Born a Crime

This book is absolutely glorious. I’m so in love right now, I can barely function. This memoir is unquestionable one of the most engaging books I’ve ever read, filled with such greatly vivid and riveting anecdotes, made more profound and unforgettable by the fact that they’re true. I don’t watch The Daily Show, other than a few occasional clips on social media, and I never followed this guy before, so I decided to read this book solely because of the title. I love it. Born a Crime—it just feels meaningful. And, it is meaningful. I’m walking away from this experience knowing now that I love Trevor Noah. I love his writing and I love his wit. He is a fantastic storyteller who told of his childhood, one that was layered heavily with sadness, but for the majority of the time while reading his journey, I felt joyous. This memoir is a compilation of notable anecdotes, mixed in with short passages of African history for context against the very special circumstances of Trevor’s birth and childhood. Let me tell you, his childhood is better than any fiction and there are too many humorous and affecting moments to count. Some of my favorites include, the time when a criminal, young Trevor, who was being held prisoner in his Grandmother’s house (for his own good), crawled through a hole under a fence to get to freedom. Then, there’s the time when his first dog, Fufi, taught him his first lesson in love and betrayal. Or, the time when, after growing up on the kind of creative diet that only the very poor are weaned on, Trevor was left completely unimpressed with high cuisine meals such as bone marrow, which are no different or better than the dog bones he ate at home. For more funny and interesting stories, read this book! Born a Crime begins before his birth, when his impetuous and wise mother convinced her kind, white neighbor to give her a baby, during a time when there were strictly enforced laws that prohibited intercourse between Natives and Europeans. The stories he describe span from that time to the end of Apartheid, and further to a time when blacks and coloreds were free to live the life they could wrangle from the system. Trevor’s—I’m calling him Trevor because I feel like I know him now. His thoughts on race and power are spot on and made more impressive because of his ability to use humor to show the illogical and ridiculous nature of the whole enterprise. Trevor is very smart, and a very adept communicator. There isn’t a single part of this memoir that doesn’t pierce you, wound you with truths, yet it soothes you with humor. I laughed because it was impossible not to. I laughed so hard that I cried, and then I cried because I had to cry. Trevor grew up on a divided country, and the numerous poignant moments show clearly a boy caught between the many cultures of South Africa, which he navigated by becoming a chameleon, fitting in everywhere and nowhere at the same time. He adapted to each new situation as many entertainers do, by being whoever the people want them to be. That’s not to say that Trevor is disingenuous in any way; no, he’s observant, and his musings on life and relationships make it apparent that he has a damn good understanding of the human condition. What is most lovely about his coming-of-age story is how Trevor speaks about his mother. His mom features largely in his story, and his love and respect for her is obvious, not only in his words, but in the actions he describes. Their bond is a tangible thing, and the most moving pockets of this book are the ones filled with his mom. Honestly, this memoir is so brilliantly insightful that there are many many pages I marked, so many gems and memories I’ve saved to revisit again and again. I don’t read a lot of biographies, preferring fiction to real life, but I’m insanely delighted that I strayed from my norm and read Born a Crime. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, sincerely, because it is truly glorious. Audiobook notes: Just perfect. Trevor Noah pulls you in with his animated voice and more than brings this story to life.

