具体描述
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime story of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
Michiko Kakutani, New York Times • Newsday • Esquire • NPR • Booklist
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show 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. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
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 that young man’s 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 stories collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Whether subsisting on caterpillars for dinner during hard times, being thrown from a moving car during an attempted kidnapping, or just trying to survive the life-and-death pitfalls of dating in high school, Trevor illuminates his curious world with an incisive wit and unflinching honesty. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.
Praise for Born a Crime
“[A] compelling new memoir . . . By turns alarming, sad and funny, [Trevor Noah’s] book provides a harrowing look, through the prism of Mr. Noah’s family, at life in South Africa under apartheid. . . . Born a Crime is not just an unnerving account of growing up in South Africa under apartheid, but a love letter to the author’s remarkable mother.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“[An] unforgettable memoir.”—Parade
“What makes Born a Crime such a soul-nourishing pleasure, even with all its darker edges and perilous turns, is reading Noah recount in brisk, warmly conversational prose how he learned to negotiate his way through the bullying and ostracism. . . . What also helped was having a mother like Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah. . . . Consider Born a Crime another such gift to her—and an enormous gift to the rest of us.”—USA Today
“[Noah] thrives with the help of his astonishingly fearless mother. . . . Their fierce bond makes this story soar.”—People
“[Noah’s] electrifying memoir sparkles with funny stories . . . and his candid and compassionate essays deepen our perception of the complexities of race, gender, and class.”—Booklist (starred review)
“A gritty memoir . . . studded with insight and provocative social criticism . . . with flashes of brilliant storytelling and acute observations.”—Kirkus Reviews
Review
“[A] compelling new memoir . . . By turns alarming, sad and funny, [Trevor Noah’s] book provides a harrowing look, through the prism of Mr. Noah’s family, at life in South Africa under apartheid. . . . In the end, Born a Crime is not just an unnerving account of growing up in South Africa under apartheid, but a love letter to the author’s remarkable mother.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“[An] unforgettable memoir.”—Parade
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a comic’s origin story better than the one Trevor Noah serves up in Born a Crime. . . . [He] developed his aptitude for witty truth telling [and]…every hardscrabble memory of helping his mother scrape together money for food, gas, school fees, and rent, or barely surviving the temper of his stepfather, Abel, reveals the anxious wellsprings of the comedian’s ambition and success. If there is harvest in spite of blight, the saying goes, one does not credit the blight-but Noah does manage to wring brilliant comedy from it.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
“What makes Born a Crime such a soul-nourishing pleasure, even with all its darker edges and perilous turns, is reading Noah recount in brisk, warmly conversational prose how he learned to negotiate his way through the bullying and ostracism. . . . What also helped was having a mother like Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah. . . . Consider Born a Crime another such gift to her—and an enormous gift to the rest of us.”—USA Today
“[Noah] thrives with the help of his astonishingly fearless mother. . . . Their fierce bond makes this story soar.”—People
“This isn't your average comic-writes-a-memoir: It’s a unique look at a man who is a product of his culture—and a nuanced look at a part of the world whose people have known dark times easily pushed aside.”—Refinery29
