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ndehning's review against another edition
5.0
The entire book and Noah's stories are so powerful. The beginning of Part III especially got me thinking about how history is taught around the world, but especially in the US:
"In Germany, no child finishes high school without learning about the Holocaust. Not just the facts of it but the how and the why and the gravity of it—what it means. As a result, Germans grow up appropriately aware and apologetic. British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent. Their children are taught the history of the Empire with a kind of disclaimer hanging over the whole thing. “Well, that was shameful, now wasn’t it?”
In South Africa, the atrocities of apartheid have never been taught that way. We weren’t taught judgment or shame. We were taught history the way it’s taught in America. In America, the history of racism is taught like this: "There was slavery and then there was Jim Crow and then there was Martin Luther King Jr. and now it’s done.” It was the same for us. “Apartheid was bad. Nelson Mandela was freed. Let’s move on.” Facts, but not many, and never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. “Whatever you do, don’t make the kids angry.”
"In Germany, no child finishes high school without learning about the Holocaust. Not just the facts of it but the how and the why and the gravity of it—what it means. As a result, Germans grow up appropriately aware and apologetic. British schools treat colonialism the same way, to an extent. Their children are taught the history of the Empire with a kind of disclaimer hanging over the whole thing. “Well, that was shameful, now wasn’t it?”
In South Africa, the atrocities of apartheid have never been taught that way. We weren’t taught judgment or shame. We were taught history the way it’s taught in America. In America, the history of racism is taught like this: "There was slavery and then there was Jim Crow and then there was Martin Luther King Jr. and now it’s done.” It was the same for us. “Apartheid was bad. Nelson Mandela was freed. Let’s move on.” Facts, but not many, and never the emotional or moral dimension. It was as if the teachers, many of whom were white, had been given a mandate. “Whatever you do, don’t make the kids angry.”
abhishekjain's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. This book struck chords so close to my heart. It was so easy to connect to Trevor in this book because somehow we both feel the same way about our mothers.
Having seen this Daily Show and knowing how he talks, it was all the more fun to imagine him speak the words of the book.
I loved the humor. There were so many aspects of his life which felt relatable as a 90s kid.
The last chapter was heavy! And it teared me up. I think he didn't want to put any humor in there on purpose and I believe you really cannot. It was about his mom. It was serious for him.
I recommend this book to everyone to gain an insight into how discrimination can shape somebody's life. And especially when we know it is about someone who finally made it. And all credit goes to his super mom. She is the hero of the book seen through the eyes of his son. This book made me realize how ungrateful we can be sometimes on how difficult it is to raise a child and how much our parents do to shield us from the bad things around so that we grow to be strong and successful.
I had collected so many quotes from this book that are going to stay with me for a long time.
It was a gooodread!
Having seen this Daily Show and knowing how he talks, it was all the more fun to imagine him speak the words of the book.
I loved the humor. There were so many aspects of his life which felt relatable as a 90s kid.
The last chapter was heavy! And it teared me up. I think he didn't want to put any humor in there on purpose and I believe you really cannot. It was about his mom. It was serious for him.
I recommend this book to everyone to gain an insight into how discrimination can shape somebody's life. And especially when we know it is about someone who finally made it. And all credit goes to his super mom. She is the hero of the book seen through the eyes of his son. This book made me realize how ungrateful we can be sometimes on how difficult it is to raise a child and how much our parents do to shield us from the bad things around so that we grow to be strong and successful.
I had collected so many quotes from this book that are going to stay with me for a long time.
It was a gooodread!
jcoryv's review against another edition
4.0
Very readable. Interesting too. Huge respect for Trevor.
aecidyk's review against another edition
5.0
i read this book for school. i gotta say, i didn’t expect that it would be so good. i laughed. i cried, unexpectedly. at times i was confused because the time line wasn’t that clear. but i think this is one of the books everyone should read; i learned so much. i’ve learned about racism for so many years now, but what i learned here was so valuable. and it’s not just racism i learned about; it’s the lesson of love, the lesson of independence and the importance of being free.
a wonderful book.
a wonderful book.
woolsson's review against another edition
5.0
I have never been so engrossed in a book.
Normally, even if it's a book I'm really enjoying, I'm aware of how many pages there are and what page I'm on. Not with this, I put it down after one of the sessions of reading it and realised I was half way and I was surprised when I reached the end. In other words, this book is most opposite of chore to read I've ever encountered.
Somehow, Trevor Noah manages to talk about such serious topics such as apartheid, abuse, racism and so much more in a lighthearted like way that makes you feel the gravity of the situation but with enough humour that you're smiling and suddenly reading about his deaf dog.
I knew almost nothing about Trevor Noah or South Africa before this book and while I'm aware I still know little, what I have learnt has been eye-opening and explained in such a comprehensive, interesting way that you don't realise you've learnt the basic of a country's systemic oppression and apprehension- not an easy feat in one book, especially one that isn't aimed at teaching you that.
