Amazingly true and well written review, I agree 100% and loved your use of quotes to emphasis the point. Really interesting!

Wow! I think your arguments are well reasoned, and I can certainly understand your reaction. I think I'll be more strict than most parents I know, there's definitely a balance that needs to happen!

Thanks for being on this tour!

I read an article by this woman the other day that was apparently about this book or an excerpt from it but I somehow missed it was actually a book, lol.. I've also seen this book around and didn't know that's what it was. I don't think I can read this book. It sort of brought tears to my eyes just reading your review. Unfortunately, that is how many Asian parents raise their children and there is NO telling them otherwise. It is extremely unhealthy to grow up without self-esteem and I think this kind of parenting leads directly to that. Great review though!

I find this very interesting and will definitely put this book on my list. However, what I found even more ironic is that I plan to read the husband's (Jed Rubenfeld) new mystery in my next couple of books. It comes out this week and it has been getting very good notices from mystery bloggers. Anyway, when you mentioned the husband's name, I thought, isn't that the guy that wrote that mystery I'm about to read? Weird.

As to the parentin style, for me, I never responded well to yelling and ridicule. Why would I expect a kid to? I probably went the other way with my parenting, but seriously? Who can perform with yelling?

i've been dying to read this so i can be as fascinated as you were. awesome review, you've already made me despise her while making me excited to read the book at the same time

Zoe - Thanks :)

Trish - Absolutely. Balance is the key.

Jenny - Having lived with Asian families, I know Chua's right about the differing parenting styles. However, I don't think that's an excuse for behaving abusively toward a child. I just can't imagine valuing achievement over the emotional health of your child.

Kay - LOL. I do wonder about Rubenfeld now that I've read his wife's book. She paints him as such a wimp. I wonder what he's really like ...

I agree - how can ANYONE be expected to achieve ANYTHING with someone yelling at them all the time? Sheesh.

Nich - Ask and ye shall receive! Laurel grabbed the book tonight so she can give it to you. Can't wait to hear what you think.

Two interesting articles on this subject - one is written by Chua, the other is a reaction to the first:

Chua's Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

One Reaction: http://sixseeds.tv/s/content/parenting/726-why_chinese_mothers_are_average_part_one

I just read an article about this mother and appreciated reading your review of the book. Thanks!

Very great!
Interesting..

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Great review! I am really looking forward to reading this book, since my husband is a Chinese immigrant. Even though we probably have a more "western" way of parenting our children, I've seen the other extreme that this author talks about in her book. When visiting my sister-in-law in HK years ago, we stayed at her house and was surprised by the amount of lessons she had her daughter in. By the age of eight she could play the piano, speak FOUR languages (Cantonese, her native language, English, French and Manderain)and did very well in school. What is even more interesting is that she has turned out to be a wonderful young college student who is very accomplished, sweet and loves to spend time with her those same people who pushed her so hard. So I'm trying to say that maybe the Chinese way isn't always so extreme as the author presents and can in fact benifit some children in the long run.