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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Trevor Noah (Author, Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 106,950 ratings
Amazon Charts #17 this week
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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.

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 44 minutes
  2. Author
    Trevor Noah
  3. Narrator
    Trevor Noah
  4. Audible release date
    November 15, 2016
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B01IW9TM5O
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 44 minutes
Author Trevor Noah
Narrator Trevor Noah
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 15, 2016
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01IW9TM5O
Best Sellers Rank #165 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Comedy (Books)
#1 in Comedic Performing Arts
#1 in Humor Essays (Books)

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
106,950 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the emotional tone poignant, sweet, honest, and tear-jerking. They also find the self-examination interesting and surprisingly honest. Readers describe the character traits as fascinating, well-rounded, and intelligent. They describe the writing style as captivating, blunt, and blunt. They find the book well-written, conversational, and relatable. They say the depth of ideas is extremely enlightening and hard-working. Customers also describe the storyline as wonderful, inspiring, and positive. They mention the humor as entertaining and exciting.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
HumorDepth of ideasStorylineReadabilityEmotional toneSelf-examinationWriting styleCharacter traits
2,445 customers mention "Humor"2,397 positive48 negative

Customers find the humor in the book entertaining, fun, and interesting. They also appreciate Trevor's wit, political knowledge, and great way of expressing himself.

"...memoir that doesn’t pierce you, wound you with truths, yet it soothes you with humor. I laughed because it was impossible not to...." Read more

"...One expectation I had for the book was that it would be funny, which it is in many parts...." Read more

"...Overall a great read and an exciting book. It's very enjoyable and eye opening as Trevor Noah brings a nice perspective...." Read more

"...The eye-opening educational aspects as well as the humorous writing style make Born a Crime a must-read for anybody who wants to explore the world..." Read more

1,839 customers mention "Depth of ideas"1,839 positive0 negative

Customers find the book extremely enlightening, intelligent, and compassionate. They say it goes into much more detail, teaching them more about apartheid and the cultural impact. Readers also say the book challenges their belief systems and opens their minds in ways.

"...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...." Read more

"...Noah has gained such a nuanced understanding of the topic...." Read more

"...The eye-opening educational aspects as well as the humorous writing style make Born a Crime a must-read for anybody who wants to explore the world..." Read more

"A book I’m grateful to have read. It taught me more about the apartheid and helped me understand the cultural impact on a deeper level...." Read more

1,795 customers mention "Storyline"1,730 positive65 negative

Customers find the storyline wonderful, inspiring, and funny. They also say the author does an amazing job describing scenes, setting tones, and educating the reader. Readers also mention the book has a positive outlook and crime is grassroots.

"...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...." Read more

"...Every story has a purpose, even the hilarious story of how, as a boy, Noah decided to poop in his kitchen...." Read more

"...His story is genuine and his emotions are passionate...." Read more

"...There are so many interesting stories revealed in this book, including most harrowingly his broken relationship with his father and his stepfather,..." Read more

1,311 customers mention "Readability"1,228 positive83 negative

Customers find the book well written, quick, and filled with vivid anecdotes. They also say the author manages to impart a message while making them laugh or cry with his story.

"...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..." Read more

"...Noah's writing style is not just conversational but natural; he is obviously a born storyteller...." Read more

"Very well written and enjoyable to read.Trevor is able to educate and pass many messages through a simple and numerous style." Read more

"Very well written book. Learned so much from this young man’s life experiences...." Read more

912 customers mention "Emotional tone"902 positive10 negative

Customers find the book poignant, sweet, honest, and funny. They say it helps ease the heartache that is bound to accompany. Readers also mention that the author is compassionate, serious, and remarkable. They describe the book as funny yet serious, tender, and fun.

"...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...." Read more

"...His story is genuine and his emotions are passionate...." Read more

"...Some of the things are outrageous and unthinkable, some are heartbreaking, some contain a measure of hilarity that will literally have you laughing..." Read more

"...He keeps it light. The story never dwells in despair. There is always something to make you smile or laugh out loud...." Read more

476 customers mention "Self-examination"476 positive0 negative

Customers find the self-examination surprisingly honest, educational, and rich. They appreciate the discussion of the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Readers also say the author is completely transparent with his feelings, thoughts, and experiences as a child growing up.

