy read, this book is as startling as all that press hoop-la would make you think. The press certainly created more of a story than is actually there, but Amy Chua's parenting style is startling nonetheless. Amy Chua discusses the way she raised her 2 daughters and generalizes the "Chinese Mother" way of parenting, whether or not you're Chinese - and not to say that all Chinese mothers are like this. Mine certainly was not! (You're welcome, Mom!) In the epilogue, the author claims that her book was part satire. While I can see that in some parts of the book, it is not evident throughout. She could be self-deprecating at times, but truly seemed to believe she is less crazy than she seems. Overall, she's just a little, perhaps more than a little, nutty. (Aren't we all??) Which is probably why I enjoyed reading this. Yes, I am being judgmental, but it made me feel less crazy to read about others more crazy than me. I know there are thousands of mothers, perhaps millions, around the world who raise their children in this way. And her parenting style seems to work for her family. I accept that I'm judging and I also applaud the author for being brave enough to put this all in writing. But for an American audience, this is just not what we are used to. It does make for an entertaining read, though. As a mom-to-be, it was good to read this and know that at least I won't be that bad!!
An entire book blaming emotional abuse of one's own children on cultural background.
It was fine. It was a fast read (I read it in a few hours). Her children are amazing and her dedication to ensuring that is remarkable. I grew tired of her constant derision of Western parenting. I don't take it personally, it was just well overstated. I did appreciate the once at the end when she acknowledged that her husband turned out just fine after being parented in the Western style (I think he must be pretty amazing to put up with her intensity and let's not forget how high achieving he is as well despite said "Western parenting"). On the other side, I think she has a point that we can and should be demanding excellence through hard work from our children. It makes me want to do a better job with my own mothering, even though I'm pretty sure it looks a lot different than hers.
A great quick read on parenting and the differences between birth order. I found the book to be compelling and frightening at the same time.
Started reading this book to understand and learn about a different parenting style. I wasn’t aware the book was mostly about her daughters’ classical music journey. I skimmed a lot about her violin and paint lessons.
4 stars - Well written, readable, and compelling. I couldn't stop reading. I had the excerpt sent to my Kindle and I bought it as soon as I reached the end of the excerpt.
2 stars - The organization of this book was bizarrely stream-of-consciousness. We would talk about Lulu, and then we would talk about the dog. The stories of her love for the dogs makes her stories of her passionate love - which sounded to me more like ambition - for her daughters that much more disturbing.
I understand that different cultures raise children differently. But as I read this, I thought about Sharia law and how I would speak up if my neighbor wished to stone his daughter for inappropriate contact with a man, and I wondered where the line between parenthood and infringement on personal liberties is. I did not think Chua was abusive to her children - mean, perhaps, but I was sad to think of the kind of relationship that would create for the future. I think that being the best at something is overrated. I think that perseverance in our pursuits is important and should be taught to children, but I think there's a difference between single-minded, slavish devotion and sticking to something.
I don't know.
2 stars - The organization of this book was bizarrely stream-of-consciousness. We would talk about Lulu, and then we would talk about the dog. The stories of her love for the dogs makes her stories of her passionate love - which sounded to me more like ambition - for her daughters that much more disturbing.
I understand that different cultures raise children differently. But as I read this, I thought about Sharia law and how I would speak up if my neighbor wished to stone his daughter for inappropriate contact with a man, and I wondered where the line between parenthood and infringement on personal liberties is. I did not think Chua was abusive to her children - mean, perhaps, but I was sad to think of the kind of relationship that would create for the future. I think that being the best at something is overrated. I think that perseverance in our pursuits is important and should be taught to children, but I think there's a difference between single-minded, slavish devotion and sticking to something.
I don't know.
Like most people, I became interested in this book because of the controversy surrounding it; Chua has been portrayed in the media as an unapologetically harsh, demanding parent who is determined to force her children to excel at all costs. So I was a little surprised when I had the book at my hands and read the front cover text, which states "This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it's about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year-old."
I'm not sure if the publicists weren't talking to the book designers, or if the cover is an attempt to reel in people who are attracted by the hype but don't want to read a book that makes them feel like a lazy Western parent.
Based on the above, I hope it's not a spoiler to say that while the first three-fourths or so are a treatise on the superiority of so-called Chinese parenthood (including the much-publicized tactics of calling your kids garbage, making them practice musical instruments for four hours a day, etc.) the last couple of chapters are basically an about-face wrapped up with an epilogue that's much more moderate, and full of cute quotes from her kids to underscore that they don't actually hate her for any of the above.
While I wasn't surprised that at least one of Chua's kids would rebel, the ending felt like a cop-out to me. This was a fast read, and mildly entertaining, but I didn't feel like it worked as either a parenting book or a memoir.
I'm not sure if the publicists weren't talking to the book designers, or if the cover is an attempt to reel in people who are attracted by the hype but don't want to read a book that makes them feel like a lazy Western parent.
Based on the above, I hope it's not a spoiler to say that while the first three-fourths or so are a treatise on the superiority of so-called Chinese parenthood (including the much-publicized tactics of calling your kids garbage, making them practice musical instruments for four hours a day, etc.) the last couple of chapters are basically an about-face wrapped up with an epilogue that's much more moderate, and full of cute quotes from her kids to underscore that they don't actually hate her for any of the above.
While I wasn't surprised that at least one of Chua's kids would rebel, the ending felt like a cop-out to me. This was a fast read, and mildly entertaining, but I didn't feel like it worked as either a parenting book or a memoir.
Thought of reading some of the passages to my kids and telling them this was my next step. Interesting perspective and interesting to see the kids' perspectives of her mothering tactics when they were grown.
I always enjoy books about raising children with different cultural influences. This one was enjoyable even though it does differ from the way I parent. It was interesting the changes the author made to her parenting as her youngest reached her teens.
everything had always given me the impression that it was a parenting book, but really it's a memoir about parenting. which is fine, it's a quick read and I found it pretty interesting but I was definitely ready for it to end before it did