Leave a Comment / Reviews / By admin
There are already over 100,000+ ratings for Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime on Amazon. Does the world need another review of this wildly popular book? Probably not. But here’s the thing—this was one of the first books that got me (back) into reading. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal to me.
If you only know Trevor Noah as that charming guy with a cool accent from The Daily Show, buckle up. Born a Crime is his origin story. But instead of radioactive spiders or billionaire parents, his superpower was surviving apartheid-era South Africa as a mixed-race kid who wasn’t supposed to exist. Literally. The title isn’t a joke. His birth actually broke the law.
My Born a Crime book review:
Just so you know – I may earn an affiliate commission if you click a link from my site and purchase a product. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra! Hopefully, I’ll rack up enough commission to treat myself to a coffee someday—nothing fancy, just a plain small coffee from a gas station on the edge of town. Thanks for supporting the blog!
Born A Crime Book Summary
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood is Trevor Noah’s memoir about growing up in South Africa during and after apartheid. He was literally “born a crime” because his mom is Black, his dad is white. Their relationship was illegal at the time! So right from the start, his life was… complicated.
The book is basically a collection of short stories from his childhood and teen years. Some are funny (like a poop demon in the house??), some are intense, some just plain bizarre (also the poop demon.) He talks about getting thrown out of moving cars, starting underground businesses in high school, and navigating life as a kid who didn’t fit neatly into any racial category.
At the heart of it all is Trevor’s relationship with his mom, Patricia. She’s tough, hilarious, deeply religious, and fiercely determined to give Trevor a better life. There’s a crazy twist involving domestic violence against her that I didn’t see coming. Trevor hints at it early in the book, but it doesn’t fully come to light until the end. I won’t spoil it, but trust me—it’s central to the story and absolutely critical to understanding the bigger picture.
Overall, Born A Crime reads like a love letter to his mom, mixed with social commentary, and told with Trevor’s signature humor. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll possibly Google “apartheid” to double-check that, yes, all of this really happened.
Who is Trevor Noah?
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, writer, and former host of The Daily Show. (2015 to 2022). He stepped into the Daily Show hosting shoes of Jon Stewart—which, let’s be honest, is no small task. But he made the show his own, blending comedy with global perspectives and, occasionally, full-on roastings of world leaders. Noah has been wilding successful in stand-up comedy, podcasts and as host of the the Grammy’s.
But Born a Crime shows a whole different side of him. It’s the story of where he came from, long before the suits and late-night monologues.
Learn more about Trevor Noah here: Trevor Noah
Now onto the rating! Born A Crime Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 2/5
Look, Born a Crime isn’t exactly the feel-good, warm-and-fuzzy type of book. It’s honest, raw, and sometimes pretty dark. Trevor talks about poverty, domestic abuse, racism, and growing up in a country that literally made his existence illegal. The content naturally leads to plenty of swearing and colorful language.
That said, his relationship with his mom is the emotional core of the book, and she’s an absolute force of nature. There are moments of love, loyalty, and survival. They are just wrapped in some pretty tough stuff. So while it’s powerful and moving, it’s not the kind of book that leaves you with a cozy “aww” feeling.
Hilarity Score: 3/5
Trevor Noah is a comedian, so yes, Born a Crime is funny. But it’s not nonstop jokes. It’s more like funny in spite of everything, not funny because everything is light and breezy.
There are definitely funny moments. Like his stories about hustling CDs, getting stuck in the wrong neighborhood, or his mom’s no-nonsense parenting style?
But then you turn the page and boom: apartheid, domestic violence, deep poverty. It’s heavy stuff, and the humor often acts as a pressure release valve more than anything else. So while you’ll laugh, it’s not a “haha, what a delightful romp!” kind of read.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 3/5
This one’s an easy 5 out of 5 for overall awesomeness. Born a Crime hits a rare sweet spot for me: it’s powerful, insightful, and genuinely funny. That’s no small feat, considering the subject matter.
Trevor Noah tells stories from his childhood that are wild and sometimes heartbreaking, but he does it with clarity and purpose. You’re not just reading about his life—you’re also learning about apartheid, race, poverty, faith, and family, without ever feeling like you’re stuck in a lecture.
And yes, there’s even a surprise ending—one that adds another emotional gut punch just when you think the rollercoaster is slowing down.
Things I liked:
- like a history/sociology/political book, but entertaining
- Suprise twist
- Trevor Noah is just cool
Things I didn’t like:
- It was funny, but not hilarious. I first picked up the book expecting – hey, this is from that hilarious Daily Show guy! I bet this is non-stop fun!
Conclusion: Born A Crime Book Review
Born a Crime isn’t just a celebrity memoir—it’s a powerful coming-of-age story set against a backdrop most of us know way too little about (ok, at least ignorant ‘ol me.) Trevor Noah balances humor and heartbreak in a way that makes both hit harder. It’s insightful, unforgettable, and yes, occasionally hilarious… even when it probably shouldn’t be.
Are you one of the millions(??) that have read this one? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
