Born a Crime
Summary:
The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime New York Times bestseller about one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
“Born a Crime” is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
The eighteen personal essays collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
I had been meaning to read this book for ages because I adore Trevor Noah’s comedy, but finally got around to it when I was going on a trip to South Africa. It was a compelling read that I read in just a few short bursts and it went quickly. Noah is known for his political commentary, particularly in South Africa, and he does a great job using that clear view of reality to his own life. South Africa is a rich country filled with so much culture, but many troubles. Noah does a great job both explaining a little history and also how that affected his life.
From his DJ-ing days and side hustles, to his conflict within his family, Noah has a great perspective grown from having people around him that challenged him to continue to do more. I loved getting that insight into his life and I’d highly recommend this to anyone who has seen Noah perform or want to learn more about what it is life to grow up in south Africa.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Anyone who wants to learn a little more about South Africa or Trevor Noah.