Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

Born a Crime

By Trevor Noah

  • Release Date: 2016-11-15
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 5,140 Ratings

Description

#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 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.

Reviews

  • Fantastic

    5
    By Teerules
    Funny, authentic, and interesting until the very end.
  • Loved It!

    5
    By Netta1309_12
    Wow! What an excellent book. I learned so much about South Africa. Trevor’s humor made the book so enjoyable! Highly recommend!!!
  • Trevor Noah I was born a crime

    5
    By TTC 22222222222
    My son’s history teacher has assigned this book to the class. I ended up reading it and could not put it down! It is will provide a range of emotions, funny clever sometimes sad all the while providing an educational, historical narration of what it was like for him to grow up in South Africa and shines a light on the construct of racism. Great read!
  • Loved it!!

    5
    By Hinesfan
    I loved the humor and honestly Trevor put into this autobiography. I hope to see him have continued success!
  • A perfect book!

    5
    By elliseTheReviewer
    I enjoyed reading every page of this. It made me laugh till my stomach hurt and cry until I couldn’t see.
  • Loved It

    5
    By lirennner
    Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning Trevor’s backstory. Very entertaining!
  • So much living

    5
    By Romanticynic26
    This book is personal and historical. It is a tale of survival and miracles. The insight that he is able to write with is stunning. The writing is so accessible. He is teaching us about the devastation of racial apartheid in South Africa and the US. It teaches that while a government can change and make change suddenly, the damage done by such a system won’t be healed so quickly and in some cases may never be repaired. He also teaches us about the unwavering love and self-determination of his mother. I was saddened, curious about some of the folks who came and went and deeply inspired by this book.
  • Magnificent

    5
    By Singyourlifetali
    I finished reading this book in 5 days I laughed, I cried, I laughed and cried. Best book I’ve read in years.
  • Audio book request

    4
    By gman 27-36
    I would really like an audio book version of this because I am dyslexic, but love books! So pls, if available, have an audio book when ready.
  • Absolutely boring and reaching

    1
    By MaiCach
    It’s clear he’s just reaching for a money grab, and this book was written with generating income only, not actually creating a good book. Plus, I think some of the stories are obviously fake/made up for the book. I’d give it less stars if I could.

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