Where to begin? This book is a very powerful tribute to Noah’s Mother. As far as how he became a comedian, it is not described in this book. There is one little blurb mentioning he was starting to tour some in England, but not a word about how he got started in comedy, or anything about the process. It’s more about his life and adventures when he was young, and his relationship with his Mother. He draws readers very quickly into the book by talking about his Mother taking him to church, and yes, he does it with delightful humor. He starts with: “My childhood involved church, or some form of church, at least four nights a week.” Later, he says: “Jubilant church was mixed church. Analytical church was white church. And passionate, cathartic church, that was black church. It doesn’t take long to find out his Mother is very devout. She was a very strong lady who had her wild days when she was younger, but later she wanted something deeper and more profound in her life, so she turned to God. There’s a feistiness to her that you can’t help but respect. Noah describes Apartheid as Apart hate, and how different tribes were used to turn against each other. The fact that there are so many backgrounds and languages is very interesting. Tribes such as Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Vende, Tsonga, etc. On you-tube, you can watch Noah’s Grandmother saying to Noah, “you was born a crime,” the title of this book. In South Africa, it was against the law for people of different races to have children together. Noah describes all the problems this caused in his life, and the difficulty and awkwardness of being colored. He has some pretty profound and interesting comments in his book, such as: “I soon learned that the quickest way to bridge the race gap was through language.” This comment in “The Cheese Boys” chapter really gave me pause for his insight: “The hood made me realize that crime succeeds because crime does the one thing the government doesn’t do: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifting hand. Crime offers internship programs and summer jobs and opportunities for advancement. Crime gets involved in the community. Crime doesn’t discriminate.” Noah’s Mother, and the rest of the family suffered physical abuse from her husband Abel. She said to Noah: “Pray for Abel,” she’d say. “Because he doesn’t hate us. He hates himself.” Noah later mentions “Growing up in a home of abuse, you struggle with the notion that you can love a person you hate, or hate a person you love.” I will not expound on the rest of the story. There is a lot of fun and interesting stories that Trevor talks about growing up, and the outcome for his Mother and Noah, you just need to read. I did find it disturbing that not only does South Africa have a racial problem, but misogyny as well. It seems to go hand in hand. Currently America seems to be having an uptick of racism and misogyny as well. I do not know if South Africa still has as many problems, but I am guessing they still do. It’s a great book to read. Most people will enjoy his book. This book is rated 5 star with over 7,000 reviews. Pretty impressive!

I love the way Trevor Noah writes and for a school reader it was exhalent and educational while being fun and humorous at the same time.

This is a delightful book everyone should take the time to read. If you have heard of Trevor Noah or seen him on tv, this book will leave you even more amazed when you learn about his upbringing and background. Trevor’s father is white, and his mother is black. Trevor was born in South Africa when apartheid was just coming to an end, but black and white people weren’t supposed to have children together. Trevor was, as the title says, born a crime. Trevor does a remarkable job retelling his personal history without any of it sounding cliché or boring. He jokes with us about traditions and foods and living arrangements, while casually leading us through some dark roads that are private and troubling. He even details some of his awkward attempts to date girls. But always he is teaching us about South African history in quick powerful jabs that directly correlate with specific events in his life. One of his favorite subjects throughout, because of his mother’s deeply religious stance on everything, is the curious nuances people had concerning faith in Christ and old superstitious habits. He often tested these boundaries with his mother and the older women who helped raise him. There are barely any men involved in his upbringing because of several factors, which he also discusses in the book. The first book he learned to read was the Bible. He read it in English. His mother wanted to make sure his first language was English. And unlike most people in South Africa, by attending different church services and events in so many different places, he learned to speak quite a few other languages. Because of the lighter color of his skin and his ability to speak many languages, he found he could blend into many groups without really becoming a member of any of them. The government, as a means of control, wanted everyone in groups. They continually forced people to register as white, black, colored, or Indian. And keeping people divided into groups by language was even more detrimental to change. And if you didn’t choose a group when in some government office, a clerk would look at you and decide which box you belonged in. At first his parents couldn’t even be seen in most public venues with him because of the color of his skin, even as a baby and small child. They hired others to walk with him as a caregiver and his parents couldn’t walk together or near him. If they went to cousins’ houses, even his grandparents, he’d have to stay indoors. They couldn’t let the authorities know he was mixed. In fact, his mother didn’t tell the hospital who his father was when he was born. The chief strength of this book, I believe, is how open and honest Trevor is about his relationship with his mother. They endured a great many things together. And although they never had much money or reliable transportation, she was determined to keep traveling to all these different churches. It was dangerous. There was a lot of violence on the road, but for his mother, all obstacles were the devil’s doing and Jesus would make a way. Trevor says in the book that “apartheid is sometimes called the Bloodless Revolution. It is called that because very little white blood was spilled. Black blood ran in the streets.” Trevor says his mother was hard on him, strict and disciplined. And he admits to being naughty and unruly, a real troublemaker. He talks openly about how he started pirating CDs and how he and his crew would hustle people in the streets with small loans paid with interest. His mother didn’t want him growing up believing there were any boundaries, despite all the obvious boundaries, so he used his creative energy to do things we would consider to be highly illegal. But as he says in the book, “crime succeeds because crime does the one thing the government doesn’t do: crime cares. Crime is grassroots. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifting hand.” And he follows this up by saying “It’s easy to be judgmental about crime when you live in a world wealthy enough to be removed from it. But the hood taught me that everyone has different notions of right and wrong, different definitions of what constitutes a crime, and what level of crime they are willing to participate in.” In the streets, he spent time with teachers, clerks, business owners, bus drivers, gangsters, and crack addicts. There wasn’t a lot of difference between them. They all seemed to need each other as part of a simple ecosystem that operated under its own rules. He went to jail and he learned some valuable lessons from the people he grew up with in various cities and schools. He even gives us a sense of culture shock by talking about their perspective of history. For those in South Africa, names like Hitler and Mussolini didn’t carry the same ominous overtones they do to us, and so it wasn’t unusual to have acquaintances with these names, even friends. And there is one particular story about this in the book that will leave the reader’s mouth hanging open. For those raised in South Africa, they had other names they associated with genocide, like Cecil Rhodes. They weren’t taught history like the west. In fact, as he tells us, under apartheid, they didn’t learn any history, science, or civics. If you weren’t white, you were taught agriculture and hole digging. They didn’t expect the nonwhites to aspire to be anything but laborers. Trevor’s mother was lucky enough to have been raised in a mission school where a white pastor taught her English, allowing her later to learn how to become a secretary, which was unheard of for black women. There are so many interesting stories revealed in this book, including most harrowingly his broken relationship with his father and his stepfather, one of which ends in a violent, bloody situation that leaves the reader absolutely stunned. By the end of this book, I had tears in my eyes. Trevor had done such a great job of solidifying this wonderful bond he had with his mother, that the end of the book was a shock. It was not what I expected. It’s worth reading just to get to that great finish. This is truly a book about a son’s love for his mother. Giving your child a name that has a special meaning is important for families in South Africa. Trevor tells us that his mother once told him that she chose the name Trevor for him because it had no meaning in South Africa. “She wanted me to be free to go anywhere, do anything, be anyone.” “… don’t cry about your past. Life is full of pain. Let the pain sharpen you, but don’t hold onto it. Don’t be bitter.” I highly recommend this book. You will experience a great many emotions reading it. Five Stars!

