Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

By: Amy Chua

Narrated by: Amy Chua

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)

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.

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.

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.

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......

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!

Great book for new parents

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

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 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.

I don't have what it takes to be a tiger mom

Whether you agree or disagree with her views/actions on how to educate children, I find the book very entertaining. It has not only stirred up a lot of discussions, it has certainly made me reflect on what my belief is and what my husband thinks about this topic since we don't have kids yet. I truly respect Amy Chua as a mother even though I don't think I can do what she's done to/for her kids. I don't think I have what it takes to be a tiger mom, but on the other hand, it may really take that much of discipline to train and refine one's skill in music or a lot of other fields. At the end of the day, not all of us is music prodigy.


In short, if you don't start the book judgmental, it's a well-written, well-narrated book that shows a very interesting/different perspective on culture and child's education.

Love her or hate her .. you can see the value

Amy Chua did nothing to make us like her, and very often I wanted to ring her neck. At the same time I wish I'd had a parent that was so dedicated to my learning to be that involved. I learned a lot from the book, not just about being an "Asian parent" but also about how much dedication and perseverance it takes to become proficient.