Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

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Web ID: 8511603

#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.

  • Product Features

    • Author - Trevor Noah
    • Publisher - Random House Publishing Group
    • Publication date - 02-12-2019
    • Page count - 304
    • Paperback
    • Adult
    • Biography
    • Product dimensions - 5.47 W x 8.15 H x 0.62 D
    • ISBN-13 - 9780399588198
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7/5

43 star ratings, 0 reviews

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6 months ago
from State college Pa

Great book

If you want a book that can entertain you for hours this is the book for you. Trevor has an adventures childhood that you can't only get from reading this book. Trevor story shows you the problems of identity and racism. It is a must read and funny book

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

1 year ago
from Miami, Florida

Authentic Autobiography

Born a Crime is an amazing books for teenagers and adults alike to enjoy. The book explains the horrors and the ironic nature of apartheid in South Africa in a straight forward and funny way to prove a point. I would totally recommend this book to people wanting to read an autobiography and/or learn about South Africa's history through the eyes of Trevor Noah.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from Pueblo Colorado

Amazing Life story intertwined with Apartheid

Trevor is not only a funny as ever comedian, but his writing style in this book is superb! I wish more authors had his writing style! Amazing read thanks Trevor

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Book Review !

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is a novel about experiences and emotions. Before getting started with the fantastic book itself, here is some background information about the author himself. The author is Trevor Noah, who is currently 39 years old. When he wrote Born a Crime, he was in his early 30’s. The book being written with his own experiences helps the readers stay engaged. The book is very descriptive with many rhetorical situations. The main rhetorical situations that are used in this book are description, repetition, imagery. There are many more that were used in the novel but those are the ones that stood out to me the most. The autobiographical comedic memoir Born a Crime by Trevor Noah describes the author's extraordinary story growing up in South Africa during the apartheid era. It aims to highlight how racism, discrimination, and injustice affect people while also demonstrating the strength of resiliency, faith, and humor in the face of hardship. He also highlights the potential of using comedy as a way to cope with challenges, underscoring that it can be a useful tool in overcoming adversity. Anyone who is interested in learning about the author's life, his path to success, and the value of resiliency, faith, and humor in overcoming adversity should read Trevor Noah's book "Born a Crime." The book will also be appealing to individuals who enjoy Noah's work on The Daily Show and are interested in learning more about his life and ideas. Trevor Noah discusses his origins in South Africa under apartheid, his journey to America, and his path to success in the novel's historical context. How it feels to experience a revolution firsthand and how he has worked to draw attention to the problems facing Africans worldwide. He wants to aid in bringing about positive change in African communities by drawing attention to the problems. Trevor Noah uses his book to teach his audience about what went on and show his own experience as a kid, so people in the world can see how things are different for each individual. This could be because of race, gender, sexuality, and more. Trevor Noah does a good job at keeping his audience engaged and keeping them interested, but also teaches them at the same time.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from DC Metro

Ten takeaways in the book

1. Racism can take many forms: The book highlights the ways in which racism manifests itself in different ways, including through apartheid laws and social norms. 2. The power of language: Language can be a tool of both oppression and liberation. In the book, Noah discusses the ways in which he used language to navigate different social situations and to communicate with his mother. 3. The complexity of identity: Noah's experiences growing up in South Africa as the child of a black mother and a white father, and his later experiences living in the United States, highlight the complexities of identity and the ways in which society often tries to force people into narrow boxes. 4. The importance of family: Despite the challenges he faced, Noah's family provided a source of strength and support throughout his life. 5. The impact of domestic violence: Noah's mother was the victim of domestic violence, and the book explores the ways in which this affected both her and her children. 6. The role of education: Education played a crucial role in Noah's life, helping him to develop critical thinking skills and to navigate different social situations. 7. The resilience of the human spirit: Despite facing numerous obstacles, Noah's story is one of resilience and perseverance. 8. The importance of empathy: The book highlights the importance of empathy and understanding, particularly in the face of difficult or challenging circumstances. 9. The power of comedy: Comedy can be a powerful tool for social commentary and political critique, as well as a means of bringing people together. 10. The ongoing struggle for social justice: The book underscores the ongoing struggle for social justice, both in South Africa and around the world, and the importance of continuing to work towards a more just and equitable society.

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago
from Memphis

An incredible autobiography

What an incredible life story! The things you never knew that you really should have known about South Africa: the people’s lives, the apartheid history - It’s a magical land that endured, as did its people. Trevor Noah imbued his story with so many deep emotions that I could literally see the stories he told. Five fabulous stars!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Great read, highly recommend!

This book is very well written, compelling and a powerful story to read.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

3 years ago
from New Orleans, LA

This is my FAVORITE book

I seriously cannot describe how much I love this story. Noah portrays how our society separates us from class, race, religion, sexuality, etc. This is both an entertaining AND very educational tell.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com