I remember the first time I saw Trevor Noah sitting behind the desk of the Daily Show. He was replacing Jon Stewart. Where did they get this guy from? I thought. It wasn't long before I became a fan of his wit and humor. The Daily Show was in good hands. As much as I would have liked to have read about his rise through the comedy ranks and onto American television, this memoir covers his growing up in South Africa. We'll have to wait for his second memoir to catch up on his more recent escapades. For most of the book, I listened to the audiobook, which Trevor Noah narrates. The few times I read from the Kindle, I heard Trevor's voice. This is one book where the audiobook is the best way to enjoy this funny and heartfelt memoir. I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off as well as he did. One advantage of having Trevor as the narrator is that you get to hear him imitate the many characters in the book. It's like having Trevor sitting next to you in a bar and listening to him tell you his stories firsthand. I can't remember when I laughed so hard from a book. I know I caused a few stares at the gym as I listened in my earbuds. Because it's a memoir and not a stand-up routine, Trevor has time to set up each story. He carefully creates each character, describing their background and then mimicking their voice. He paints a picture that's easy to see. The story of him taking a crap in the kitchen and his blind grandmother sensing, or smelling that something wasn't right, had me laughing out loud. I can still hear his voice as he was tasked with having to say a prayer to rid the house of whatever demon had left a turd in the trash. Trevor owes a lot to his mom. She was the one constant in his life, a teacher, caregiver, and disciplinarian. Later in the book, Trevor talks about his brother Andrew, who had a different father. He describes how his mom treated Andrew differently and didn't spank him as much as she did him. When Trevor confronts his mom about this disparity in corporal punishment, his mom claims that Andrew is small and thin and Trevor has an ass made for whippings. As funny as the book is, it is also poignant and philosophical. Trevor talks about his short stint in jail after being arrested for car theft. He talks about how some parents, including his mom, would insist that their sons or daughters face the consequences of their misdeeds and not offer to help them in their time of need. While there may be a time for such tough love, Trevor explains that by not helping them, they risk setting their children up for a lifetime of difficulty. The book contains many lessons about racism and culture. Trevor, who grew up in South Africa during Apartheid, has the background to speak authoritatively about these subjects. But he does it through humor. I look forward to hearing more from Trevor Noah. In the meantime, listen to the audiobook.

