<p>I’m interested to read it because I found the Battle Hymn to be a sad book. Chua wasn’t always proud and definitely expressed some regrets. I never felt that she was advocating her experience for everyone. I wonder if the. Success of that book has changed her mind.</p>
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<p>Most immigrants from those groups are not/were not PhD holders when they came to the US. My great grandparents were Jewish immigrants. Of my 4 great grandfathers 3 emigrated to the US in the 1920s/30s. One died in the Holocaust. The occupations of the other 3</p>
<p>1 was a coppersmith
1 was a tailor
1 was a chauffer</p>
<p>My grandfather didn’t graduate from high school (he was born in Poland). Neither did my grandmother (also born in Poland). Hardly PhDs. They were pretty typical Jewish immigrants. </p>
<p>When I lived in NY the most recent Nigerian immigrants drove cabs. Their kids were hardly the kids of PhDs.</p>
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<p>I did not think that “World on Fire” was moronic. Chua’s analysis of “market-dominant minorities” and the political problems they exemplify (note I do not say cause) is convincing to me. The problem is that the book was overly personal although it presented itself as a scholarly analysis (i.e. her account of the murder of her aunt by the driver). To me, Chua writes extended personal essays and I read them in that spirit. I would never raise my children in the "Tiger Mother " manner but I had a few laughs reading it.</p>
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<p>Ah, there’re the rub–I skipped the parenting book genre altogether after my disgust with “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” It all ended there. Probably explains a lot.</p>
<p>but it just seems like a variation on the old idea that hungry ambitious immigrant groups are assimilated by the third or fourth generation into lazy entitled generic-Americans.</p>
<p>Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves…</p>
<p>There are plenty of tiger moms and dads out there and they aren’t all Chinese. The irony is that when the highly selective schools sniff them out,in many cases it eliminates their child’s chances for admittance.</p>
<p>Right, firstgenbsp112 . . . unless one of the tiger parents has written a book about child rearing practices, in which case it actually becomes an advantage for the child, in terms of “top” college admissions. Color me cynical.</p>
<p>Like a few others on this thread, I am spending no money on any Chua book.</p>
<p>This book is co-written by her husband, Jed Rubenfeld, a Jew.
Perspectives are not solely Chua’s.
Those who are tossing vitriol on her without having read the book are themselves guilty of preconceived prejudice and racism.</p>
<p>It isn’t about race, she (OK, and he) include groups from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East.</p>
<p>And why do so many dismiss the book in such scathing terms without considering the possibility that she is right?</p>
<p>It’s not about the book, which no one can read yet anyway, it’s about her. She is one of those people who likes to stir up controversy, doesn’t mind offending people, and then laughs all the way to the bank. I will join the group that spends “no money on any Chua book.” If her husband was involved, I bet it was in a tertiary way at best.</p>
<p>It’s like the mommy wars, opening Al Capone’s safe on live TV, all things Miley or Thicke, or many other things that assail us in the media hoping to grab our attention in a bad way and get us talking (and spending). Don’t feed the ■■■■■.</p>
<p>I’ve read the transcript of Chua’s interview with Diane Rehm, the column she wrote for the Wall Street Journal, and multiple secondary sources with excerpts from her book. I think I know enough about what she wrote that my ideas are not “preconceived.”</p>
<p>I also know very little about Honey Boo Boo, but I’ve read enough to know that I don’t want to spend any time watching a TV show that features her. I don’t think this reflects “preconceptions” either–nor an anti-Southern bias.</p>
<p>I read about this book yesterday and literally LOL’d with anticipation of the thread that I knew would appear in the caf</p>
<p>And what should we make of immigrant Caribbean mothers who raised their children with similar success? Maybe it is the process and not the race that determines the success. Unless we are talking about book sales. Race baiting sells books!</p>
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<p>The link talks about ethnic groups NOT race.</p>
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She not only offends people, but also hurts Asian Americans (with the new book, possibly hurts Jews in US as well?) She is plainly mean to her fellow Asian Americans (by creating people who may become hostile to them.) Her ethnic group in US, unlike Jews in US, are still relatively more “vulnerable” as a group in many aspects of their lives (e.g., the lack of political power as a group.) - yes, in college admission as well.</p>
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<p>Hey, I assimilated much faster than that. Under a generation :D</p>
<p>I can’t help but wonder if Amy’s book considers the wealth that some of those ethnic families brought into the USA. I’m familiar with a number of them from those ‘successful’ groups and those dudes brought in more money than one would think… Or have we forgotten the invasion of the rich Iranians (Tehrangeles?) in the SoCal area, or the rich Middle Easterners, Nigerian oil money, and the like?</p>
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<p>How is this relevant? I doubt if she (and he) in the book are claiming that, for example, all Nigerian immigrants are more successful than all Caribbean immigrants.</p>
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<p>How do you know? Have you spoken to him? Are you witch hunting?</p>
<p>The more controversial the book, the better the sales. Ms. Chua appears to be off to a fine start. My five children have finally finished school. We were an average American family living in an middle/upper middle class neighborhood. They had average childhood experiences. They played in the summer, joined sports teams etc. We did not have money for lots of activities, but none felt deprived, and were certainly never over-scheduled. I am proud of their accomplishments. One is a lawyer, 2 are dentists, 1 received a PHD from MIT in EE, and 1 has a masters and is currently an adjunct assistant professor. They are happy and well adjusted adults. I knew tiger moms, but was not one of them. My husband worked long hours, but was and is a great dad. I did spend a great deal of time working with my children in their younger years, but it was never pressured. Parents must take an active role in their children’s lives. By high-school they rarely asked class related questions, but we were available. There will always be challenging comments made, but as an American mom I am happy with our children’s education, and feel no need defend our parenting choices.</p>