Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

Trevor Noah

Book Synopsis

"Born a Crime" by Trevor Noah is a poignant and hilarious memoir that delves into the author's extraordinary life growing up in apartheid South Africa.

Noah, a mixed-race child born to a black mother and white father, navigates the complexities and absurdities of a society where interracial relationships are illegal. Labeled a ‘crime’ under apartheid, his existence becomes a constant act of defiance.

Through a series of captivating anecdotes, Noah captures the essence of his unconventional childhood. From facing the challenges of being a colored child in a black and white world, to the peculiarities of his parents’ relationship, each chapter offers a unique perspective on Noah's experiences.

Noah recounts his formative years with wit and wisdom, ranging from his unlikely collaboration with his fearless, rebellious mother to escape poverty, to his misadventures as a DJ, and even his dangerous endeavors as the only white-appearing person in the hood.

"Born a Crime" is not only a personal story of survival, but also a powerful commentary on race, identity, and the human capacity for resilience. Noah's observations on the absurdity of racial classification and the farcical nature of apartheid are laced with humor, making for an enlightening and entertaining read.

With his signature humor and candid storytelling, Noah tackles the most complex of topics, never shying away from the harsh realities of his upbringing. Ultimately, "Born a Crime" is an uplifting reflection on the power of love, tenacity, and the strength to rise above adversity, inspiring readers to embrace their own stories and celebrate the diversity of the human experience.

Explore More Books

See All
The Revolt of the Public
Letters to a Young Poet
Just Kids
Trump
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
Certain To Win
Oscar
Coyote America
Artemis
God's Debris
Beyond The Blue
The Precipice
The AI Revolution in Medicine
The Great Mental Models
The Kite Runner
The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Pursuit of Wow!
Letters to a Young Scientist
Very Classy
The French Revolution and What Went Wrong
Uncaring
The War of Art
The Attention Merchants
Security Analysis
Physics of the Future
I, Robot
Elon Musk
The White Album
Change.edu
Structures
All Out War
The World Crisis
The Dovekeepers
The Wizard of Menlo Park
Limitless
The Fever
Fall of Constantinople
Value Investing
Les Miserables
A Matter of Degrees
Ladies and Gentlemen - Lenny Bruce!!
Sustainable Materials With Both Eyes Open
The Sympathizer
Dopamine Detox
Second Foundation
Bitcoin Billionaires
How Will You Measure Your Life?
American Kingpin
Use of Weapons
Drive
The Prize
The Information
Fermat's Enigma
The Happiness Hypothesis
Ender's Shadow
The Great Gatsby
Don't Feed the Monkey Mind
The Godfather
Shaping the Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Triumphs of Experience
99% True
Alchemy
Look to Windward
How To Get Rich
Frames of Mind
Distant Force
Rock On
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha
Complexity and the Economy
The Man Who Knew Infinity
The Evolution of Everything
Buddha's Brain
The Art of Manipulation
The Virgin Suicides
The Psychology of Money
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Arctica
World War 3.0
It's Not How Good You Are - It's How Good You Want To Be
The Untethered Soul
Thinking with Type
The Therapeutic Turn
The Perfect Bet
A New History of Greek Mathematics
Prepared
Letters of Note
Frenemies
A Bite-Sized History of France
The Bed of Procrustes
Einstein's Mistakes
The Giving Tree
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
The Rosie Project
Competing Against Time
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Reason Begins
The Worlds I See
Money Changes Everything
Active Inference
Hidden Repression