Staff Picks - Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - Adult Non Fiction

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

I love watching Trevor Noah on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show so I was very interested in reading his autobiography, Born a Crime. It's an apt title since Noah was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1984, during the final year of apartheid when inter-racial relationships were banned. As a child of mixed race, Noah's mere existence proved evidence of a crime. (His mother is a black South African and his father a Swiss German.)

This inspiring memoir sheds light on racial segregation from the not-so-distant past. Stories of growing up amid violence and poverty are interspersed with candid accounts of Noah's youthful escapades. I particularly enjoyed reading about Trevor's mother and her extraordinary resilience.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist