The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America by Amy Chua, Jed Rubenfeld Review

""That certain groups do much better in America than others—as measured by income, occupational status, test scores, and so on—is difficult to talk about. In large part this is because the topic feels racially charged. The irony is that the facts actually debunk racial stereotypes. There are black and Hispanic subgroups in the United States far outperforming many white and Asian subgroups. Moreover, there’s a demonstrable arc to group success—in immigrant groups, it typically dissipates by the third generation—puncturing the notion of innate group differences and undermining the whole concept of 'model minorities.'"

Mormons have recently risen to astonishing business success. Cubans in Miami climbed from poverty to prosperity in a generation. Nigerians earn doctorates at stunningly high rates. Indian and Chinese Americans have much higher incomes than other Americans; Jews may have the highest of all.
  Why do some groups rise? Drawing on groundbreaking original research and startling statistics, The Triple Package uncovers the secret to their success. A superiority complex, insecurity, impulse control—these are the elements of the Triple Package, the rare and potent cultural constellation that drives disproportionate group success. The Triple Package is open to anyone. America itself was once a Triple Package culture. It’s been losing that edge for a long time now. Even as headlines proclaim the death of upward mobility in America, the truth is that the oldfashioned American Dream is very much alive—butsome groups have a cultural edge, which enables them to take advantage of opportunity far more than others.
  •   Americans are taught that everyone is equal, that no group is superior to another. But remarkably, all of America’s most successful groups believe (even if they don’t say so aloud) that they’re exceptional, chosen, superior in some way. •   Americans are taught that self-esteem—feeling good about yourself—is the key to a successful life. But in all of America’s most successful groups, people tend to feel insecure, inadequate, that they have to prove themselves. •   America today spreads a message of immediate gratification, living for the moment. But all of America’s most successful groups cultivate heightened discipline and impulse control.
  But the Triple Package has a dark underside too. Each of its elements carries distinctive pathologies; when taken to an extreme, they can have truly toxic effects. Should people strive for the Triple Package? Should America? Ultimately, the authors conclude that the Triple Package is a ladder that should be climbed and then kicked away, drawing on its power but breaking free from its constraints.

Provocative and profound, The Triple Package will transform the way we think about success and achievement."

Out of morbid curiosity, I wonder how many people Amy Chua pissed off. I know the number is probably high. There are some people in Times who probably hate her (if your see the implied parts), the Daughters of the "Tiger Mothers", those people on Goodreads who rated this book and all of her other books poorly, and well... Good Ol' Me. Truth be told, I do agree with some of the points she made in this book with an awfully long title. However, I simply wish that Amy Chua (and her husband, the second author, but it feels like it was mostly her who wrote the book) would simply be kind enough to those who are being stereotyped by her book. They try, yes, but they haven't tried hard enough.

Okay, let's talk about this so-called "Triple Package." There is Insecurity, Superiority, and Impulse Control. Already, you can probably see why these authors upset a lot of people. And after reading this book with a super long title, I can see how brilliant J.K. Rowling is. Superiority is pretty much Voldemort, obviously. Insecurity is Voldemort, Harry Potter, and a lot of people including Ron. Impulse Control is there, but I'm not going to point out anything or anyone. I'm just not going to point fingers. Anyway, J.K. Rowling perfectly portrays what happens if we let these characteristics get the best of us. Sadly, the authors do not focus on what happens to the consequences of our actions. They only tell us how to use it, yes, but they don't describe when we use too much.

There is a time to stop before you go too far.

I'm going to tell you something. Unlike Amy Chua's Tiger Mother book, The Triple Package with a long subtitle is boring. The writing is boring. (It is like tear out your eyes boring). The statistics are interesting, but? Together, the writing and the statistics makes this book a contradiction. Let me show you how (but there is no details). The statistics remain plain and generic while the writing goes in and tells you a bunch of specific things. Most of them are probably guesses (educated guesses, if you want to be nice). But if the statistics don't go into the specifics, how can it hold the "truth" (or guesses) in the writing.

Furthermore, the writing and the words may try to be nice to its readers, but in one way or another, it is burning bridges faster than I can light a damn match. What did they say about (Insert some racial or religious group here)? The authors certainly forgot about pride. Human pride. Hubris. 

