Review of Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

Review of Trevor Noah Born a Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood Rating *****

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.