-
Born a Crime
- Stories from a South African Childhood
- Narrated by: Trevor Noah
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 17-11-16
- Language: English
- Publisher: John Murray
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: £24.99
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Last Black Unicorn
- By: Tiffany Haddish
- Narrated by: Tiffany Haddish
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 755
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 679
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 679
Tiffany can't avoid being funny: it's just who she is. But The Last Black Unicorn is so much more than a side-splittingly hilarious collection of essays - it's a memoir of the struggles of one woman who came from nothing and nowhere. A woman who was able to achieve her dreams by reveling in her pain and awkwardness, showing the world who she really is, and inspiring others through the power of laughter.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing!!
- By Safiya on 20-12-17
-
I Can't Make This Up
- Life Lessons
- By: Neil Strauss - contributor, Kevin Hart
- Narrated by: Kevin Hart
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,383
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,015
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,008
Superstar comedian and Hollywood box-office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word by writing some words. Some of those words include: the, a, for, above, and even even. Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Epic
- By Della Michelle on 14-06-17
-
Natives
- Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire
- By: Akala
- Narrated by: Akala
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 642
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 591
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 582
From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. In this unique book he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical and political factors that have left us where we are today. Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, Natives speaks directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Very Interesting and Challenging Listen
- By Ross Clark on 10-07-18
-
Black Privilege
- Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It
- By: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 565
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 524
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 523
Charlamagne Tha God - the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pissing People Off", co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, and "hip-hop's Howard Stern" - shares his unlikely success story as well as how embracing one's truths is a fundamental key to success and happiness.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing truth! Great philosophy to life!
- By james on 21-04-17
-
Becoming
- By: Michelle Obama
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms.
-
Dreams from My Father
- A Story of Race and Inheritance
- By: Barack Obama
- Narrated by: Barack Obama
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 570
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 438
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 439
Dreams from My Father is a masterpiece: a refreshing, revealing portrait of a young man asking the big questions about identity and belonging. The son of a black African father and a white American mother, Obama recounts an emotional odyssey. He retraces the migration of his mother's family from Kansas to Hawaii, then to his childhood home in Indonesia. Finally he travels to Kenya, where he confronts the bitter truth of his father's life and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Inspiring
- By Mr. Elbow on 04-10-16
-
The Last Black Unicorn
- By: Tiffany Haddish
- Narrated by: Tiffany Haddish
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 755
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 679
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 679
Tiffany can't avoid being funny: it's just who she is. But The Last Black Unicorn is so much more than a side-splittingly hilarious collection of essays - it's a memoir of the struggles of one woman who came from nothing and nowhere. A woman who was able to achieve her dreams by reveling in her pain and awkwardness, showing the world who she really is, and inspiring others through the power of laughter.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing!!
- By Safiya on 20-12-17
-
I Can't Make This Up
- Life Lessons
- By: Neil Strauss - contributor, Kevin Hart
- Narrated by: Kevin Hart
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 4,383
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,015
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,008
Superstar comedian and Hollywood box-office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word by writing some words. Some of those words include: the, a, for, above, and even even. Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Epic
- By Della Michelle on 14-06-17
-
Natives
- Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire
- By: Akala
- Narrated by: Akala
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 642
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 591
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 582
From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. In this unique book he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical and political factors that have left us where we are today. Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, Natives speaks directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Very Interesting and Challenging Listen
- By Ross Clark on 10-07-18
-
Black Privilege
- Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It
- By: Charlamagne Tha God
- Narrated by: Charlamagne Tha God
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 565
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 524
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 523
Charlamagne Tha God - the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pissing People Off", co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club, and "hip-hop's Howard Stern" - shares his unlikely success story as well as how embracing one's truths is a fundamental key to success and happiness.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing truth! Great philosophy to life!
- By james on 21-04-17
-
Becoming
- By: Michelle Obama
- Narrated by: Michelle Obama
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
-
Story0 out of 5 stars 0
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites listeners into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world's most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms.
