Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Amy Chua

Jan 2011 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

“Courageous and thought-provoking.” —David Brooks, The New York Times

“Breathtakingly personal . . . [Chua’s] tale is as compelling as a good thriller.” —The Financial Times

"[F]ascinating. . . . the most stimulating book on the subject of child rearing since Dr. Spock." —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Chua’s memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, is a quick, easy read. It’s smart, funny, honest and a little heartbreaking . . .” —Chicago Sun-Times

At once provocative and laugh-out-loud funny, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother ignited a global parenting debate with its story of one mother’s journey in strict parenting.  Amy Chua argues that Western parenting tries to respect and nurture children’s individuality, while Chinese parents typically believe that arming children with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence prepares them best for the future.   Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua’s iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, the Chinese way – and the remarkable, sometimes heartbreaking  results her choice inspires.  Achingly honest and profoundly challenging, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is one of the most talked-about books of our times.

Ratings and reviews

From what I have heard about the book - I am a bit of a tiger mom. I enjoyed reading the book but realized I am not in her league at all. She had some really good points that made me think about how to balance it all. Definately worth the read. I would love to hear from the daughters, especiallly as they get older.

A humorous look at Western parenting styles versus American-Chinese parenting styles that illustrates that parenting is a frustrating job no matter where the children live and what their cultural heritages are. Amy Chua adds her own unique brand of commentary to the mix of views on parenting. Asian parents are by far the most accomplished citizens/residents of the USA. They have a difficult challenge in keeping their children on the path to accomplishment while exposing them to cultural advantages of living in the USA.

This is not a book about how parents should teach their children. This is a very personal book of Amy who tells a story of how she raises her kids and what twists and turns she experienced during the process. Her ways changed her daughters, and her daughters changed her too. It's a story of the growth of the tiger mom, not about "Tiger mom is always right". People may find her an absolute genius or a complete fraud. Just don't take this book too personal to yourself, cause that's not what Amy meant. Misinterpretation makes everything worse.

About the author

Amy Chua is the John M. Duff Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Her most recent book is Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations. She is also the author of The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America (co-authored with Jed Rubenfeld). Chua's first book, World on Fire, was a New York Times bestseller and selected by The Economist as one of the best books of 2003; while her second book, Day of Empire, was a critically acclaimed Foreign Affairs bestseller. Chua lives with her husband, two daughters, and two Samoyeds in New Haven, Connecticut.