Scan barcode
konabuddy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
jillkammerer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
buttercupita's review against another edition
5.0
We listened to this as a family (children are teenagers) on audio on a couple of long car rides. It's fantastic -- Trevor Noah's talent for humor is evident as he shares the dramatic episodes of his life and describes his very unusual family and upbringing, but it's not a book of humor. What makes it outstanding is his ability to use his life to make some persuasive arguments about South Africa specifically, but also about society and the nature of human beings in general. I might deduct half a star for the handful of times that there is repetition, but overall, the story he tells is engaging and definitely worth listening to as he narrates it. (I can't imagine it would be as compelling alone on the page...)
martideno's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Domestic abuse
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
5.0
Going into this book, I only knew that Trevor Noah was the Daily Show replacement for Jon Stewart. I only watched a couple of his shows, but I was just curious enough to listen to this book. I expected his book to be just another comedian’s memoir. I was surprised at how well written the book is, how varied his background is and how much I like him after spending the time reading this book.
Even if it’s not your normal medium, I highly recommend you listen to this book. Noah reads it himself and speaks fluently the variety of African languages he quotes - in a physical book I’d have skimmed over those sentences. He drops into the correct accent with ease that allows the listener to associate even more with his life and live the stories beside him.
This book relates some events of his youth and upbringing with humor and perspective that allows you to laugh along with him - I believe he easily could have had me crying for most of his story if he’d that is what he’d wanted. I am looking forward to reading anything else he writes.
Even if it’s not your normal medium, I highly recommend you listen to this book. Noah reads it himself and speaks fluently the variety of African languages he quotes - in a physical book I’d have skimmed over those sentences. He drops into the correct accent with ease that allows the listener to associate even more with his life and live the stories beside him.
This book relates some events of his youth and upbringing with humor and perspective that allows you to laugh along with him - I believe he easily could have had me crying for most of his story if he’d that is what he’d wanted. I am looking forward to reading anything else he writes.
booksnug's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
5.0
dele_tubbies's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. I cried, I laughed, I learnt. It’s the perfect mix of heartfelt moments with some nice comedic relief sections to keep it from being to dark. I feel like I learnt so much about how it was to be mixed during and straight after apartheid. You can study it as much as you want in the history book but you won’t understand as well as after reading this. The best thing is your learn whilst enjoying it, that’s the best thing about biographies, you don’t even realise it’s happening. I agree with about 5 different quotes from the cover and blurb, it truly is essential reading. Didn’t know anything about Trevor Noah going in to this but now I want to watch his stuff and read his second biography. Also go Hitler might be one of the funniest things I’ve read
agrinczel's review against another edition
4.0
this was good, I liked it, but didn’t love it like others seemed to. It did a lot of time jumping which I don’t love and found difficult to follow