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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Trevor Noah (Author, Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
4.7 out of 5 stars 109,242 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Comedic Performing Arts

Highest-rated new book of 2016 by Audible customers

Winner: Audible's Best of 2016 - Celebrity Memoirs

In this award-winning Audible Studios production, Trevor Noah tells his wild coming-of-age tale during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa. It’s a story that begins with his mother throwing him from a moving van to save him from a potentially fatal dispute with gangsters, then follows the budding comedian’s path to self-discovery through episodes both poignant and comical. Noah’s virtuoso embodiment of all the characters from his childhood, and his ability to perform accents and dialects effortlessly in English, Xhosa, and Zulu, garnered the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator in 2018. Nevertheless, Noah’s devoted and uncompromising mother—as voiced by her son—steals the show.

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 44 minutes
  2. Author
    Trevor Noah
  3. Narrator
    Trevor Noah
  4. Audible release date
    November 15, 2016
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B01IW9TM5O
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 44 minutes
Author Trevor Noah
Narrator Trevor Noah
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 15, 2016
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01IW9TM5O
Best Sellers Rank #410 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1 in Comedy (Books)
#1 in Performing Arts (Books)
#1 in Comedic Performing Arts

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
109,242 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this memoir to be one of the best stories, filled with humor that makes them laugh and cry. The book is well-written and easy to read, while being beautifully honest and filled with fascinating personalities. Moreover, they appreciate the author's unique and intelligent voice as a highly effective narrator, and find it insightful, with one customer noting how it explains aspects of post-apartheid life.

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5,346 customers mention "Story quality"5,290 positive56 negative

Customers find the book's storytelling engaging and miraculous, with one customer noting how relatable it was to their own life experiences.

"...This is one book where the audiobook is the best way to enjoy this funny and heartfelt memoir...." Read more

"...Masterful!" Read more

"...A natural storyteller, Trevor’s experiences make all-to-real the horrors of post-apartheid racism while at the same time retaining the innocence of..." Read more

"...books I’ve ever read, filled with such greatly vivid and riveting anecdotes, made more profound and unforgettable by the fact that they’re true...." Read more

2,980 customers mention "Insight"2,971 positive9 negative

Customers find the book incredibly insightful and educational, with one customer noting how it explains aspects of a post-apartheid world.

"...As funny as the book is, it is also poignant and philosophical. Trevor talks about his short stint in jail after being arrested for car theft...." Read more

"I loved this book about race, culture, class, and family. It was funny, intense, and honest. I wanna know more!..." Read more

"...Noah’s incredibly conversational and relatable prose gives the reader fantastic insight. This isn’t a book about apartheid, or racism, or classism...." Read more

"...I love it. Born a Crime—it just feels meaningful. And, it is meaningful. I’m walking away from this experience knowing now that I love Trevor Noah...." Read more

2,673 customers mention "Humor"2,633 positive40 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humorous storytelling and wonderful sense of humor about the author's childhood experiences.

"...This is one book where the audiobook is the best way to enjoy this funny and heartfelt memoir...." Read more

"I loved this book about race, culture, class, and family. It was funny, intense, and honest. I wanna know more!..." Read more

"...memoir that doesn’t pierce you, wound you with truths, yet it soothes you with humor. I laughed because it was impossible not to...." Read more

"...I will not expound on the rest of the story. There is a lot of fun and interesting stories that Trevor talks about growing up, and the outcome for..." Read more

1,340 customers mention "Writing quality"1,247 positive93 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it engaging and easy to read, with one customer noting its raw emotional content.

"...Because it's a memoir and not a stand-up routine, Trevor has time to set up each story...." Read more

"...quite a bit of his comedy, this book reads like it was truly written in his own words and not by a “ghost writer” helping him form his thoughts...." Read more

"...one of the most engaging books I’ve ever read, filled with such greatly vivid and riveting anecdotes, made more profound and unforgettable by the..." Read more

"...He has some pretty profound and interesting comments in his book, such as: “..." Read more

618 customers mention "Sadness"567 positive51 negative

Customers appreciate the book's emotional depth, describing it as often heartbreaking and making readers cry, while one customer notes how it conveys both traumatic experiences and good times without being emotionally draining.

"...This is a soul-stirring, tear-jerking, very poignant, and well-written book about the life of a young man who, due to his upbringing, is wise beyond..." Read more

"...It’s amazing for me how he is able to describe sad things, violent events and all kind of abuses from such a high “vantage point”...." Read more

"...I laughed with him, cried, became enraged, sad and happy... his words and stories resonated with me. I highly recommend the audio version...." Read more

"...It's funny, it's sad, it's shocking, and it's one I already want to read again...." Read more

590 customers mention "Personality"586 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate Trevor Noah's personality in the book, describing him as a brilliant and remarkable young man who provides an honest view into his life, with one customer noting how his comedic personality shines through his storytelling abilities.

