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Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood

Trevor Noah

Start date: March 1, 2017

Finish date: March 31, 2017

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: March's topic/theme is ethnicity/race. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah …more
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What Members Thought

May 15, 2017 Susan Bazzett-Griffith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: politics-economy-history, psych-soc-fem-pop, memoirs-biography, humor, favorites

Five stars-- probably my favorite book read this year. Am rereading it on audiobook right now because I enjoyed it so much. Will write a bettwr review later. Everyone I know would like this book. Because they're humans. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2019 Nanci rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography, comedy-humor

Trevor Noah is a great comic and you will also gain a good understanding of growing up in South Africa during Apartheid. I would definitely recommend listening to this book versus reading it, but beware...this book has profanity and adult content. Not appropriate for children.

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Nov 12, 2020 Gisela Hafezparast rated it really liked it

Excellent, easy to read depiction of what it was to grow up mixed race in South Africa. I thought Trevor Noah's account was very honest, whilst being considerate on family and friends and even those who have harmed him in the past. He is clearly a very generous person and aware that he, mainly because of growing up with a very strong mother, is one of the few who made it through a childhood as a "coloured" person during apartheid and after it.

I was aware that the apartheid regime in South Afric Excellent, easy to read depiction of what it was to grow up mixed race in South Africa. I thought Trevor Noah's account was very honest, whilst being considerate on family and friends and even those who have harmed him in the past. He is clearly a very generous person and aware that he, mainly because of growing up with a very strong mother, is one of the few who made it through a childhood as a "coloured" person during apartheid and after it.

I was aware that the apartheid regime in South Africa had various racial groups and I knew that depending on which group you were supposed to be part of would give you better access to jobs, housing, etc. However, I never knew that even in the 80s when Trevor Noah was born, it was a crime for white and black people to love each other and have children!!!! Moreover, that each group also would discriminate against other groups, etc.

Trevor clearly admires his mother and acknowledges not only her influence on his upbringing but also how much she achieved whilst being born poor, neglected and without any real education. She basically educated herself and struggled for independence and self-determination her whole life and he acknowledges what an important example and warning was and probably is to him. The fact that even a women like that had to bow to some cultural pressure and as a consequence had to endure domestic abuse and violence from a husband still shows how much still needs to change in South Africa.

Trevor describes very clearly what a huge challenge South Africa had to overcome and still has to overcome since apartheid has ended.

The book ends when Trevor was a young man, who luckily had been released from a stay in prison custody for some mistake/misbehaviour which many young people will have made and which in our European world would have been cleared up quickly by the police and at most, would end up with a young person getting a warning from the police not to do it again and a hard time from their parents, but nothing more. He considered himself lucky that he wasn't convicted of a crime, sent to prison and criminalised! Moreover, his mother is shot by her ex-husband but survives. Again, as a European, the way the hospital reacts when they think she has no insurance is horrific. Both these events must have clearly been a wake-up point for young Trevor and I would have liked to know how he transformed himself from somebody without a job and prospects to one of the most loved comedians and host of the Daily Show! I guess there will be another book at some stage. ...more

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Sep 15, 2019 Jan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, memoir-biography, audible-books, africa, book-club-2019

This memoir is the September selection of my book club. I purchased it via audible.com, and it was read by Trevor Noah. Such a delight to hear his story from him. His ability with language and accents is uncanny.

This book is hilarious and poignant. Trevor describes his childhood growing up in South Africa at the end of Apartheid. He really was born a crime, so it was fascinating listening to how he and his wonderful mother adapted.

If you plan to read it, I highly recommend you listen to the audi ...more

1 like · Like · see review