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A review by emiged
The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America by Amy Chua
3.0
Amy Chua is no stranger to controversial, provocative writing. Her 2011 bestseller Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which delved into her personal experiences with the successes and pitfalls of "Chinese parenting", spurred hundreds, if not thousands, of reviews and blog posts, often scathing and extremely critical of Chua both as a mother and as a person.
In contrast to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, The Triple Package is much less personal and more detached in its approach. (It should be noted that she co-wrote this book with her husband, Jed Rubenfeld, which may account for at least some of the difference in tone.) She seems to still want to encourage conversation in a deliberately provocative way, but not to open herself up to so much personal criticism. Can't blame her at all after the firestorm she weathered with her last book.
The Triple Package starts with a bold thesis: there are three traits that can predict whether or not your minority group will be successful in America. These traits are a superiority complex, a keen sense of insecurity, and strong impulse control. Chua and Rubenfeld point out several groups that meet these criteria, including Cuban Americans, Nigerian Americans, and Iranian Americans, among others.
Frankly, the main reason I was drawn to this book is that Mormons are one of the groups Chua and Rubenfeld identify as "starkly outperform[ing] others." It's always nice to hear an outsider describe a group you identify with in positive terms. (I guess that would be my Mormon superiority complex showing...or would that be my Mormon insecurity?)
Chua & Rubenfeld's examples are compelling and backed by research. They dig into history and culture to identify why each of these groups has all of the elements of the Triple Package, pointing out not only the positives but also the dark underbelly of the Triple Package traits. Far from touting the Triple Package as the answer to all our problems, they warn "the Triple Package always comes at a price."
To read the rest of this review, visit Build Enough Bookshelves.
In contrast to Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, The Triple Package is much less personal and more detached in its approach. (It should be noted that she co-wrote this book with her husband, Jed Rubenfeld, which may account for at least some of the difference in tone.) She seems to still want to encourage conversation in a deliberately provocative way, but not to open herself up to so much personal criticism. Can't blame her at all after the firestorm she weathered with her last book.
The Triple Package starts with a bold thesis: there are three traits that can predict whether or not your minority group will be successful in America. These traits are a superiority complex, a keen sense of insecurity, and strong impulse control. Chua and Rubenfeld point out several groups that meet these criteria, including Cuban Americans, Nigerian Americans, and Iranian Americans, among others.
Frankly, the main reason I was drawn to this book is that Mormons are one of the groups Chua and Rubenfeld identify as "starkly outperform[ing] others." It's always nice to hear an outsider describe a group you identify with in positive terms. (I guess that would be my Mormon superiority complex showing...or would that be my Mormon insecurity?)
Chua & Rubenfeld's examples are compelling and backed by research. They dig into history and culture to identify why each of these groups has all of the elements of the Triple Package, pointing out not only the positives but also the dark underbelly of the Triple Package traits. Far from touting the Triple Package as the answer to all our problems, they warn "the Triple Package always comes at a price."
To read the rest of this review, visit Build Enough Bookshelves.