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A review by anzomar
The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America by Jed Rubenfeld, Amy Chua
3.0
I recognized Amy Chua’s name not only from her fame as a “Tiger Mom”, but also the subsequent, unwarrantedly aggressive attack on her character (by the press and public alike) for her parenting style. The trend of demonizing Chua without really listening to what she has to say seems to continue in many reactions to this book. Reviewers and readers have said that it’s racist, justifies stereotypes, problematic, or quickly dismiss these ideas based on personal experience and opinions. And I simply don't agree.
I don’t know if I completely subscribe to everything Chua and Rubenfeld suggest but their thesis was both well researched and thoroughly backed up. Any conversation about who's succeeding in America, especially one that analyzes minority/religious groups, is bound to make people uncomfortable -- that doesn’t mean it’s a dialogue that shouldn’t be had.
I give this book 3.5 stars not because I think it’s racist, but more because I don’t think it does anything especially new or profound. The reasoning is there, but it's reasoning that is already established, at least subconsciously, in a lot of people. The idea that those who succeed are the ones who believe in themselves, have something to prove, and are able to dedicate themselves, is not really a new one. (This is a simplistic summary of an obviously more complex thesis). What Chua and Rubenfeld do in “The Triple Package” is provide valuable data, statistics, and explore specific examples -- I found the ones on Cuban-Americans and the differences between Nigerians and African-Americans in the American university system to be especially poignant and interesting.
I don’t know if I completely subscribe to everything Chua and Rubenfeld suggest but their thesis was both well researched and thoroughly backed up. Any conversation about who's succeeding in America, especially one that analyzes minority/religious groups, is bound to make people uncomfortable -- that doesn’t mean it’s a dialogue that shouldn’t be had.
I give this book 3.5 stars not because I think it’s racist, but more because I don’t think it does anything especially new or profound. The reasoning is there, but it's reasoning that is already established, at least subconsciously, in a lot of people. The idea that those who succeed are the ones who believe in themselves, have something to prove, and are able to dedicate themselves, is not really a new one. (This is a simplistic summary of an obviously more complex thesis). What Chua and Rubenfeld do in “The Triple Package” is provide valuable data, statistics, and explore specific examples -- I found the ones on Cuban-Americans and the differences between Nigerians and African-Americans in the American university system to be especially poignant and interesting.