Born a Crime

“Born a Crime” is a coming-of-age memoir. If you’re looking to laugh and cry, this one is for you. Trevor Noah’s book recounts many stories of his childhood in South Africa during the end of the apartheid era. The relationship between him and his mother is phenomenal, and I don’t know which one is the funnest between them. I have never read a celebrity memoir, but I’m glad I gave this one a try. This is one that I recommend the audiobook for since he does the narration. There were a lot of gems in this book, so I’ll leave you with two.

“Everything I have ever done, I’ve done from a place of love. If I don’t punish you, the world will punish you even worse. The world doesn’t love you.”

“The genius of apartheid was convincing people who were the overwhelming majority to turn on each other. Apart hate, is what it was. You separate people into groups and make them hate one another so you can run them all.”

Wow!! Just finished this book, and it was absolutely amazing. I listened to the audiobook while reading, and having Trevor Noah narrate his own story brought it to life in such a powerful way. He gives a raw, honest glimpse into his life growing up in South Africa towards the end of apartheid. I knew a little about the topic, but hearing about colorism and systemic injustice from his perspective opened my eyes in a way I didn’t expect. And can we talk about his mom?! She’s hilarious, strong, and had me laughing out loud more than once. This memoir is both heartbreaking and beautiful. One of the best I’ve read, and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.