Side by side
Born a Crime vs The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Born a Crime
49 positive (96%) · 2 mixed (4%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +95%
AI summary — 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.
Cons
- No significant recurring negative feedback was found in the community discussions.
Top excerpts
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.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
12 positive (100%) · 0 mixed (0%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +100%
Top excerpts
It was surprisingly a page turner. I read it after I'd been burned out on reading after grad school, and it was nice to read something that was not a slog.
Some of my favorite non-fiction books: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
*The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks* is another one that teaches you a lot while also being very human and unsettling in the right way.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks! Fantastic writing, thought-provoking story, and reads like a novel at times (in a good way)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot