Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother By Amy Chua

I read a book entitled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. This book has received much publicity lately, so it sparked my interest. I found this book very fascinating because it discusses the manner in which one mother, who is Chinese-American, decided to raise her two daughters. It is well known that Chinese parents believe that the best way to raise children is by emphasizing skills, strong work habits, and  rigorous academic training. This belief is in contrast to Western society, which encourages children to pursue their true passions. I found Chua's story very intriguing, but somewhat sad, because she did not allow her two daughters Sophia and Lulu, to partcipate in many fun activities that other American children engage in. For example Mrs. Chua did not allow her two daughters to ever attend a sleepover. She never allowed them to try out for a school play. Finally, she only permitted them to play the piano or violin: and the girls could not choose their own extracurricular activities. The author's method of child rearing backfired on her when her younger daughter Lulu refused to partcipate in a music concert in Budapest, on the day of the recital. When Lulu and Chua's husband began to break down, Mrs. Chua realized that she could not control every aspect of her children's lives. The book was very interesting because it also made me realize that raising children requires love, patience, and a great investment in time.