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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
emotional
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
Trevor Noah was born in 1984, six years before the end of apartheid, his mother is native African, father is Swiss German and so he naturally is a mixed-race child. When he was born his existence was technically a crime as per South African apartheid law, thus he literally was born a crime.
“We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited.”
He talks in detail about how he grew up in apartheid and how its aftermaths influenced some of the major events in his life. During apartheid the population was divided into three categories: the black, the colored and the white. They had categorized everything according to the race. And that determined where they lived, which language they spoke, which school they went, what job they had.
He talks about how he was culturally black yet always in the middle. Not being black enough and not being white enough, consequently not being able to belong to any group in schools, in his neighborhoods.
He talks about certain topics which are utterly tragic and inhumane but he makes it digestible to the readers in a sarcastic, funny way. There isn't a single chapter that won't pierce your heart, at the same time it'salleviated with humor. This tells how captivating his writing was, not inordinately preachy yet delivering the message.
I was listening to the audiobook simultaneously. And it was the best memoir I've ever heard someone narrate. He did all the African accents, he talked in everyone's voices and sang too.
I've never heard or read anyone describing the act of shitting in so much detail and with such understanding.
“We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited.”
He talks in detail about how he grew up in apartheid and how its aftermaths influenced some of the major events in his life. During apartheid the population was divided into three categories: the black, the colored and the white. They had categorized everything according to the race. And that determined where they lived, which language they spoke, which school they went, what job they had.
He talks about how he was culturally black yet always in the middle. Not being black enough and not being white enough, consequently not being able to belong to any group in schools, in his neighborhoods.
He talks about certain topics which are utterly tragic and inhumane but he makes it digestible to the readers in a sarcastic, funny way. There isn't a single chapter that won't pierce your heart, at the same time it'salleviated with humor. This tells how captivating his writing was, not inordinately preachy yet delivering the message.
I was listening to the audiobook simultaneously. And it was the best memoir I've ever heard someone narrate. He did all the African accents, he talked in everyone's voices and sang too.
I've never heard or read anyone describing the act of shitting in so much detail and with such understanding.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Well, I absolutely flew through it. Loved the format of information sprinkled throughout narrative storytelling. I was entertained and educated on South African apartheid.
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
medium-paced
"Born a Crime", written by the Daily Show's host Trevor Noah, is a collection of childhood and adolescence anecdotes, a memoir of a man who grew up under apartheid as the child of a black mother and a white father, a reflection on the long term effects of institutionalised racism and, above all, a heartwarming declaration of love for Noah's mother. I love this book. It made me laugh out loud and cry (not "cry" like in "I felt a little bit sad". Actual, burning tears.), it shocked me and it educated me. It is smart, funny, occasionally sad, inspirational and entertaining.
Before I read this book, I liked Trevor Noah. I knew him as the smart and funny (and of course, very handsome) host of "The Daily Show" and I knew bits and pieces of his stand up which I also really enjoy.
Now, after reading his stories, I like him even more. Understanding the place he comes from more, he seems to be an even more remarkable person than before.
Yet the real hero of his story is his mother, who he describes as a very strong, independent, intelligent, determined, caring and courageous woman. As much as I admire Trevor Noah himself for what he does and how he does it, I am just in awe when I hear about his mother.
I got my hands on a signed edition and I could not be happier. This book is one of my favourites.
Before I read this book, I liked Trevor Noah. I knew him as the smart and funny (and of course, very handsome) host of "The Daily Show" and I knew bits and pieces of his stand up which I also really enjoy.
Now, after reading his stories, I like him even more. Understanding the place he comes from more, he seems to be an even more remarkable person than before.
Yet the real hero of his story is his mother, who he describes as a very strong, independent, intelligent, determined, caring and courageous woman. As much as I admire Trevor Noah himself for what he does and how he does it, I am just in awe when I hear about his mother.
I got my hands on a signed edition and I could not be happier. This book is one of my favourites.
funny
informative
fast-paced
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
I liked this book. This book was tackled hard topics like apartheid, post-apartheid South Africa, racism/colorism, poverty, and domestic abuse in a really informative and impactful way, while still keeping a lot of humor and heart in it. It's not all super depressing stuff.
A lot of the African books I've read lately don't really provide much context (I had to try figure out cultural stuff by myself from the other stuff going on and just accept that things will go over my head). This book was kind of an interesting change of pace because Trevor Noah assumes you know very little and explains things for an outside audience. (I don't think one style is better than the other by the way, it's just a difference that I noticed.)
A lot of the African books I've read lately don't really provide much context (I had to try figure out cultural stuff by myself from the other stuff going on and just accept that things will go over my head). This book was kind of an interesting change of pace because Trevor Noah assumes you know very little and explains things for an outside audience. (I don't think one style is better than the other by the way, it's just a difference that I noticed.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Genocide, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts