Born a Crime
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Born a Crime is an exceptionally well-received memoir by Trevor Noah that chronicles his childhood in South Africa during and after apartheid. It is widely praised for its unique blend of sharp humor and poignant social commentary, successfully balancing laugh-out-loud moments with the heavy realities of racial segregation and personal struggle. The book is frequently cited as a standout in the memoir genre, particularly for its storytelling and educational value regarding South African history.
Pros
- The author-narrated audiobook is highly recommended for its use of authentic accents and multiple languages.
- Masterful storytelling that balances hilarious anecdotes with serious, heavy subject matter.
- Provides a thoughtful and unique perspective on growing up biracial under apartheid.
- Avoids typical celebrity memoir tropes like name-dropping, focusing instead on genuine life experiences.
- Engaging and easy to read, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Cons
- No significant recurring negative feedback was found in the community discussions.
Caveats
- The book covers heavy and potentially distressing topics including systemic racism and violence.
- The audiobook is so frequently preferred that some readers may feel they are missing out by only reading the print version.
Best for
- Audiobook listeners who enjoy high-quality author narration.
- Readers interested in South African history and the lived experience of apartheid.
- Fans of memoirs that combine comedy with deep social insight.
Avoid if
- You are looking for a purely lighthearted comedy book without serious political or social themes.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a 12-month window of mentions with a median age of approximately 397 days.
Sentiment
49 positive (96%) · 2 mixed (4%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted score: +95% · raw score 96%
What redditors said (10 of 51)
I read Born a Crime by Trevor Noah on a 4.5 hour flight. Good and easy read. Really enjoyed it
*Born a Crime* by Trevor Noah (South Africa.)
I have read and enjoyed and learned a great deal from all of them.
The ones I DO consider memorable in a stand-out kind of way are: ... Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah was really fun, especially the audiobook as it’s read by him and he’s brilliant at all the accents of the people in his life.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah - the audiobook is just unmatched. One of the best I’ve listened to.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime is often very funny, and is different from Sedaris.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah! Especially the audiobook! ... I’ve both read and listened, and both are valuable, but listening is actually amazing because he speaks so many languages and it blew me away. But also- Mr Noah might be joking, but you’ll be gasping, heart pounding, angry, crying, shocked, saddened, heartened and just generally put through an emotional wringer and learn a lot.
Compare
Born a Crime vs Braiding SweetgrassBorn a Crime vs The Glass CastleBorn a Crime vs Educated
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