-
Dreams from My Father
- A Story of Race and Inheritance
- By: Barack Obama
- Narrated by: Barack Obama
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 570
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 438
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 439
Dreams from My Father is a masterpiece: a refreshing, revealing portrait of a young man asking the big questions about identity and belonging. The son of a black African father and a white American mother, Obama recounts an emotional odyssey. He retraces the migration of his mother's family from Kansas to Hawaii, then to his childhood home in Indonesia. Finally he travels to Kenya, where he confronts the bitter truth of his father's life and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Inspiring
- By Mr. Elbow on 04-10-16
-
Black and British
- A Forgotten History
- By: David Olusoga
- Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Length: 24 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 169
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 151
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 150
David Olusoga's Black and British is a rich and revealing exploration of the extraordinarily long relationship between the British Isles and the people of Africa. Drawing on new genetic and genealogical research, original records, expert testimony and contemporary interviews, Black and British reaches back to Roman Britain, the medieval imagination and Shakespeare's Othello.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A fascinating and timely book
- By Elaine & Edward Jackson on 01-01-17
-
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race
- By: Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Narrated by: Reni Eddo-Lodge
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,476
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,295
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,272
In February 2014, Reni Eddo-Lodge posted an impassioned argument on her blog about her deep-seated frustration with the way discussions of race and racism in Britain were constantly being shut down by those who weren't affected by it. She gave the post the title 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. Her sharp, fiercely intelligent words hit a nerve, and the post went viral, spawning a huge number of comments from people desperate to speak up about their own similar experiences.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Flagrant Racism Posing as Social Justice
- By Joaquin on 11-09-18
-
Bossypants
- By: Tina Fey
- Narrated by: Tina Fey
- Length: 5 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,672
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,284
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,280
Once in a generation a woman comes along who changes everything. Tina Fey is not that woman, but she met that woman once and acted weird around her.
Before 30 Rock, Mean Girls, and 'Sarah Palin', Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Finally, an audiobook that knows it's an audiobook
- By PP Merge on 18-05-11
-
Americanah
- By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,354
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,234
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,233
As teenagers, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love in a Nigeria under military dictatorship. The self-assured Ifemelu departs for America, where Obinze hopes to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, after so long apart and so many changes, will they find the courage to meet again, face to face?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Life-changing
- By Diana John on 02-06-13
-
This Is Going to Hurt
- Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor
- By: Adam Kay
- Narrated by: Adam Kay
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4,651
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4,264
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 4,234
Welcome to 97-hour weeks. Welcome to life and death decisions. Welcome to a constant tsunami of bodily fluids. Welcome to earning less than the hospital parking meter. Wave good-bye to your friends and relationships.... Welcome to the life of a junior doctor. Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, comedian and former junior doctor Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well written, Well told
- By The_Animagus on 23-09-17
-
The Secret Barrister
- By: The Secret Barrister
- Narrated by: Jack Hawkins
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,151
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,057
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,050
Welcome to the world of the Secret Barrister. These are the stories of life inside the courtroom. They are sometimes funny, often moving and ultimately life-changing. How can you defend a child abuser you suspect to be guilty? What do you say to someone sentenced to ten years whom you believe to be innocent? What is the law, and why do we need it? And why do they wear those stupid wigs?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A superb dissection of the English legal system
- By Kirstine on 06-06-18
-
Long Walk to Freedom
- The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
- By: Nelson Mandela
- Narrated by: Danny Glover
- Length: 6 hrs
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 399
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 254
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 251
The riveting memoirs of the outstanding moral and political leader of our time, Long Walk to Freedom brilliantly re-creates the drama of the experiences that helped shape Nelson Mandela's destiny. Emotive, compelling, and uplifting, Long Walk to Freedom is the exhilarating story of an epic life; a story of hardship, resilience, and ultimate triumph told with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating & beautifully narrated.
- By Karen on 27-08-06
-
The Thing Around Your Neck
- By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 56
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 38
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Orange Prize-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun, come 12 dazzling stories in which she turns her penetrating eye on the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Nigeria and the West. Searing and profound, suffused with beauty, sorrow and longing, this collection is a resounding confirmation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's prodigious storytelling powers.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A wonderful collection of stories.