One last word: The reviewer of this book (The Triple Package with a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious title) notes that Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is shorter than the subtitle. But that isn't the last word. That was the joke. Sorry, I'll move on. Ahem. The reviewer of this book (The Triple Package) does not wish to insult anyone, but knows that many insults are within this review. (Contradiction?)

Rating: Two out of Five

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua Review

"An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother's exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards-and the costs-of raising her children the Chinese way.

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. What Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother reveals is that the Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions and providing a nurturing environment. The Chinese believe that the best way to protect your children is by preparing them for the future and arming them with skills, strong work habits, and inner confidence. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way-and the remarkable results her choice inspires.

Here are some things Amy Chua would never allow her daughters to do:

? have a playdate

? be in a school play

? complain about not being in a school play

? not be the #1 student in every subject except gym and drama

? play any instrument other than the piano or violin

? not play the piano or violin

The truth is Lulu and Sophia would never have had time for a playdate. They were too busy practicing their instruments (two to three hours a day and double sessions on the weekend) and perfecting their Mandarin.

Of course no one is perfect, including Chua herself. Witness this scene:

"According to Sophia, here are three things I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised her practicing:

1. Oh my God, you're just getting worse and worse.

2. I'm going to count to three, then I want musicality.

3. If the next time's not PERFECT, I'm going to take all your stuffed animals and burn them!"

But Chua demands as much of herself as she does of her daughters. And in her sacrifices-the exacting attention spent studying her daughters' performances, the office hours lost shuttling the girls to lessons-the depth of her love for her children becomes clear. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is an eye-opening exploration of the differences in Eastern and Western parenting- and the lessons parents and children everywhere teach one another."

I'll tell you that I read this book when I was younger. Maybe not that young. Maybe like mid-teens or something like that. I can't remember. My "tiger mother" made me read the entire book with her while I rolled my eyes and dreamed about Harry Potter, which by the way is far more entertaining and interesting. Not to mention, awesome. I remember being someone dazed and a bit annoyed by how much effort my "tiger mother" gave to get me to be top of class, blah, blah, blah.

Now, after five years, I read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother again and am now officially angry. At Amy Chua, my mother, and the standards this book set. If Amy Chua's purpose in writing this book is to make me feel dumb, she succeed. Oh, I should add that she also made me feel a bit disappointing and a disgrace to the Chinese society, which, according to her, was upheld by "four thousand years" of standards. Sure, she made reading her book funny and entertaining, but in reality, it is like a damn slap to the face to those who have little talent, are too spread out (jack of all trades), or dropped out of school.

What she made me feel: I want to support anything she says or claims to be bad or disgraceful. Maybe, she is right, but I hate how demeaning some parts of the book are. Plus, she totally went rude on the so-called "Western parents." She does a lot of stereotyping. Maybe white people are "lazy." But not all of them are. Maybe Asian kids are all "smart" and "overachievers." But not all of them are. There are some people who are unique in the world. They aren't robots or machines. They are not doctors, computer specialists, musicians, or engineers. They are artists, who believe in bringing life to their works. Not everyone follows these rules Chua dedicate.

Maybe I'm rebellious. I don't care. Honestly though, Chua takes Chinese parenting to a whole new level. And she does pin it right on, unfortunately. However, I don't think there are any Asian parents who stick it to that level. Other than the crazy Ivy Leagues-worshipers. I say they are extreme when listing them on the Asian parenting scale.

Yes, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is well written. However, I, as a reader and daughter of a "Tiger Mother," think these methods and psychological warfare and tactics to be extreme. Growing up with these little games of cat and mouse, I have a front seat of these sorts of things. I'm sure my mother is very close to being a "Tiger Mother." The difference? My brother. The "Tiger Mother" in my family uses most of those skills to help my brother, taking the heat off me. Usually. But years ago, my mother would probably be screaming at me to do multiplication or writing.

In my opinion, this memoir touches on personal feelings and memories. But after all those tactics and doing/making those schemes, there are always the more ironic parts of life. Take me for example. I used to be kicking and screaming just to avoid anything with writing. Look at me now.

From a daughter of a crazy "Tiger Mother" with a lot of opinions.

Rating: Three out of Five