#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid “Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s … illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s history that must never be forgotten.”—Esquire
Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor and an NAACP Image Award • Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Time, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Esquire, Newsday, and Booklist
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.
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I listened to the audio version of this book. Many times, while listening to Trevor Noah read his story, my reaction was, “No WAY!” The stories are almost unbelievable. He’s reflecting on his childhood, yes, but it’s a childhood lived out in the context of a society highly segregated along racial lines, and he, being of mixed race, belongs nowhere. It gives him a really interesting perspective that sheds a ton of light on the difficulties we are experiencing in America surrounding race. It’s a book that entertains while it informs–a rare thing!
Outstanding read for Americans who are or who have been expatriates, or who have traveled much of their lives. The intercultural relationships are well-drawn by a bright and thinking author.
Interesting and revealing memoir from Trevor Noah about growing up in South Africa. Living under apartheid, then living as an outsider, neither white nor black, after apartheid. The stories of his childhood make you wonder how he was able to overcome all of the obstacles and the troubles. His connection to his mother, and her strength and faith, are wonderful to read.
#BornACrime #TrevorNoah
This is a brilliant, brutally honest, humorous account of Trevor Noah’s life growing up in pre and post apartheid South Africa.
Throughout the book Mr. Noah’s charisma and humour shines through his writing. He is frank about his many wrong doings as a youngster but relates the stories in such a way the reader is often laughing out loud at his pranks.
Trevor talks of his family openly, his obvious high regard for his mother even when she is chastising him shines through and gives a unique insight into the character of the woman who survived many harsh events while teaching her oldest son real life values that he needs to live by to be an upright citizen and human being. He talks about the abuses imposed on himself and his mother by a step father/husband and corrupt system, all of which taught him the kind of person he should never be.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone familiar with Trevor Noah as the very funny comedian that he is and also to anyone interested in how life was for the various factions of non whites during the unsettled times surrounding pre and post apartheid in South Africa
I think it’s sad a mother would bring a child into this world just because she wanted a bi-racial child/relationship, let alone in Africa at that time. Kudos to Trevor for overcoming that upbringing.
My husband and I actually listened to this book in audio form. It’s read by Trevor Noah and it is THE BEST audio book I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. Noah’s facility with all the languages of South Africa, his brilliance, vulnerability, humor, and story-telling skills all come through. One of the best memoirs I’ve ever had the pleasure of “reading”/listening to!!
Opened my eyes to apartheid
I learned a great deal about the complexity of apartheid
If you are a Trevor Noah fan then you may really like this book. His story is quite amazing.
Loved this book in 3 ways. Interesting – a vivid pictorial of life under apartheid from a historical and cultural perspective that I had not truly understood to date. Emotional and inspirational – Noah’s and his family’s life and what they had to overcome at times was deeply sad and touching. Hilarious – I read aloud some passages to my partner that had both of us laughing to the point of tears. A fast read as well, was very sad when it was done. Thank you Noah.
I watch Trevor Noah on the Daily Show everyday but this book showed me a whole different layer of the comedian! He is a survivor – much respect!
It’s one of the fantastic book I have ever read .
Trevor is a brilliant story teller. Can’t wait for his next book. Love this chap…best to him always!!
Read it. It’s a fresh look at South Africa and its problems. Trevor Noah has nailed it.
Gives you quite the insight to life in South Africa. I laughed and cried. Why do people hate others because of their skin color?
Fans of Trevor Noah will enjoy. Otherwise not so much. Surprising early life of this young entertainer.
Trevor Noah definitely has an unusual story to tell so, for that reason alone, it’s worth reading. Story meanders midway through but has a kicker ending so read it all the way through!
Everyone should read this book. Great for book clubs and for young people. Inspiration, history, funny, tragic. I will reread this one over and over. Easy read.
Inspiring
I enjoyed hearing from Mr Noah about growing up in South Africa. His candor was engaging.