For decades, those buying into the American dream have been told: “It doesn’t matter who you are, but rather what you know and what you can do.” Hard work was the key to success, not class, race or ethnic background.
Now comes so-called Chinese-American “Tiger Mom” Amy Chua to debunk these outmoded American myths in our new age of multi-culturalism where there are decided winners and losers based on the advantages of ethnic background, according to early reports about the unreleased book.
The culture winners in this zero-sum game at obtaining American success? According to Chua, they are primarily Jews, Indians, Chinese, Iranians, Lebanese-Americans, Nigerians, Cuban exiles and Mormons. She argues that these cultural and ethnic groups have innate qualities that make them more likely to succeed in life.
Chua lays out her background matters and culture is key argument in the new book, 'The Triple Package: Why Groups Rise and Fall in America,' co-written by her husband Jed Rubenfeld. To say it is stirring controversy would be an understatement. The New York Post already has weighed in with a scathing review.
But even this could be a recipe for success. Her last book, 2011's 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,' advocated for a strict "Chinese" parenting style as the key to academic and overall success. The book courted controversy and became a bestseller, garnering Chua the nickname "Tiger Mom."
Now Chua is arguing that even as the American Dream is being left for dead by some American groups, other cultures are still thriving in the land of opportunity. And these groups have a decided cultural edge, which enables them to take advantage of opportunity far more than others.
“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,” write Chua and Rubenfeld. “In large part, this is because the topic feels so racially charged.”
The authors call this advantage a so-called "Triple Package" of traits that drive their "disproportionate" success -- - a superiority complex, insecurity and impulse control.
The book hits shelves until February 4.
Until then, what do you think of its conclusions that some cultures have it over others when claiming their piece of the American Dream?
Is Chua onto something? Or is her argument all wet?
Let’s hear your roar in the comments.