Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Anawe-inspiring,oftenhilarious,andunerringlyhoneststoryofonemother'sexerciseinextremeparenting,revealingtherewards-andthecosts-ofraisingherchildrentheChineseway.

Alldecentparentswanttodowhat'sbestfortheirchildren.WhatBattleHymnoftheTigerMotherrevealsisthattheChinesejusthaveatotallydifferentideaofhowtodothat.Westernparentstrytorespecttheirchildren'sindividuality,encouragingthemtopursuetheirtruepassionsandprovidinganurturingenvironment.TheChinesebelievethatthebestwaytoprotectyourchildrenisbypreparingthemforthefutureandarmingthemwithskills,strongworkhabits,andinnerconfidence.BattleHymnoftheTigerMotherchroniclesChua'siron-willeddecisiontoraiseherdaughters,SophiaandLulu,herway-theChineseway-andtheremarkableresultsherchoiceinspires.

HerearesomethingsAmyChuawouldneverallowherdaughterstodo:

?haveaplaydate

?beinaschoolplay

?complainaboutnotbeinginaschoolplay

?notbethe#1studentineverysubjectexceptgymanddrama

?playanyinstrumentotherthanthepianoorviolin

?notplaythepianoorviolin

ThetruthisLuluandSophiawouldneverhavehadtimeforaplaydate.Theyweretoobusypracticingtheirinstruments(twotothreehoursadayanddoublesessionsontheweekend)andperfectingtheirMandarin.

Ofcoursenooneisperfect,includingChuaherself.Witnessthisscene:

"AccordingtoSophia,herearethreethingsIactuallysaidtoheratthepianoasIsupervisedherpracticing:

1.OhmyGod,you'rejustgettingworseandworse.

2.I'mgoingtocounttothree,thenIwantmusicality.

3.Ifthenexttime'snotPERFECT,I'mgoingtotakeallyourstuffedanimalsandburnthem!"

ButChuademandsasmuchofherselfasshedoesofherdaughters.Andinhersacrifices-theexactingattentionspentstudyingherdaughters'performances,theofficehourslostshuttlingthegirlstolessons-thedepthofherloveforherchildrenbecomesclear.BattleHymnoftheTigerMotherisaneye-openingexplorationofthedifferencesinEasternandWesternparenting-andthelessonsparentsandchildreneverywhereteachoneanother.

　　Amy Chua is the John M. Duff Professor of Lawat Yale Law School. Her first book, World on Fire: How ExportingFree Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and GlobalInstability, a New York Times bestseller, was selectedby both The Economist and the U.K.'s Guardian as oneof the Best Books of 2003. Her second book, Day of Empire: HowHyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance-and Why They Fall, was acritically acclaimed Foreign Affairs bestseller.