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Trevor Noah, one of the comedy world's fastest-rising stars and host of The Daily Show, tells his wild coming-of-age story during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed. In this Audible Studios production, Noah provides something deeper than traditional memoirists: powerfully funny observations about how farcical political and social systems play out in our lives.
"Nelson Mandela once said, 'If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.' He was so right. When you make the effort to speak someone else's language, even if it's just basic phrases here and there, you are saying to them, 'I understand that you have a culture and identity that exists beyond me. I see you as a human being.'" (Trevor Noah)
Attuned to the power of language at a young age - as a means of acceptance and influence in a country divided, then subdivided, into groups at odds with one another - Noah's raw, personal journey becomes something extraordinary in audio: a true testament to the power of storytelling. With brutal honesty and piercing wit, he forgoes an ordinary reading and, instead, delivers something more intimate, sharing his story with the openness and candor of a close friend. His chameleon-like ability to mimic accents and dialects, to shift effortlessly between languages including English, Xhosa, and Zulu, and to embody characters throughout his childhood - his mother, his gran, his schoolmates, first crushes and infatuations - brings each memory to life in vivid detail. Hearing him directly, you're reminded of the gift inherent in telling one's story and having it heard; of connecting with another, and seeing them as a human being.
The stories Noah tells are by turns hilarious, bizarre, tender, dark, and poignant - subsisting on caterpillars during months of extreme poverty, making comically pitiful attempts at teenage romance in a color-obsessed world, thrown into jail as the hapless fall guy for a crime he didn't commit, thrown by his mother from a speeding car driven by murderous gangsters, and more.
--audible.com

8 hrs & 50 mins

Dive into the captivating memoir of Trevor Noah, "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood." Embark on a journey through the tumultuous landscape of apartheid-era South Africa, where Noah's unique upbringing unfolds against the backdrop of racial segregation and political upheaval.

With his signature wit and disarming honesty, Noah recounts the challenges and triumphs that shaped his early life. From his birth as a mixed-race child in a society marred by racial discrimination, to his experiences growing up with a fiercely resilient mother, Noah paints a vivid picture of a childhood marked by both hardship and resilience.

Through a series of poignant and often humorous anecdotes, Noah exposes the absurdities and injustices of apartheid, while simultaneously celebrating the indomitable spirit of his community. His encounters with colorful characters, from gangsters to religious zealots, provide a glimpse into a world both familiar and foreign, shedding light on the complexities of a nation grappling with its past.

"Born a Crime" is not merely a memoir; it's a testament to the power of storytelling, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative nature of laughter in the face of adversity. Noah's ability to find humor in the darkest of circumstances offers a refreshing perspective on a painful chapter in South African history, while his profound insights into race, identity, and belonging resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Dive into the pages of "Born a Crime" and be captivated by Trevor Noah's extraordinary journey, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of laughter to heal and unite.