Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mum is the controversial, real-life story about how strict Chinese parenting produces better results than the relaxed Western approach. Told with humour and wit, the book opened up a public debate about how to raise your children.
Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mum Summary
The Battle Hymn of The Tiger Mum is an endlessly self-deprecating story about raising children with strict immigrant standards.
Adopting strict rules that banish complaints, sleepovers and unproductive hobbies, Yale Law Professor Amy Chua tells the story of how she raised her two children as piano and violin prodigies with the belief that children are inherently strong and capable of reaching the highest possible grades and achievements in life.
From early stages to adolescence, Chua speaks openly about the discipline, courage and self-sacrifice required to be a Tiger Mum and the clash of cultures that results when attempting to raise your children in the Chinese style in the western world.
Below are some of the key insights from the book.
Key Insights
- Western parenting discourages pushing your children because it assumes weakness while Chinese parenting assumes strength.
- Chinese parenting typically equates academic success to successful parenting with the assumption that any grade below an A is not acceptable.
- Disciplined parenting creates a virtuous circle where pushing your children to achieve results in achievements that themselves increase self confidence.
- Chinese parenting typically stresses the importance of drilling and deliberative practice with success seen as a product of hard work and effort.
- While wealth rarely lasts three generations, parents should always do what they can to equip their children for the world and provide the best possible start.
- For a Tiger Mum, no amount of time or expense is too much when it comes to achieving the goal of providing your children with the best possible start in life.
- In Chinese culture obedience is regarded as one of the highest virtues unlike the western world which values individualism and open rebellion.
- Chinese parents invest everything they have in their children with the expectation that they will bring honour to the family and in return look after them in old age.
- Despite the pressure and constant desire to improve, many children appreciate a strict parenting style and see the value in replicating this with their own children.
- As a family, the shared experience of pushing each other to work hard as a team is a unifying force that brings out the best in everyone.