by Trevor Noah (Author)

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - More than one million copies sold! A "brilliant" (Lupita Nyong'o, Time), "poignant" (Entertainment Weekly), "soul-nourishing" (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid

"Noah's childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa's history that must never be forgotten."--Esquire

Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor and an NAACP Image Award - Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Time, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Esquire, Newsday, and Booklist

BORN A CRIME: STORIES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDHOOD — PAPERBACK

With fearless honesty and razor-sharp humor, Trevor Noah recounts an extraordinary childhood shaped by apartheid, cultural division, poverty, and the fierce determination of an unforgettable mother.

Born to a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father at a time when their relationship was illegal in South Africa, Noah entered the world as living evidence of a crime. His early years were defined by secrecy and the constant danger of being separated from his family. When apartheid ended, new freedoms emerged—but so did the complicated challenge of finding his identity within a country still carrying the wounds of institutional racism.

At the heart of the memoir is Noah’s relationship with his mother: deeply religious, fiercely independent, and unwilling to let violence or poverty decide her son’s future. Their adventures move between danger and absurdity, revealing how humor can become a means of survival when the world refuses to make sense.

From childhood mischief and teenage dating disasters to attempted kidnapping and domestic violence, Born a Crime transforms one remarkable life into a vivid portrait of family, resilience, identity, and modern South African history.

KEY FEATURES

• Memoir by comedian and television host Trevor Noah

• Childhood experiences under and after apartheid

• Explores race, identity, language, poverty, and belonging

• Centers a powerful mother-and-son relationship

• Combines personal history with social commentary

• Written with humor, candor, and emotional depth

• Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor

• Recipient of an NAACP Image Award

• Paperback edition

THEMES

• Apartheid and its lasting effects

• Race and cultural identity

• Family and unconditional love

• Poverty and social inequality

• Faith and personal conviction

• Resilience through humor

• Adolescence and self-discovery

• South African history

PLEASE NOTE

• This memoir discusses apartheid, racism, poverty, domestic abuse, violence, and other potentially distressing experiences.

• Historical and political references reflect the author’s personal experiences and perspective.

• Cover artwork, dimensions, and publisher markings may vary according to the available edition.

• Review the product images and edition information before ordering.

WHY YOU’LL WANT TO READ IT

Funny without overlooking the pain and deeply moving without losing its wit, Born a Crime shows how intelligence, adaptability, and a mother’s uncompromising love helped one young man find his place in a country built to deny it.

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PRODUCT TYPE

Memoir Paperback Books

Author Biography

Trevor Noah is a comedian from South Africa.