- By MaryAnne on 12-10-11
-
Brit(ish)
- On Race, Identity and Belonging
- By: Afua Hirsch
- Narrated by: Afua Hirsch
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 149
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 134
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 134
Afua Hirsch is British. Her parents are British. She was raised, educated and socialised in Britain. Her partner, her daughter, her sister and the vast majority of her friends are British. So why is her identity and sense of belonging a subject of debate? The reason is simply because of the colour of her skin. Blending history, memoir and individual experiences, Afua Hirsch reveals the identity crisis at the heart of Britain today. Far from affecting only minority people, Britain is a nation in denial about its past and its present.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An excellent insight into growing up non-white in the UK
- By Dr. M. D. Togobo on 21-02-18
-
Up from Slavery
- An Autobiography
- By: Booker T. Washington
- Narrated by: Sean Murphy
- Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2
"Up from Slavery" is the 1901 autobiography of Booker T. Washington sharing his personal experience of having to work to rise up from the position of a slave child during the Civil War, to the difficulties and obstacles he overcame to get an education at the new Hampton Institute, to his work establishing the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to help black people learn useful, marketable skills and work to pull themselves up by the bootstraps. He reflects on the generosity of both teachers and philanthropists who helped in educating blacks and Native Americans.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
What a man
- By angela on 13-10-18
-
We Should All Be Feminists
- By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Narrated by: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Length: 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 360
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 315
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 316
'I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently....' What does feminism mean today? In this personal, eloquently argued essay - adapted from her much-admired TEDx talk of the same name - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers listeners a unique definition of feminism for the 21st century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A good start in intersectional feminist theory
- By Suswati on 28-01-17
-
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
- By: Mark Manson
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9,116
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,935
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,882
For decades we've been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*ck positivity," Mark Manson says. "Let's be honest, shit is f*cked, and we have to live with it." In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn't sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is - a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is his antidote to the coddling, let's-all-feel-good mind-set that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
First half interesting, second half meh
- By P. Healey on 30-03-17
Summary
Born a Crime is the deeply personal story of what has shaped Trevor Noah, South African comedian and host of the Daily Show. An astonishing memoir that details growing up in the midst of a crumbling apartheid, it illuminates his unique vantage point and how it prepared him for a life in the public eye. This is a sharply humorous, engaging and unforgettable record of Noah's life and at its heart, a love letter to his remarkable mother.
The compelling, inspiring (often comic) coming-of-age story of Trevor Noah, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
One of the comedy world's brightest new voices, Trevor Noah is a light-footed but sharp-minded observer of the absurdities of politics, race and identity, sharing jokes and insights drawn from the wealth of experience acquired in his relatively young life. As host of the US hit show The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, he provides viewers around the globe with their nightly dose of biting satire, but here Noah turns his focus inward, giving listeners a deeply personal, heartfelt and humorous look at the world that shaped him.
Noah was born a crime, son of 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 first 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, take him away.
A collection of 18 personal stories, Born a Crime tells the story of a mischievous young boy growing into a restless young man as he struggles to find his place in a world where he was never supposed to exist. Born a Crime is equally the story of that young man's fearless, rebellious and fervently religious mother - a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence and abuse that ultimately threatens her own life.
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, Noah illuminates his curious world with incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a personal portrait of an unlikely childhood in a dangerous time, as moving and unforgettable as the very best memoirs and as funny as Noah's own hilarious stand-up.
Born a Crime is a must-listen.
More from the same
What members say
Average customer ratings
Overall
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars3,340
-
4 Stars325
-
3 Stars47
-
2 Stars6
-
1 Stars5
Performance
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars3,273
-
4 Stars172
-
3 Stars31
-
2 Stars4
-
1 Stars1
Story
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars3,056
-
4 Stars353
-
3 Stars47
-
2 Stars4
-
1 Stars6
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy
- 04-12-16
Brilliant, unique and full of memories.
This book brings back a lot of memories for me growing up in South Africa. I was one of Trevor's friends in high school, in fact I'm the person who he mentions helped start his pirated cd business but to hear about his life from the "other side", growing up as a poor black South African under such trying conditions really brings your own life in to perspective. The Trevor I knew and the front he put on was miles away from how his life really was. Although parts of it do seem to have a slight bit of creative license - at least the bits I am aware of - it is a still fantastic story about a incredibly talented and determined individual who has risen to where he is today because of his mother and her determination to make him a man. Just listen to it, you will not be disappointed.
31 of 34 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- E
- 07-01-17
Incredible story of this man's life
I always love to hear stories read by the author. This is no exception. I've always loved Trevor's comedy and I had no idea of the life he has lived. I particularly love the stories about his mother, she sounds like a wonderful, funny and strong woman, the kind of mother to aspire to be like. It was very interesting to also learn more about South Africa and apartheid, something I feel I have greater understanding of now and how it has affected families and it's lasting effects.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rohma
- 27-02-17
Masterpiece
The best thing, hands down, is Trevor Noah speaking in different languages and doing imitations!
