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 Wright Brothers
Technically Food
Startup
Deep Survival
The Etymologicon
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen
The Coaching Habit
The Innovator’s Solution
Beyond Good and Evil
Walter Benjamin
The Romance of American Communism
The Activist's Media Handbook
Calm Your Mind with Food
The Upside of Stress
The Evolution of Beauty
The Art of Computer Programming
The Four Agreements
A World-Class Education
The Extension of Man
In The Plex
Mr. Putin
Becoming Steve Jobs
A Cultural History of Physics
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert
The Jungle Grows Back
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Zorba the Greek
Creation
The Ride of a Lifetime
Mean Genes
The Network State
The Utopia of Rules
Founders' Son
Dancing In The Glory Of Monsters
Art of the Living Dead
Brute
The Terminal List
No Bullshit Guide to Math and Physics
Three Blind Mice
The Right Stuff
The Warrior Ethos
The Fry Chronicles
Fallout
Powerful
Big World, Small Planet
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Tipping Points
Inversions
No Applause - Just Throw Money
How The Scots Invented The Modern World
Lessons for the Living
Bitcoin Billionaires
The Cult of LEGO
Beating The Street
Exhalation
Flu
Dune Messiah
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
The Formula
Not Zero
George's Marvellous Medicine
Going Infinite
Eisenhower in War and Peace
A Technique for Producing Ideas
Natural Capitalism
Civilisation
Money: Master The Game
The Score Takes Care of Itself
The Ones We Have Been Waiting For
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Live Free or Die
The Economic Consequences of the Peace
Artemis
On Bullshit
The 80/20 Principle
Einstein's Mistakes
A History of Rome
Epic Measures
The Energy World Is Flat
Pre-Suasion
Civilian Warriors
Built To Last
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Oh, The Place You’ll Go
Grit
The Butterfly Defect
The Surrender Experiment
Kill Switch
The Messy Middle
The Happiness Hypothesis
Saving Capitalism from Short Termism
American Buffalo
The Rise of Superman
Bull by the Horns
The Sympathizer
Good Night, Little Bear
The Belly Art Project
The Curse of the Mogul
Aware