Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (One World Essentials)

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (One World Essentials)

by Trevor Noah

4.7 (112,771)

4.7 stars from 112,771 reviews. One of the highest rated Memoir books we track.

304 pages~5.1 hr readPublished by Audible Studios on BrilliancePublished 2016-01-01

$1.99Deal87% off peak

Last checked: Jun 24, 2026

Price history: $1.99 $14.99

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Michelle Obama
  • Tara Westover
  • Malala Yousafzai

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Glass Castle
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Perfect for you if...

  • You appreciate memoir that balances dark history with genuine humour without making light of serious suffering.
  • You want to understand apartheid through a personal lens rather than a textbook, told by someone who lived it.
  • You love Trevor Noah's comedic voice and want to hear the real stories behind his sharpest observations.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You're looking for a straightforward political history book rather than a deeply personal coming-of-age narrative.
  • You prefer memoirs that stick to one tone; this moves between hilarious and heartbreaking chapter to chapter.
  • You're not ready to engage with stories about poverty, violence, and state persecution, even when told with grace.

About this book

Trevor Noah's memoir recounts his childhood in South Africa during the final years of apartheid. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, Noah's existence was itself a crime—such unions were punishable by five years in prison. His mother kept him largely indoors during his early years to protect him from government authorities who could have taken him away. After apartheid ended, Noah and his mother began living openly, and he grew up navigating a world where he was never supposed to exist. The book follows Noah from a mischievous boy into a restless young man, centered on his relationship with his mother—a fearless, religious woman determined to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse. Through interconnected stories, Noah describes experiences ranging from eating caterpillars during difficult times to surviving a kidnapping attempt and navigating high school relationships. The memoir combines humor with dramatic and affecting moments, presenting Noah's journey through a damaged world during a dangerous time, shaped by his wit and his mother's unconventional love.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Apr '22Aug '23Feb '26
$1.99$14.99

Currently on sale at $1.99 — 87% off peak. Price has dropped 19 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 122 days. Typically stays discounted for 14 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#15#11,283#22,550Apr '18Jan '22Sep '23Apr '26

Currently #2,342 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

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4.0★4.5★5.0★May '23Feb '24Aug '24Jun '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.7★ from 112,771 reviews

Gaining approximately 285 new reviews per month. Reader interest is accelerating. Rating has remained stable at 4.7 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$7.50$14.99Mar '20Apr '22Aug '23Feb '26PredictedJun '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $1.99. It typically returns to around $14.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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