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- OldskoolHrdcore
- 25-08-17
Excellently read
Having listened to 30 or so autobiographys on audible I've found only a few truly captivating, often with other titles I've found myself zoning out as the story is just pretty mundane, BUT listening to Trevor was a joy, his accents are excellent and you really feel like he takes you on the journey and the voices he does make it feel like you're in the room as it happens. Along with excellent narration is the story itself, which was fascinating, being a white westerner it really opened my eyes to some concepts of racism I hadn't pondered before and I feel less ignorant having listened...
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- mollyeyre
- 10-06-17
Amazing life story
I rarely go for autobiographies as the tedium of 'me, me, me' irritates me. However, this was an amazing story, I felt it was mainly a tribute to Trevor Noah's mother who was such a brilliant woman fighting against adversity and making her son into a loving and very worthy man. I feel tearful after reading this and I am very impressed by the character of this man - and even more by the character of his fiery mother.
I hesitated before buying, as I say I don't usually go for auto biographies - but this was different - I keep using 'amazing' in this review - but it really IS amazing! A real delight to understand a little about the South Africa of past times, and the troubled transition into the SA of today. (Though I fear it is still troubled).
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- DrSeun
- 23-02-17
Definitely the best audiobook in my collection!!!
This book was quite interesting, engaging and informative. I reckon it is better to listen to it rather than reading it, as Trevor's voice takes you through the range of human emotions, I teared up at times, laughed out loud, got angry, despaired and was hopeful again... it was definitely worth the amount paid.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr-reader
- LONDON UK
- 16-07-17
Amazing
I finished it within 2 days, I really recommend the book, its funny and sad same time.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann D
- Newcastle, England
- 03-06-17
Powerful biography
This is not really what I expected from the Comedian Trever Noah. It's a sobering tale of being born and raised a mixed race boy in Apartheid, and newly post Apartheid, South Africa. It's very well written and he narrates it himself perfectly. The only thing I disliked, but not enough to diminish the 5* review score, is his references to "all Americans will understand this (and) although South African culture is very different, Americans will get this". This jarred for me. Did he write it with just Americans in mind? Does he think only Americans will read it? Hmm!
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joseph McMahon
- 15-01-17
As funny as it is informative
If you're a fan of Trevor Noah then you'll really enjoy this. Has some serious accounts that are hard hitting as equally as it is funny. Well worth the listen.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alina
- 14-12-16
Funny, informative and REAL
Captured the stories many SA childhoods very well. When I started I couldn't stop listening.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Crystal
- 11-04-17
Moving, hilarious, surprisingly informative
Would you consider the audio edition of Born a Crime to be better than the print version?
Definitely. This is a book that really makes sense as an audiobook because it's narrated by the author who does a brilliant job, but particularly because of the languages and accents. Having Trevor imitate the different languages as he gave history and explanations of South African culture and Apartheid added a new dimension and an immediate understanding of the "character' as soon as you heard the voice/accent he used. He also speaks the non-English languages, saving the reader from attempting to read them themselves. He's also hilarious.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Born a Crime?
One of the first scenes that Trevor describes is the one that still stays with me the clearest and the one I found most impactful. He, his mother, and baby Andrew jumping out of the van (technically, Trevor was thrown from the van), and running away from the threatening driver. The young Trevor's take on the incident is incredibly sweet and naive, yet really quite dark and upsetting. The whole thing is moving, shocking, and still funny in the way Trevor tells it.
What does Trevor Noah bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
As above - it's the accents and languages. Also, Trevor's impersonation of his younger self is very endearing.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Just because hate is taught, it doesn't have to be learned.
Any additional comments?
I have been a fan of Trevor's comedy so when he released this book I knew I wanted to read it. It was intelligently but humorously written, but what surprised me was how much I learned about South African culture during/after Apartheid. The book showed me the gaping holes in my knowledge of what I thought was simply another case of white racism to blacks. Apartheid went so much deeper than that. It was designed to create hate and fear and disunity, not only between whites and blacks but between coloureds and other races. It was incredible to read about what life was like, and how the colour of your skin or the language you spoke really did affect every part of life there.
