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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
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.
- Listening Length8 hours and 44 minutes
- Audible release dateNovember 15, 2016
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB01IW9TM5O
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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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
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviews with images
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What a Story! So Honest
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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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.
Top reviews from other countries
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"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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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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