Somehow, despite the title Born A Crime, I naively thought this book would be the humorous stories of a comedian's life. And it is, but the comedic stories are embedded within a life that has suffered from so much and Trevor Noah does not shy away from telling the realities of the harsh situations, relationships and realities he has faced growing up.
This book is easily worthy of 5 stars. The writing is comprehensive, explaining complex scenarios in an easy to read way; it is educational, I have learnt so much about South Africa that I had absolutely no idea about and most of all, its intriguing - it manages to put all these concepts together in a clear but funny but devastating way.
All this ramble is to essentially say: this book is one that everyone needs to read. It is somehow easy and a joy to read and I know I'll be revisiting it again and again.
Normally, even if it's a book I'm really enjoying, I'm aware of how many pages there are and what page I'm on. Not with this, I put it down after one of the sessions of reading it and realised I was half way and I was surprised when I reached the end. In other words, this book is most opposite of chore to read I've ever encountered.
Somehow, Trevor Noah manages to talk about such serious topics such as apartheid, abuse, racism and so much more in a lighthearted like way that makes you feel the gravity of the situation but with enough humour that you're smiling and suddenly reading about his deaf dog.
I knew almost nothing about Trevor Noah or South Africa before this book and while I'm aware I still know little, what I have learnt has been eye-opening and explained in such a comprehensive, interesting way that you don't realise you've learnt the basic of a country's systemic oppression and apprehension- not an easy feat in one book, especially one that isn't aimed at teaching you that.
Somehow, despite the title Born A Crime, I naively thought this book would be the humorous stories of a comedian's life. And it is, but the comedic stories are embedded within a life that has suffered from so much and Trevor Noah does not shy away from telling the realities of the harsh situations, relationships and realities he has faced growing up.
This book is easily worthy of 5 stars. The writing is comprehensive, explaining complex scenarios in an easy to read way; it is educational, I have learnt so much about South Africa that I had absolutely no idea about and most of all, its intriguing - it manages to put all these concepts together in a clear but funny but devastating way.
All this ramble is to essentially say: this book is one that everyone needs to read. It is somehow easy and a joy to read and I know I'll be revisiting it again and again.
acmarinho3's review against another edition
5.0
Gostei muito desta biografia. Trevor Noah demonstra uma inteligência tremenda com a escrita deste livro, porque revela factos tristes e dramáticos da sua vida, sem os estragar com piadas descontextualizadas ou desapropriadas. Conta a sua vida, tal como ela foi, sem romancear ou exagerar, e subtilmente introduz uma piada inteligente que nos permite respirar um pouco da intensidade da narrativa e da sua realidade em África do Sul. Terminei o livro a admirar ainda mais o seu profissionalismo e a sua personalidade.
kessler21's review against another edition
5.0
[b:Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood|29780253|Born a Crime Stories From a South African Childhood|Trevor Noah|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1473867911s/29780253.jpg|50150838]
Wow. That's all I had to say at the end of the book. Wow. This has been reviewed several times so I will skip a synopsis.
Two themes that are at the forefront of this book, equality or really, racism does not make sense, and empowering the disenfranchised. Noah uses his own experiences to drive these points home.
This books is funny, sad, inspiring, scary, and so much more that I can't even think of words to express how this book made me feel. The writing is first class and the narration by Noah enhances this even more, not even seeming like a book, but instead Noah just talking, telling his life story Gump style.
This book is not linear, but is instead told in stories almost, driving home particular points such as family, authority, relationships, fitting in, learning independence, learning business, work ethics, the history of South Africa and more.
I am going to save my favorite part of the book for our discussion at the end of the month. I do wish the story covered his comedy career and the struggles there, Either he ran out of pages (publishing companies put limits on that stuff) or those lessons and themes didn't fit into this book.
A must read. MUST READ!!!!. I think the language will prevent it from becoming a school reading book.
Wow. That's all I had to say at the end of the book. Wow. This has been reviewed several times so I will skip a synopsis.
Two themes that are at the forefront of this book, equality or really, racism does not make sense, and empowering the disenfranchised. Noah uses his own experiences to drive these points home.
This books is funny, sad, inspiring, scary, and so much more that I can't even think of words to express how this book made me feel. The writing is first class and the narration by Noah enhances this even more, not even seeming like a book, but instead Noah just talking, telling his life story Gump style.
This book is not linear, but is instead told in stories almost, driving home particular points such as family, authority, relationships, fitting in, learning independence, learning business, work ethics, the history of South Africa and more.
I am going to save my favorite part of the book for our discussion at the end of the month. I do wish the story covered his comedy career and the struggles there, Either he ran out of pages (publishing companies put limits on that stuff) or those lessons and themes didn't fit into this book.
A must read. MUST READ!!!!. I think the language will prevent it from becoming a school reading book.