Trevor's own personal story itself was fascinating and often tragic, but on the whole the reader isn't left pitying him. He speaks matter-of-factly and honestly about the tragedies, but the core of his story is set in a firm foundation of love from his mother. You admire Trevor and his mother, you don't pity them.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-09-17
Mind-blowing
I absolutely loved it! I love the honesty and realness of it. I will be listening again and buying the book (God Willing). It inspired me. I love his mum and the relationship they have! Very very nice.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cheryl Hernandez
- 18-03-18
What a fantastic book!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would definitely recommend this book to others I liked how humour was woven into such serious themes of poverty, domestic violence and racial discrimination.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Trevor's mother. She was a woman of substance. A woman of great strength and faith which saved her in the end. What a life!
Have you listened to any of Trevor Noah’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes, I have subscribed to Trevor's daily Show. It is the last thing I watch on my phone before I go to sleep every night. I think its good to go to sleep laughing. Now I understand Trevor better and love him even more. I understand he visited my country Trinidad some months ago,(Feb 2018) How I would have loved to meet him.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No, I rather take it in pieces and that's how I listened to it. I chose to savour every bit of it. I did not want it to end. It was good that Trevor read it himself.
Any additional comments?
It was also very informative since I was able to learn about African culture during apartheid. I can't wait for the movie.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jamie
- 12-02-18
Most Fiction-like NonFiction you'll ever listen to
What made the experience of listening to Born a Crime the most enjoyable?
Hearing about the experiences of living in South Africa, confirming and eradicating some of the stereotypes I've heard.
What did you like best about this story?
Nothing was overexaggerated, just presented exactly how it happened.
What about Trevor Noah’s performance did you like?
Trevors narration make's you feel as if though you're being told a story by every character he imitates. There lies such genuineness and intrigue in each word, it'll feel like licking food off your fingers after eating the most delicious thing you've ever eaten.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laughed every chapter, and cried for the last.
Any additional comments?
Best book I've listened to for the year. I Highly Recommend!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dian Sofia Jamil
- 12-01-17
An amazing performance of a riveting story
Would you consider the audio edition of Born a Crime to be better than the print version?
For Non-African people unfamiliar with African culture, the performance of the audiobook by Trevor Noah imparts the heart of the book more than it might if it was read off the pages. Trevor Noah is funny, heartfelt & vigorous.
What did you like best about this story?
The amazing turn of events and the author as we know today, managing to escape that life and being where he is now.
What about Trevor Noah’s performance did you like?
The book deals with multiple cultures ranging from European to African and languages of different African tribes. It is likely very few people can bring the book to life & one of those people is Trevor Noah.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, it is RIVETING. But it is 8 hours.
Any additional comments?
Very satisfied with this audiobook.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Khwezi
- 06-01-17
A Moving South African Story
Trevor is an excellent story teller. Great historical background. Only drawback is the vulgar language.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-04-18
A moving and heartfelt story - which will shock
and amaze! I laughed and cried (only once out of sadness) and think I understand his humour better. A wonderful story of a guy raised by a great Mom- it celebrates his Mom and her faith in a good God. And you can see how Trevor is a product of Patricia's life- lived as honestly as she can- she is the heroine of THIS story. Trevor Noah is essential as the reader- he is introspective and even wise at times and you can see how he has changed from the boy who experimented with magnifying glass ( with catastrophic results) to the man who would take responsibility for his brothers should he have been called on to do so. It's a story that could only have happened in Peri - apartheid South Africa with all of its unique social constructs and pressures on family life. And not many stories are told in this context which are not politically driven. Well done!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 09-04-18
Captivating
A very captivating story, told from the heart. A mixture of funny moments, motivating contexts and glaring realities. The story was easy to follow, and it was told in such a fashion that I always wanted to hear more. Trevor Noah is truly an artist. I really look forward to the film adaptation.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-04-18
A blistering book, hooked from chapt 1
Captivating read, not a difficult book, very simple but funny with a lot of talent by Trevor.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Suzanne
- 23-03-18
A most enjoyable read. Way more than I anticipated
I thought to buy this book because watching Trevor Noah’s hilarious Daily Show excerpts on YouTube affords me a big belly laugh. I was prepared to be entertained but wasn’t expecting to be inspired and educated. It left me with a very different impression of Trevor Noah. Not solely a VERY FUNNY GUY, but also someone who is very resilient and who has tremendous insight. I loved that he narrated and enjoyed hearing his story unfold in different accents. That really brought it to life. Very descriptive. Guaranteed to make you smile, laugh, think, appreciate life, appreciate others and view others with a generous eye. A great read!! Thanks for sharing your story with us, Mr Noah!!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful