Publisher's summary

At once provocative and laugh-out-loud funny, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother ignited a global parenting debate with its story of one mother’s journey in strict parenting.

Amy Chua argues that Western parenting tries to respect and nurture children’s individuality, while Chinese parents typically believe that arming children with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence prepares them best for the future.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua’s iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, the Chinese way - and the remarkable, sometimes heartbreaking results her choice inspires.

Achingly honest and profoundly challenging, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is one of the most talked-about books of our times.

©2010 Amy Chua (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Courageous and thought-provoking.” (David Brooks, The New York Times)

“Breathtakingly personal...[Chua’s] tale is as compelling as a good thriller.” (The Financial Times)

"[F]ascinating...the most stimulating book on the subject of child rearing since Dr. Spock." (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

What listeners say about Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    791
  • 4 Stars
    469
  • 3 Stars
    226
  • 2 Stars
    60
  • 1 Stars
    61
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    747
  • 4 Stars
    291
  • 3 Stars
    100
  • 2 Stars
    40
  • 1 Stars
    35
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    637
  • 4 Stars
    319
  • 3 Stars
    159
  • 2 Stars
    53
  • 1 Stars
    53

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Chinese and Western Parenting Styles

Would you listen to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother again? Why?

Yes, this book gives an insight to Chinese-American families and parenting styles.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how raw and real it was, none of it was written to make anyone look better or worse than they really are.

Which character – as performed by Amy Chua – was your favorite?

I liked the voice she had put on for Lulu in some parts.

What did you learn from Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother that you would use in your daily life?

I learned about differing cultures and the effects they have on children and I can apply it to situations in the future.

Any additional comments?

Even though I had to read this for an intercultural communication class, I really enjoyed every chapter of it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening story

As a child of an Asian parent I found this book very enlightening. I also found it very humorous and laughed out loud more times than I can count. I would definitely recommend this book to others. And I would certainly read more by this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I understand that this is controversial but ..why?

From what I understand from some other people, especially those in the psychology field, this book is controversial because Amy Chua is seen as abusive, but really...come on. What Amy Chua is, is a smart ambitious woman who happens to be raising very smart and ambitious children. This woman isn't abusing her kids. She is simply being ambitious for them. I commend her for writing an honest and funny memoir about her particular parenting style. It was a good story, and was well worth listening to.

Is Amy Chua neurotic? Yes, yes she is. Is she wrong about how she parents her children? No, not at all. Her parenting style could be considered authoritarian, and popular psychology would have parents believe that authoritarian parenting styles do not necessarily have the best outcomes, but that point is debatable.

This book provides interesting insight, and I personally appreciate this woman letting us all glimpse the perspectives of an Asian-American woman.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tiger Mom of China Learns to Blend of Cultures

Would you listen to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother again? Why?

I enjoy learning of other cultures and how the raise their children and cope with the American Western World. I don't know that I would listen to it again as you join the family fully in this book...

Which scene was your favorite?

The book follows the growth third generation daughters and the extra change of Mom crossing the Culture bounds of being married to an Jewish American. As we follow the girls lives as they grow and practice, practice & more practice of their required learning programs . As the American lifestyle pulls on the girls the clash grows and I find myself riveted for the conclusion. Mix with that with the family challenges we all have and it makes for a interesting book.

Any additional comments?

I think the book shows the importance of balance in ones life and how we can go to far to one side or the other despite our best intentions. Having raised twin boys with my wife I do believe we chose to much of the American take it easy life style but at the same time there is still time to correct that course......

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun, Entertaining Book

I was always curious about Tiger Moms, and I did wonder what Chinese Mothers were like. A fun book to read, and insightful!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book for new parents

Love this book. Well written and performed by the author. The stories are fascinating and thought provoking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring.

The evil of good is better. I think Amy has taken the whole Chinese value system to a whole different level. Well written and her narration definitely bring the stories alive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Something to learn

Entertaining story. Funny. Amy Chua has a point though. This book is not a polemic or theoretical work, but it is true. Asian parents do parent better than western ones, generally, at least between the ages of 7-14.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Provocative for all parents

Definitely worth a listen for anyone who is a parent (or considering such). Ms. Chua raises important questions about how hard to push as a parent and the natural conflict between wanting to create a "perfect" child and wanting to have an easy, loving relationship with your child. The book also helps to humanize Ms. Chua a bit -- the Wall Street Journal excerpt focused on all the extremes in the book.

Drawbacks:

--Last chapter could have used more reflection by Ms. Chua. Would she have done anything differently if she could and why? What else did she learn from her parenting experience?

--Book needed a good editor to delete numerous trite phrases like "sharp as a tack." A Yale law prof can be more thoughtful about word choice (or getting an editor).

--Ms.Chua isn't a professional narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • M3
  • 07-08-12

Love it and hate it at the same time

I hated this book when I started it - Chua is presumptuous, self absorbed, and brutal with her children. She looks down on Western culture, brags unflinchingly about herself, and is opinionated beyond belief.

But then there are the results of her actions.

She herself is an accomplished academic. Her daughters, who are key to the story, are superior musicians. She's a published author, for cryin' out loud. But at what price? Driving her children to practice repetitively with blatant, negative criticism probably doesn't do much for their egos. But the results are uncontested, and the validity of Chua's key Methodology is clear:

1. Make your children practice to be excellent.
2. By being excellent they will gain recognition.

This is wrapped up in the assumption that a child does NOT know what is best for his/her own development...a parent must choose that path for the child.

The first step is always the hardest. As the father of 3 children, I completely agree that most parents (not just Western ones) lose the battle here. However, I'm not sure Chua's method of derisive criticism and aggressive bullying is the best way to win the battle...and she herself admits that it didn't work with her second daughter.

It IS important to make children realize that although they may be hard-headed, WE as parents are more hard-headed than they are...and we have a LOT more experience in what works. The way to do that...is up to you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful