Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Trevor Noah

The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed 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 eighteen personal essays 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.

Born a Crime

Samantha Mochrie 

Róbert Istók

A fascinating book, it was hard to put it down.

Stories from a South African Childhood

Lynn

Fantastic. One of the most interesting and varied life stories told in an incredibly funny and lighthearted way. The topics covered and knowledge gained from this book are of such diverse nature that I believe anyone can learn something from this book. The audible version performed by Trevor Noah himself would be my recommendation as it adds such colour to the narrative.

The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed 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. Advance praise for Born a Crime "[A] substantial collection of staggering personal essays . . . Incisive, funny, and vivid, these true tales are anchored to his portrait of his courageous, rebellious, and religious mother who defied racially restrictive laws to secure an education and a career for herself--and to have a child with a white Swiss/German even though sex between whites and blacks was illegal. . . . [Trevor Noah's] electrifying memoir sparkles with funny stories . . . and his candid and compassionate essays deepen our perception of the complexities of race, gender, and class."--Booklist (starred review) "A gritty memoir . . . studded with insight and provocative social criticism . . . with flashes of brilliant storytelling and acute observations."--Kirkus Reviews

Katherine Yang

I read this in a span of a few hours and when I turned the final page of the acknowledgements and the About the Author page told me that "Trevor Noah is a comedian from South Africa" I made a distraught face and told it back "huhh no!!?? he's so much more than that!!!?!"

A mesmerising story about race, class, identity, and above all, a mother's love, related in as much style and humour and critical insight as we have come to expect from Trevor Noah; also possibly the first time a non-fiction book has made me cry. I lamented for a while that it had glossed over the details of his career, but I think now that that book honestly would not have been as gripping or fascinating as this one.

Fatima Kadri 

This was hard for me to read. Not that the writing style was bad, it was actually really great. I was drawn in from page one and there was never a dull moment. But I could never get more than a few chapters in at a time without needing to put the book down to process things— and I mean that in a good way. I wanted to appreciate what I’d read and so I would put it down and really think about the chapters I’d read and what the takeaways were.
It was humorous and sad and inspiring and eye-opening all at once. I’m really happy that this book exists. I feel like I learned a lot from it.

Daniel Toke Hansen

A great book with intriguing, funny and at time nerve wrecking stories of a childhood in South Africa. A book that gave me some insight into a very dark era. I got inspired by the described entrepreneurship and amazed at how perceptions and realities are a product of history and context. 
This must-read i about a boy growing up in apartheid South Africa and making his way through life. This might also be relevant for today's parents who are struggling with parenting. Trevors relationship with his mother is funny and she raises him to think for himself.

Matthew Royal

This has got to be one of the more interesting autobiographical books I've read. Growing up in the apartheid police state, the son of a white father and black mother, sounds like hell. Stories about his childhood status as a "colored" person who floated among the "black," "colored," and "white" apartheid racial castes, and how he learned how to speak many different languages and accents in order to be accepted by everyone, Noah gained a perspective not held by many of the nationals at the time, since they were locked into all those categories. He continually gives credit to his mother for exposing him to the educational and cultural things she never had growing up. 

He ends with the story of his step dad shooting his mother, from his early adulthood. I was hoping he would provide more insights into the US since he lives here now, but I guess I'll have to wait until his next book.

Samantha McNaught

Fantastic book. Best book I’ve read in a long time. Trevor Noah is an amazing storyteller.

Keven Wang

This is the book you need to consume in audiobook format. Trevor’s mom is such a character

really nice, loved that it was about a parent child love than a romantic love

charlotte brand

Nast Marrero

This book is brilliant. First because of Trevor’s unique and witty humor. His voice always brings insight and recontextualizes stories.

And second because his voice always sounds to me as if he was an old friend telling how has it been for him. And with such intimacy, he offers a unique opportunity to learn about: how is it to be poor, how is it to be colored, how is it to grow under Apartheid.

I walk away from this feeling I’ve learned important lessons about how we form in groups and how we use otherness to build our narratives and protect our selves.

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 eighteen personal essays 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."

