Will I love Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother?

I found the book reminded me so much of my own ‘tiger mother’ during my childhood and growing up years, where ‘good’ was never enough. It had to be ’best’. Her writing was plain and uncomplicated, whilst the relationships she had with her musician daughters were quite the contrary, and I found this juxtaposition rather extraordinary. 

I found the book satisfying to read, and the incidents in it were uncannily similar to my own experiences with my mother.

Twelve years ago, I was milling around a bookstore on Orchard Road in Singapore when I came across this book. I proceeded to spend the next three hours in an armchair, reading the book from cover to cover.

Amy Chua is the quintessential tiger mom, as strict as they come. And while I wouldn’t necessarily agree with all her parenting choices, I never once questioned her love for her daughters. The way she matures and changes as a mother is incredibly moving and inspirational for any parent trying their best. 

Chua set off an international firestorm with her memoir, a frank account of the trials and tribulations of raising her two daughters the Chinese way in the U.S. Her strict, achievement-oriented parenting tactics often run counter to mainstream Western ideals about raising children and have drawn harsh criticism from many readers. Whether you agree with her methods or not, it’s impossible not to be touched by Chua’s book.