"...He carefully creates each character, describing their background and then mimicking their voice. He paints a picture that's easy to see...." Read more

"Where to begin? This book is a very powerful tribute to Noah’s Mother. As far as how he became a comedian, it is not described in this book...." Read more

"...Trevor Noah is a pretty good storyteller as a comedian, and this isn't an exception...." Read more

"...and profundity, Trevor Noah’s comedic personality shines through his storytelling abilities, and his immense talent of connecting his stories to the..." Read more

531 customers mention "Honesty"524 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the book's honesty, describing it as a beautiful and matter-of-fact account of the author's life.

"...It was funny, intense, and honest. I wanna know more!..." Read more

"Very revealing...." Read more

"...The chief strength of this book, I believe, is how open and honest Trevor is about his relationship with his mother...." Read more

"...Noah's writing style is not just conversational but natural; he is obviously a born storyteller...." Read more

431 customers mention "Writer"426 positive5 negative

Customers praise the author's unique and intelligent voice as a highly effective narrator with a natural accent, and one customer notes how his animated voice pulls readers in.

"...creates each character, describing their background and then mimicking their voice. He paints a picture that's easy to see...." Read more

"...Audiobook notes: Just perfect. Trevor Noah pulls you in with his animated voice and more than brings this story to life." Read more

"...He seemed funny and charismatic, and I knew he was South African, but after reading "Born a Crime," I'm so much more impressed by its author...." Read more

"We listened to this book on a long road trip. It is read by the author (Trevor Noah). His story is compelling, funny and entertaining." Read more

Don't even read this review. Just go get this and read it, trust me!
5 out of 5 stars
Don't even read this review. Just go get this and read it, trust me!
Well, I’m just a little salty that someone didn’t MAKE me read this before now because it’s straight up perfection. Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show details his childhood in South Africa in this incredible memoir. With a white Swiss father and a Black Xhosa mother, his life quite literally started as a punishable crime in his home country. He grew up in a time of apartheid and the chaos of the years that followed, which affected almost every aspect of his family’s life. This book is just the perfect memoir. Noah flawlessly switches from laugh out loud funny, to serious, to a quick history lesson, to anecdote, back to raucous laughter. I’m also a little embarrassed to tell you guys that I found out that I knew veeery little about South African apartheid. In this book, Noah talks very candidly about the history and his own experience within that oppressive culture. It’s beyond illuminating. Can I just go ahead and make this my application to join the official Trevor Noah’s Mama’s Fan Club?? Because wow! She is hilarious, smart, hard-working, loving, and so many more wonderful adjectives. I really do believe that Noah wouldn’t be who he is today without her. Also, I’m sure reading the book is lovely. But listening to this, y’all - I was in STITCHES. It’s ideal roadtrip audiobook material. I mean, there’s no way that listening to Trevor Noah reading his own book isn’t better as just plain old reading the book. Don’t be like me. Read this one immediately if you haven’t!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Emilio Corsetti III
    5.0 out of 5 stars Life Lessons
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I remember the first time I saw Trevor Noah sitting behind the desk of the Daily Show. He was replacing Jon Stewart. Where did they get this guy from? I thought. It wasn't long before I became a fan of his wit and humor. The Daily Show was in good hands.

    As much as I would have liked to have read about his rise through the comedy ranks and onto American television, this memoir covers his growing up in South Africa. We'll have to wait for his second memoir to catch up on his more recent escapades.

    For most of the book, I listened to the audiobook, which Trevor Noah narrates. The few times I read from the Kindle, I heard Trevor's voice. This is one book where the audiobook is the best way to enjoy this funny and heartfelt memoir. I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off as well as he did. One advantage of having Trevor as the narrator is that you get to hear him imitate the many characters in the book. It's like having Trevor sitting next to you in a bar and listening to him tell you his stories firsthand.

    I can't remember when I laughed so hard from a book. I know I caused a few stares at the gym as I listened in my earbuds. Because it's a memoir and not a stand-up routine, Trevor has time to set up each story. He carefully creates each character, describing their background and then mimicking their voice. He paints a picture that's easy to see. The story of him taking a crap in the kitchen and his blind grandmother sensing, or smelling that something wasn't right, had me laughing out loud. I can still hear his voice as he was tasked with having to say a prayer to rid the house of whatever demon had left a turd in the trash.

    Trevor owes a lot to his mom. She was the one constant in his life, a teacher, caregiver, and disciplinarian. Later in the book, Trevor talks about his brother Andrew, who had a different father. He describes how his mom treated Andrew differently and didn't spank him as much as she did him. When Trevor confronts his mom about this disparity in corporal punishment, his mom claims that Andrew is small and thin and Trevor has an ass made for whippings.

    As funny as the book is, it is also poignant and philosophical. Trevor talks about his short stint in jail after being arrested for car theft. He talks about how some parents, including his mom, would insist that their sons or daughters face the consequences of their misdeeds and not offer to help them in their time of need. While there may be a time for such tough love, Trevor explains that by not helping them, they risk setting their children up for a lifetime of difficulty.

    The book contains many lessons about racism and culture. Trevor, who grew up in South Africa during Apartheid, has the background to speak authoritatively about these subjects. But he does it through humor.