Vishwa

Trevor Noahhhhh. My guy is a fantastic storyteller. Even more respect for him after knowing his background. Also learned a bunch about South Africa, apartheid, and general historical context from his perspective. Gripping writing style.

I love story interweaved with sociopolitical context, and this was that and more. Funny, relatable (somehow), and informative. I devoured this one.

Trevor’s storytelling skills are something else – which cannot usually be said about public figures. This one was a pleasant surprise, educational yet entertaining. You’ll learn about the history of South Africa and so much more, while listening to sweet and meaningful stories of Trevor’s childhood. Worth reading whoever you are.

Iuno <3

Ben Jenkins

Nicole Sonja

Sally Salinas

WOW. Great story. Audio book read by Trevor Noah was great.

laura

this book is must read, i loved the audiobook and how Trevor Noah read it, this is a book that makes u laugh and cry at the same time.

This book is simply superb. Thrilling and instructive at equal parts. Before reading this book I admired Trevor Noah for his irony and by how funny he’s always been presenting cold facts about injustice. Now, I can say that thanks to his journey in writing I know more about apartheid, racism in general, and how hustling aren’t some times just an option, but a way to survive in life. Trevor, I admire you even more and I think everyone should read your book. Thank you.

Raúl Barroso Moreno

Amina Madadi (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ)

That was awesome!
I usually try to give a little glimpse about the book in my review but it won't be the case this time, I'll leave it for the author to tell his story, the story behind that constant smile and the hilarious stand-ups.

Born in South Africa, to a white Swiss dad and a black Xhosa mum, Trevor grew up as a couloured boy in a country where interracial contacts were forbidden and his parents union punishable by the law. Trevor didn't have it easy, at all. He'll take the reader on his childhood journey during the horror of apartheid, and even if what he went through broke my heart, he always managed to ease the tention with his usual sense of humor.

 Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah , his mother,-"Respect!- is an amazingly strong, confident woman, she raised a man in a time where men couldn't do it. You're a role model madame, bless you!

Adan

All I’m saying is that he’s my future husband. Y’all will see

sophia n

this was not what i expected at all, i thought it was going to be lots of funny stories honestly. and yes you can tell how funny he is, and some stories ARE really funny, but it's mostly just an incredible unfolding of a life story. it's hard to rate a memoir anyway, but this was incredible. i listened to it also on audiobook, narrated by trevor, and i think that made it even better. i was thinking i'd rate this 4 stars until i got to the very end, which was just so powerful and intense. this guy is only 5 years older than me like wtf lmao

Yasser Yahia

A very entertaining book, and an enjoyable read. It managed to draw a big smile on my face many times, and even laugh out loud in other times. It also managed to made me think about and relive the problems coming with political decisions making impact on people's daily social activities, and how a small simple decision by a group of people could have a huge impact like parting a kid from his/her parents, and how this would extrapolate to create massive losses on human and community perspectives!!

I was able to personally relate to many of the paragraphs in the book though thousands of miles part my country from South Africa, and for that I thank Trevor Noah for capturing a simple, yet descriptive picture of a full community from the perspective of a young kid that grows from the bottom of a corrupted/racist/abusive place to become a world famous show presenter, and his full journey through that all.

Celeste Richardson

Trevor Noah is a fascinating individual. It’s honestly astounding that he lived to adulthood. The things he went through are a case of truth being stranger, and scarier, then fiction. And yet you can tell that he holds no bitterness over it, and that he considers himself fortunate compared to others who grew up in the same time and place. Noah’s form of storytelling is a wonderful blend of fact and humor even in dark circumstances. There was a brightness to this memoir even when the events he described were hellish, and it’s easy to tell that he inherited his mother’s optimism. 

I knew a bit about South Africa’s apartheid, but until this book I had never read someone’s personal story of living through it and experiencing life after it ended. Noah did a great job of presenting a wealth of information without ever seeming to teach or preach, as well as painting a vibrant, tangible picture of the South Africa in which he grew up. This history and setting are the backbone of his story, and he treated it as such. He has an incredible gift with both the written and spoken word, and I’m very glad to have learned about his early life.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

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