Born a Crime
by Trevor Noah · 2016
Trevor Noah's take on self-improvement, the honest verdict is below.
Worth reading? Trevor Noah's story of growing up mixed-race under apartheid, told funny and sharp. Read it for the laughs and the history you didn't get in school. Skip it if you want a tight political argument, this is vignettes, not a thesis.
| Author | Trevor Noah |
|---|---|
| Published | 2016 |
| Category | Biographies & Memoirs |
The Verdict
Trevor Noah’s story of growing up mixed-race under apartheid, told funny and sharp. Read it for the laughs and the history you didn’t get in school. Skip it if you want a tight political argument, this is vignettes, not a thesis.
anyone weighing whether Born a Crime belongs on their self-improvement and psychology shelf
you want a different angle than Trevor Noah's
Top 8 Lessons from Born a Crime
- Apartheid made his very existence illegal, which is the 'crime' of the title.
- His mother's stubborn faith and defiance were the engine of his survival.
- Language was leverage; speaking multiple tongues let him move between worlds.
- Humor was armor against a system built to crush him.
- Poverty in South Africa and America feel different but share the same shame.
- A mother who refuses to treat you as a victim raises someone who isn't one.
- Being 'between' groups teaches you to read everyone and belong to none.
- Small absurdities of apartheid reveal how absurd the whole system was.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Born a Crime worth reading?
Yes. It's funny, moving, and teaches apartheid history through one wild childhood.
What is the main idea of Born a Crime?
Trevor Noah's mixed-race childhood under apartheid, told through stories of survival and his mother's grit.
Who should read Born a Crime?
Fans of memoir, comedy, and readers who want history with a human face.
Is Born a Crime sad or funny?
Both. Noah tells brutal stories with a comedian's timing, so it lands lighter than it should.
Ready to read it?
Get Born a Crime on Amazon