    I look forward to hearing more from Trevor Noah. In the meantime, listen to the audiobook.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilariously beautiful!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book about race, culture, class, and family. It was funny, intense, and honest. I wanna know more! It's not at all about a South African Comedian that made it big, but more about what it meant to grow up as a biracial kid in South Africa during apartheid. Masterful!
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  • Mindi Bennett DeLancey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable and informative
    Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A book about the difficulties of growing up in post-apartheid South Africa, written by a comedian? Is there a greater oxymoron? And yet, Trevor Noah’s incredibly conversational and relatable prose gives the reader fantastic insight. This isn’t a book about apartheid, or racism, or classism. This is a book about a boy and his childhood, his awkward coming-of-age, his family, and his experience. Do those things include racism, classism, and post-apartheid politics? You bet they do. As the reader, nonetheless, I finished this book feeling inadvertently educated, but more importantly, like I just had an awesome 5 hour, casual dinner and drinks with the author himself. This book brings to mind one of those dinners that “accidentally” turn into a “tell-me-your-life-story-and-I’ll-tell-you-míne” evening with a new friend, and you walk away feeling like you’ve known each other for ages.
    Despite his status one of the more successful celebrities of the day, there isn’t a hint of condescension in this book, and, having heard quite a bit of his comedy, this book reads like it was truly written in his own words and not by a “ghost writer” helping him form his thoughts. A natural storyteller, Trevor’s experiences make all-to-real the horrors of post-apartheid racism while at the same time retaining the innocence of his childhood and his limited understanding at the time.
    I was particularly touched by his staunch love for, and loyalty to, his mother. It is a beautiful thing to see an adult’s reflective and retrospective understanding of a mother’s fierce, if flawed, but unconditional love for her son.
    Already a fan, this book made me feel like Trevor Noah is also now a friend!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Margaret L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on November 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Good one
    Report
  • Zabeeh
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s Fascinating
    Reviewed in India on December 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    For months, I struggled to finish a single book—everything I picked up felt half-hearted and ended up abandoned. Then, a friend stepped in and urged me to read Born a Crime. Honestly, I wasn’t sure at first, but I finally gave it a shot, and wow—what a game-changer. Sometimes, the right recommendation is all you need, and this was exactly that. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down.

    This book isn’t just a read—it’s an experience. Born a Crime takes you on an emotional roller coaster, blending sharp sociopolitical insights with heartfelt personal stories about family, friendship, first love, crime, and unexpected chaos. The short, non-linear chapters somehow make it even more addictive, pulling you deeper into each story. It’s raw, hilarious, and deeply moving—a book that sticks with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

    Huge respect to the mom—she brought back memories of my own past. This book is absolutely fascinating, offering a deep dive into the world of non-white life in South Africa, especially in the years following apartheid. It captures the tribal and urban complexities of South Africa, painting a vivid picture of life in a very third-world setting.

    What’s incredible is how the book weaves all these elements together, not to brag, but to celebrate resilience and achievement over ego. Every single incident—whether light and humorous or deeply sobering—delivers one unshakable truth: in South Africa, race shapes everything. This is a story that entertains, educates, and leaves a lasting impression.
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  • ramatu adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived quickly
    Reviewed in Sweden on August 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I am happy with the purchase
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  • Arjun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un gran libro de un cómico aún mejor
    Reviewed in Spain on July 29, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Trevor Noah ha sido uno de mis presentadores favoritos de Late Night Show en Estados Unidos y uno de mis cómicos favoritos. Tiene una gran capacidad de escritura como comediante, pero este libro fue realmente una sorpresa. El libro está muy bien escrito y ha puesto todo su corazón y sentimientos en el libro. Explica todo el camino que tuvo que recorrer como persona mestiza en Sudáfrica hasta convertirse en uno de los cómicos de más éxito del mundo. Su estilo de escritura te permite conectar con él, empatizar con él y experimentar su viaje. El libro es ligero a veces y divertido, pero muy sombrío y oscuro en otras ocasiones. Es un libro con una profundidad real y las luchas de Trevor y de muchas otras personas que viven en Sudáfrica durante y después del apartheid. Todo lo que digo es que le den una oportunidad a este libro y no se arrepentirán.
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  • Achocc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice and Deep trip
    Reviewed in France on November 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I've spent such a good time reading this story! I recommended It even before finishing it, ^_^. It was like "listening" to Trevor Noah telling his life story. I'm not a native English speaker and as such, It could have been hard for me to get it all but things are told plain & simple, with no attempt to sound like THE writer. Reading this story is like *travelling to Africa *travelling in "History" *travelling in a common past (cf. Musical references, references to the genesis of certain devices).
    I laughed a lot. I underlined many parts ... parts that are life lessons and others that are memorable in the whole story for being fun, for being so true you want to remember them...
    There are some stories you read slowly because you don't want them to come to an end: this is exactly that kind of story. It took me months to finish it... because i wanted it to last. Lol >_~
    Thank You to Trevor Noah for sharing his memories.
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