I didn't have many expectations going into "Born a Crime," which is maybe the right approach for a memoir. I knew only that Noah had become the host of "The Daily Show," and I was rooting for him as a relative unknown stepping into some big shoes. He seemed funny and charismatic, and I knew he was South African, but after reading "Born a Crime," I'm so much more impressed by its author. One expectation I had for the book was that it would be funny, which it is in many parts. Noah's writing style is not just conversational but natural; he is obviously a born storyteller. But he also structures the book in such a way that it builds and builds. Every story has a purpose, even the hilarious story of how, as a boy, Noah decided to poop in his kitchen. It's a story that ultimately depicts not only the poverty of his upbringing but also the superstitious nature of those around him. A refrain in "Born a Crime" is that when people have nothing, they must rely on faith. For Noah, that was always faith in his mother; for his mother, it was faith in God. It's truly a miracle that Noah has succeeded to the degree he has. I've read a lot of memoirs that left me wondering why the writer felt compelled to share his/her story, but there was none of that here. It begins with the title. Noah's birth, to a black mother and white father, was literally a criminal act in apartheid South Africa. His whole life growing up, Noah is an outcast. He doesn't seem to fit in with any group. And he grew up in abject poverty. Some of us think we have an idea what it might be like to be poor, but Noah lived it. At times his family ate goat eyeballs, worms, and scraps meant for dogs to survive. When he stayed with his grandmother, they shared a latrine with other families. I feel fortunate to have found this book but especially to have read it during a period of racial unrest in America. Noah experienced and witnessed severe racism in the era of apartheid and the period following its end. Each of his chapters begins with a brief discourse on race and its broader implications. Noah has gained such a nuanced understanding of the topic. One of his stories--about how a black dance group he helped form with a star dancer named Hitler went to dance at a white Jewish school--was almost unbelievable for the way it mixed history with racism and classism. But the real heart of "Born a Crime" is Noah's mother. She is a free spirit and independent thinker, and it's obvious that her determination is what drives Noah to break the cycle of poverty and racism, to avoid paying what he refers to as the "black tax." Noah gives examples from his own experience to show that poor black people need more than just some moral support. As he writes, if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach him to fish, he will eat for a lifetime. But it also helps to give him a fishing pole. That really stuck with me. In South Africa, blacks were graduating high school, but if they didn't look the right way or talk the right way, they still couldn't find work. In this book, we see the unfairness of the police state and the criminal justice system--most powerfully, as it applies to Noah's mother, who tries to have her husband arrested repeatedly for physical abuse, to no avail. This problem leads to a shocking conclusion to "Born a Crime." Again, all I can say is that I can't believe Noah survived the circumstances of his own upbringing, and I thank him for sharing his life in this powerful book. It's a story that needed to be told. My only complaint is not really a complaint, but the book runs from the author's birth to his early twenties, when he is still a rising comedian in South Africa. I'd love to see a sequel showing how Noah came the rest of the way from up-and-comer to host of "The Daily Show." I'm sure that's another journey well worth taking.

