People are offended by the Tiger Mom's new book, "The Triple Package"....
Tiger Mom: Some cultural groups are superior
http://nypost.com/2014/01/04/tiger-mom-some-groups-are-just-better-than-others/
Shes doubling down.
Amy Chua, the self-proclaimed Tiger Mom who, in 2011, published a book arguing that Chinese women are superior mothers thus their offspring superior children has even more to say.
In The Triple Package, Chua and her husband, co-author Jed Rubenfeld, gather some specious stats and anecdotal evidence to argue that some groups are just superior to others and everyone else is contributing to the downfall of America.
Unsurprisingly, the Chinese Chua and the Jewish Rubenfeld belong to two of the eight groups they deem exceptional. In no seeming order of importance, they are:
Jewish
Indian
Chinese
Iranian
Lebanese-Americans
Nigerians
Cuban exiles
Mormons
These groups cultural, mind you, never ethnic or racial or religious all possess, in the authors estimation, three qualities that theyve identified as guarantors of wealth and power: superiority, insecurity and impulse control.
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, the authors write.
{snip}
On to the distinguishing factors that make these eight groups the best in America:
1. A superiority complex
Any group that collectively believes they are inherently better than any other, say the authors, has an advantage. They do not note that this is perhaps humanitys oldest and ugliest flaw, the bottom-line cause of wars and genocide. In their estimation, its not nearly common enough in America, where the Superiority Complex . . . is antithetical to mainstream liberal thinking . . . the stuff of racism, colonialism, imperialism, Nazism. This way of thinking, they write, has been a big boon to Mormons and Jews, though they also fail to note that believing in the superiority of a belief system is the driving force behind almost all organized religion. (Except the Amish. The authors freely note that the Amish are losers for this very reason.)
2. Insecurity
Here are the authors sounding most like Malcolm Gladwell: Posit something, make a solid case for it, then immediately refute it with equal fervor. The result: Readers are so confused that they can only conclude that this book is so much smarter than they are.
The authors are very impressed with their boldness in juxtaposing insecurity with superiority. That insecurity should be a critical lever of success is another anathema, flouting the entire orthodoxy of contemporary popular and therapeutic psychology, they write. In fact, insecurity has long been known as a prime motivator among actors, artists, CEOs, despots. Imposter syndrome, the term used to describe highly successful individuals who believe, deep down, they are frauds, was identified back in 1978.
Note that theres a deep tension between insecurity and a superiority complex, the authors continue. Its odd to think of people being simultaneously insecure but also convinced of their divine election or superiority. Really? Just ask anyone whos ever met a narcissist, or read a profile of A-Rod.
3. Impulse Control
Yet another hallmark of self-help, impulse control is considered to be a key factor in personal success the ability to delay instant gratification in the service of a greater goal. But this isnt really what the authors have in mind: As well use the term, they write, impulse control refers to the ability to resist temptation, especially the temptation to give up in the face of hardship or quit instead of persevering at a difficult task.
You know whos bad at this? Americans not among their eight groups. Because all three elements of the Triple Package run so counter to modern American culture, it makes sense that Americas successful groups are all outsiders in one way or another, they write. Paradoxically, in modern America, a group has an edge if it doesnt buy into or hasnt yet bought into mainstream, post-1960s, liberal American principles.
{snip}
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Penguin Books summary....
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/1,,9781594205460,00.html
It may be taboo to say, but some groups in America do better than others.
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 controlthese 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. Its 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 old fashioned American Dream is very much alive but some 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 Americas most successful groups believe (even if they dont say so aloud) that theyre exceptional, chosen, superior in some way.
-- Americans are taught that self-esteemfeeling good about yourselfis the key to a successful life. But in all of Americas 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 Americas most successful groups cultivate heightened discipline and impulse control.
Not exactly on point.
Not exactly on point.
