Born a Crime and Other Stories

Trevor Noah’s path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show in New York began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of his relationship with his fearless, rebellious and fervently religious mother – his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.

The eighteen personal essays collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic and deeply affecting. Whether being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping or simply trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his world with an incisive wit and an unflinching honesty.
--panmacmillan.co.za

Trevor Noah’s journey from apartheid South Africa to hosting The Daily Show in New York began with an illegal act: his birth. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother during a time when such a relationship was punishable by five years in prison, Trevor’s story follows a mischievous boy growing into a restless young man trying to find his place in a world that never expected him to exist. This collection of eighteen personal essays also explores his bond with his courageous, rebellious, and deeply religious mother, who fought to protect him from poverty, violence, and abuse. Filled with humor, drama, and heartfelt moments, Trevor shares experiences from being thrown from a moving car during a kidnapping attempt to navigating the dangers of high school dating, all told with sharp wit and honest insight.