"...The chief strength of this book, I believe, is how open and honest Trevor is about his relationship with his mother...." Read more

"...He has some pretty profound and interesting comments in his book, such as:“..." Read more

"...I appreciated the reality of love, laughter, anger and frankness shared." Read more

"...His story overall is written with a calm measured voice and is told with equanimity...." Read more

386 customers mention "Writing style"381 positive5 negative

Customers find the writing style captivating, honest, and basic decency. They also say the story of Trevor's early life is powerful, filled with fascinating personalities, and rawly familiar. Readers appreciate the humor, understatement, and quirky outlook. They say the book helps them understand the hideousness of apartheid in South Africa, and is engaging and never dull.

"...Trevor is very smart, and a very adept communicator...." Read more

"A brilliantly written biography, personal and friendly will have you glued to the book...." Read more

"...I can not recommend this more highly. It is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read...." Read more

"...Trevor Noah's book is powerful because he masterfully helps the reader understand the humanity of those victimized by the system of apartheid, a..." Read more

230 customers mention "Character traits"230 positive0 negative

Customers find the character traits in the book courageous, gritty, charismatic, and well rounded. They also appreciate the lack of bitterness Noah carries.

"...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...." Read more

"...Funny. Reveting. His mother is a very strong person. I admire her. Thank you, Trevor, for sharing your life story." Read more

"Well put together!" Read more

"...It is a book about the strength of family. It’s an insight to the resilience, aloofness, innocence, and ignorance of life in South Africa that is..." Read more

What a Story! So Honest
5 out of 5 stars

What a Story! So Honest

Trevor Noah does a BRILLIANT job with his memoroir. I can't say enough about how his story touched my life. He has been through so much, shared it with the whole world, and is extremely open. We read this book in our club and 100% love it ! Very highly recommend to everyone, old, young and in between.
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Top reviews from the United States

Jheanell H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
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.
42 people found this helpful
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Duane Schneider
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read Book about Race and Poverty
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2020
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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.
46 people found this helpful
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4.0 out of 5 stars Great Autobiography and an interesting read - I highly recommend
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
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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.
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Top reviews from other countries

Yvonne
5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey through Humor and Insight.- A Must Read!
Reviewed in Canada on July 29, 2024
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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!
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ramatu adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived quickly
Reviewed in Sweden on August 23, 2024
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I am happy with the purchase
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Balanandam K
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, fun and non-fiction entertainment
Reviewed in India on July 10, 2024
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I learned about Noah through gatesnotes.com, where Bill Gates shares his thoughts on books and many other things, and I was instantly intrigued by this book and immediately added it to my wish list. Since then, it has been on my wish list for a long time. Finally, I was able to read it.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Noah's relationship with his mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah. She emerges as a formidable and loving presence, whose strength, faith, and unyielding principles profoundly influence Noah's development. Their dynamic is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking, offering readers a poignant look at the sacrifices and struggles of a single mother in a repressive society.

It offers invaluable insights into the realities of life under apartheid and the transitional period that followed its dismantling. Noah's firsthand accounts provide a vivid and personal perspective on the social and political landscape of South Africa, making the book not just a memoir but also an important historical document.

Many events in my life are related to Noah's life. Like his mother, my mother was a strong and staunch supporter of discipline and morals, but not religious like Patricia. It is because of her that I am where I am today.

Thank you!
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Oaka
5.0 out of 5 stars Broaden my Horizon
Reviewed in Germany on April 18, 2024
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With humor and grace, Trevor Noah describes what things can happen to you when the regime considers your existence a crime. Apardheit Sounds to someone who never delt with it, lik sadistic whites that are drunk on power. But its very complicated, because the natives were seperatet and given different priviliges to. The sheer will to survive and the training that growing up running is, let Trevor live to this das which we all are, or at least should be thankful for.
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jackey
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary book
Reviewed in Italy on December 19, 2023
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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
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