About Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The (January 11, 2011)
An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother’s exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards—and the costs—of raising her children the Chinese way.
All decent parents want to do what’s best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children’s individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua’s iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way—the Chinese way—and the remarkable results her choice inspires.
Here are some things Amy Chua would never allow her daughters to do:
- have a playdate
- be in a school play
- complain about not being in a school play
- not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama
- play any instrument other than the piano or violin
- not play the piano or violin
The truth is Lulu and Sophia would never have had time for a playdate. They were too busy practicing their instruments (two to three hours a day and double sessions on the weekend) and perfecting their Mandarin.
Of course no one is perfect, including Chua herself. Witness this scene:
“According to Sophia, here are three things I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised her practicing:
- Oh my God, you’re just getting worse and worse.
- I’m going to count to three, then I want musicality.
- If the next time’s not PERFECT, I’m going to take all your stuffed animals and burn them!”
But Chua demands as much of herself as she does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices—the exacting attention spent studying her daughters’ performances, the office hours lost shuttling the girls to lessons—the depth of her love for her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the differences in Eastern and Western parenting—and the lessons parents and children everywhere teach one another.
About Amy Chua
Amy Chua is the John M. Duff Professor of Law at Yale Law School. Her first book, World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability, a New York Times bestseller, was selected by both The Economist and the U.K.’s Guardian as one of the Best Books of 2003. Her second book, Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance—and Why They Fall, was a critically acclaimed Foreign Affairs bestseller. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two Samoyeds in New Haven, Connecticut.
Amy’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS
Tuesday, January 11th: Book Club Classics!
Thursday, January 13th: Lisa’s Yarns
Monday, January 17th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Wednesday, January 19th: Overstuffed
Thursday, January 20th: Pickles and Cheese
Tuesday, January 25th: Chocolate & Croissants
Wednesday, January 26th: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Tuesday, February 1st: Simply Stacie
Wednesday, February 2nd: Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva
Tuesday, February 8th: Susan Heim on Parenting
Wednesday, February 16th: BookNAround
Thursday, February 17th: Family Volley
Wednesday, February 23rd: Peaceful Parenting
Monday, February 28th: Flower Patch Farmgirl
Tuesday, March 8th: In the Next Room
An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one
mother’s exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards—and
the costs—of raising her children the Chinese way
All decent parents want to do what’s best for their
children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals
is that the Chinese just have a totally different
idea of how to do that. Western parents try to
respect their children’s individuality, encouraging
them to pursue their true passions and providing
a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe
that the best way to protect your children is
by preparing them for the future and arming
them with skills, strong work habits, and inner
confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles
Chua’s iron-willed decision to raise her daughters,
Sophia and Lulu, her way—the Chinese way—and
the remarkable results her choice inspires.
Here are some things Amy Chua would never
allow her daughters to do:
• have a playdate
• be in a school play
• complain about not being in a school play
• not be the #1 student in every subject
except gym and drama
• play any instrument other than the piano
or violin
• not play the piano or violin
The truth is Lulu and Sophia would never
have had time for a playdate. They were too busy
practicing their instruments (two to three hours
a day and double sessions on the weekend) and
perfecting their Mandarin.
Of course no one is perfect, including Chua
herself. Witness this scene:
“According to Sophia, here are three things
I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised
her practicing:
1. Oh my God, you’re just getting worse
and worse.
2. I’m going to count to three, then
I want musicality.
3. If the next time’s not PERFECT,
I’m going to take all your stuffed animals
and burn them!”
But Chua demands as much of herself as she
does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices—the
exacting attention spent studying her daughters’
performances, the office hours lost shuttling
the girls to lessons—the depth of her love for
her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the
Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the
differences in Eastern and Western parenting—
and the lessons parents and children everywhere
teach one another.