Trevor Noah's, “Born A Crime”, takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride. If you are looking for an educational, exciting, serious, hilarious, intellectually stimulating, and well-written stories, I highly recommend this book. Trevor Noah writes of his account growing up in post-apartheid South Africa. At the time it was illegal for interracial relations to exist, let alone have "colored" children. Because of Trevor's black mother and white father, he was “Born A Crime”. Trevor shares his childhood through anecdotes detailing his experiences in an elegant, well-written manner. Every book I read has a purpose. After watching Trevor Noah's interview on the Breakfast Club I was astounded at how effectively he communicated. In addition, given that I am 21 years old and have a lot of life to live--I seek to learn different perspectives and how other people lived their lives to better mine. Here are my three key takeaways from Trevor Noah's Born A Crime: 1) In Chapter 16 Trevor writes about crime and why it is so prevalent in low-income areas AKA "the Hood". Specifically, in Alexandra which is a city in South Africa. He writes "The hood made me realize that crime succeeds because crime does the one thing the government doesn't do: crime cares. Crime looks for the young kids who need support and a lifted hand. Crime offers internship programs and summer jobs and opportunities for advancement. Crime gets involved in the community. Crime doesn't discriminate." He focuses on crime in the sense of theft, piracy, and dealing drugs. 2) Again in Chapter 16 Trevor shares insight into how systems can operate at the expense of a certain group. He says, "In society, we do horrible things to one another because we don't see the person it affects. We don't see their face. We don't see them as people. Which was the whole reason the hood was built in the first place, to keep the victims of apartheid out of sight and out of mind. Because if white people ever saw black people as human, they would see that slavery is unconscionable." 3) I admire any successful black man who has made an honest living. Being the host of "The Daily Show", Trevor shows the younger generation they can achieve their dreams. Trevor has made a positive impact on my life. I thank and appreciate him for his contribution to our society.

I got this one used there was no issue. Looks like a brand new book to me. I do not like buying new books. When old books are the same. I read the whole thing and I do not like reading books. But this is such an interesting book I am going to be reading it again. You’ll get very lost in the book. It is not boring. 100% recommend.

Trevor knows how to depict sad situations with comedy. Most of the stories told really resonate with the typical African society. Values are instilled in children at an early age. Trevor did you finally meet Zaheera again?

For months, I struggled to finish a single book—everything I picked up felt half-hearted and ended up abandoned. Then, a friend stepped in and urged me to read Born a Crime. Honestly, I wasn’t sure at first, but I finally gave it a shot, and wow—what a game-changer. Sometimes, the right recommendation is all you need, and this was exactly that. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. This book isn’t just a read—it’s an experience. Born a Crime takes you on an emotional roller coaster, blending sharp sociopolitical insights with heartfelt personal stories about family, friendship, first love, crime, and unexpected chaos. The short, non-linear chapters somehow make it even more addictive, pulling you deeper into each story. It’s raw, hilarious, and deeply moving—a book that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Huge respect to the mom—she brought back memories of my own past. This book is absolutely fascinating, offering a deep dive into the world of non-white life in South Africa, especially in the years following apartheid. It captures the tribal and urban complexities of South Africa, painting a vivid picture of life in a very third-world setting. What’s incredible is how the book weaves all these elements together, not to brag, but to celebrate resilience and achievement over ego. Every single incident—whether light and humorous or deeply sobering—delivers one unshakable truth: in South Africa, race shapes everything. This is a story that entertains, educates, and leaves a lasting impression.

I just devoured this book. Funny, moving, interesting. An amusing biography, beautifully written, with a sense of humour typical of the comedian Trevor is. Also, I didn't know much of the reality before, during and after Apartheid and this book reveals a lot about it from the point of view of the oppressed. But it is also a story about what true education is, about the importance of freedom and Independence. It's a hymn to life and motherhood

Captivating memoir that seamlessly weaves humor and heart, offering a poignant glimpse into the complexities of growing up in post-apartheid South Africa. Noah's storytelling is both witty and insightful, creating a narrative that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. His ability to navigate serious subjects with humor makes this book a delightful and enlightening read, leaving readers with a deep appreciation for resilience and the power of laughter in the face of adversity. Noah's unique perspective and storytelling prowess make "Born a Crime" a must-read that resonates long after the last page is turned.

I 've followed TrevorNoah on you tube,found him just by chance,enjoyed his wits,his humor,his very talented ways to tell stories,and when I learned about his book,I just had to read it,and am so surprised that after what he went through during his youth,his life as a 'colored person' as he says himself,that he has such a wonderful outlook towards life,especially his own ,just a pity that the book ended too short,would have liked to know how he came to be where he is now,maybe a follow up book??