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Highest-rated new book of 2016 by Audible customers
Winner: Audible’s Best of 2016 – Celebrity Memoirs
In this award-winning Audible Studios production, Trevor Noah tells his wild coming-of-age tale during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa. It’s a story that begins with his mother throwing him from a moving van to save him from a potentially fatal dispute with gangsters, then follows the budding comedian’s path to self-discovery through episodes both poignant and comical. Noah’s virtuoso embodiment of all the characters from his childhood, and his ability to perform accents and dialects effortlessly in English, Xhosa, and Zulu, garnered the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator in 2018. Nevertheless, Noah’s devoted and uncompromising mother—as voiced by her son—steals the show.
4.5
Reviewer: Jheanell H.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Glorious
Review: This book is absolutely glorious. Iâm so in love right now, I can barely function. This memoir is unquestionable one of the most engaging books Iâve ever read, filled with such greatly vivid and riveting anecdotes, made more profound and unforgettable by the fact that theyâre true.I donât 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 Crimeâit just feels meaningful. And, it is meaningful. Iâm 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 Trevorâs 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 Grandmotherâs house (for his own good), crawled through a hole under a fence to get to freedom. Then, thereâs 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.TrevorâsâIâm 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 isnât a single part of this memoir that doesnât 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. Thatâs not to say that Trevor is disingenuous in any way; no, heâs 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 Iâve saved to revisit again and again. I donât read a lot of biographies, preferring fiction to real life, but Iâm 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.
Reviewer: Duane Schneider
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Must-Read Book about Race and Poverty
Review: 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.
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Autobiography and an interesting read – I highly recommend
Review: This is 4 1/2 stars for me. An excellent book and very interesting read about a boy growing up in South Africa who is mixed race. He doesn’t really fit anywhere as he’s not black, he’s not white and he’s not part of the mulato group either. I loved hearing how that society functioned and everything he ran into. I didn’t realize that South Africa is so tribal – even amongst the natives there are different tribes that have prejudices and attitudes towards each other. Overall a great read and an exciting book. It’s very enjoyable and eye opening as Trevor Noah brings a nice perspective. I loved his mother – she is someone I’d love to meet as she is so interesting. Reminds me that people are like diamonds with many faucets to them.
Reviewer: wantoun
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A fun, touching and educational biography
Review: Very well written and enjoyable to read.Trevor is able to educate and pass many messages through a simple and numerous style.
Reviewer: PatriciaW
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An amazing story of a life that could have turned out quite differently
Review: Trevor Noah is a smart, talented, even gifted young man who grew up in a time and place where everything was stacked against him. Apartheid South Africa was not favorable toward mixed race children, their very existence a crime. Yet Noah found a way to exist, and not only exist, but to shine, even when he was hustling the streets and living a life of low-level criminality. That he eventually made his way out and has risen to his current place and status in global society is amazing. His is a fascinating story, not very different than that of many “boys in the hood” right here in America, though apartheid adds some international flavor. Can’t wait to read the next installment, if there is one of Noah’s life. The storyteller we see on TV is just as funny and insightful on the pages of this book.
Reviewer: Yvonne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I absolutely love this book!”Born a Crime” is an incredible book! Trevor Noah’s writing style and storytelling are both captivating and insightful. He skillfully blends humor with detailed accounts of his life, delivering powerful messages along the way. The book offers profound insights into experiences many of us may/may not have lived through and might or might not relate to. The book provides a deep understanding and sheds light on the mindset of those who perpetuate racism and other societal injustices. A must-read for anyone seeking a profound and entertaining narrative. Highly recommended!
Reviewer: ramatu adams
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I am happy with the purchase
Reviewer: Jaqueline Lima
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: à primeira AUTObiografia que leio.Como sou acostumada com ficção, achei que seria mais sofrido, mas na verdade não foi.A história trata de tema super importantes, porém, ao mesmo tempo, tem um clima super descontraÃdo.Quando a autor aborda sua relação com a mãe… olha, é sem palavras.Super recomendo esse livro.
Reviewer: Arjun
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Trevor Noah ha sido uno de mis presentadores favoritos de Late Night Show en Estados Unidos y uno de mis cómicos favoritos. Tiene una gran capacidad de escritura como comediante, pero este libro fue realmente una sorpresa. El libro está muy bien escrito y ha puesto todo su corazón y sentimientos en el libro. Explica todo el camino que tuvo que recorrer como persona mestiza en Sudáfrica hasta convertirse en uno de los cómicos de más éxito del mundo. Su estilo de escritura te permite conectar con él, empatizar con él y experimentar su viaje. El libro es ligero a veces y divertido, pero muy sombrÃo y oscuro en otras ocasiones. Es un libro con una profundidad real y las luchas de Trevor y de muchas otras personas que viven en Sudáfrica durante y después del apartheid. Todo lo que digo es que le den una oportunidad a este libro y no se arrepentirán.
Reviewer: Sarah
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Very good copy