“Noah’s memoir is extraordinary . . . essential reading on every level. It’s hard to imagine anyone else doing a finer job of it.”—The Seattle Times
“Powerful prose . . . told through stories and vignettes that are sharply observed, deftly conveyed and consistently candid. Growing organically from them is an affecting investigation of identity, ethnicity, language, masculinity, nationality and, most of all, humanity—all issues that the election of Donald Trump in the United States shows are foremost in minds and hearts everywhere. . . . What the reader gleans are the insights that made Noah the thoughtful, observant, empathic man who wrote Born a Crime. . . . Here is a level-headed man, forged by remarkable and shocking life incidents, who is quietly determined and who knows where home and the heart lie. Would this unique story have been published had it been about someone not a celebrity of the planet? Possibly not, and to the detriment of potential readers, because this is a warm and very human story of the type that we will need to survive the Trump presidency’s imminent freezing of humane values.”—Mail & Guardian (South Africa)
“[Noah’s] story of surviving—and thriving—is mind-blowing.”—Cosmopolitan
“A gifted storyteller, able to deftly lace his poignant tales with amusing irony.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Noah has a real tale to tell, and he tells it well. . . . Among the many virtues of Born a Crime is a frank and telling portrait of life in South Africa during the 1980s and ’90s. . . . Born a Crime offers Americans a second introduction to Trevor Noah, and he makes a real impression.”—Newsday
“An affecting memoir, Born a Crime [is] a love letter to his mother.”—The Washington Post
“Witty and revealing . . . Noah’s story is the story of modern South Africa; though he enjoyed some privileges of the region’s slow Westernization, his formative years were shaped by poverty, injustice, and violence. Noah is quick with a disarming joke, and he skillfully integrates the parallel narratives via interstitial asides between chapters. . . . Perhaps the most harrowing tales are those of his abusive stepfather, which form the book’s final act (and which Noah cleverly foreshadows throughout earlier chapters), but equally prominent are the laugh-out-loud yarns about going to the prom, and the differences between ‘White Church’ and ‘Black Church.’”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[A] substantial collection of staggering personal essays . . . Incisive, funny, and vivid, these true tales are anchored to his portrait of his courageous, rebellious, and religious mother who defied racially restrictive laws to secure an education and a career for herself—and to have a child with a white Swiss/German even though sex between whites and blacks was illegal. . . . [Trevor Noah’s] electrifying memoir sparkles with funny stories . . . and his candid and compassionate essays deepen our perception of the complexities of race, gender, and class.”—Booklist (starred review)
“A gritty memoir . . . studded with insight and provocative social criticism . . . with flashes of brilliant storytelling and acute observations.”—Kirkus Reviews
作者简介
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, television and radio host and actor. He currently hosts The Daily Show, a late-night television talk show on Comedy Central.
目录信息
读后感
脱口秀，Talk-show，是一种很西方化的表演形式。在我的认知里，脱口秀很像中国传统艺术——相声，精心编排、包袱段子。一段脱口秀，短短几分钟，似乎只是为了博人一笑。其实深思其中，那一笑蕴含着多少不为人知的文化。脱口秀这个看似俗气的表演形式，是很多人难以理解的高雅。...
对Trevor Noah有所了解是因为在Netflix看了他的两部脱口秀: Son of Patricia & Afraid of the dark 两部我都很喜欢，印象深刻的段子有黑人007，巴厘岛轶事，mama patricia等等，但是更加影响深刻的是他的笑容特别从容又自信。 看完再看纪录片<You laugh but it's true&g...
相信对于很多人来说，对南非的认识就是：黑人、钻石、艾滋。如果还不够，好吧再加一个曼德拉。 这几个因素凑到一起，再加上种族隔离，完美的诠释了什么叫地狱模式的人生。什么叫种族隔离？用作者诺亚的话来说，“在美国历史上，曾经发生过三件事：把原住民驱赶到保留地、黑人奴...
美国有一档著名的脱口秀节目《囧司徒每日秀》，他的主持人乔恩·斯图尔特做了这档节目近二十年的主持人，经过他的改造，这档节目从单纯的搞笑上升到了一种人文的高度，通过搞笑的形式讽刺新闻事件和人物，在年轻人获得了一大批的拥趸。 很多美国大学生都表示他们是从《囧司徒每...
用户评价
"Born a Crime"——这个名字，像一道闪电划破夜空，瞬间点亮了我对未知的好奇。它不是那种轻易被标签化的故事，而是充满了隐喻和张力，让人忍不住去探寻其背后隐藏的深层含义。我无法想象，一个人的出生，竟然可以被冠以“罪”的名号。是什么样的社会现实，什么样的历史洪流，才能够将生命的起点，变成一场原罪的审判？这个书名，让我预感到，这将会是一段关于对抗、关于挣扎、关于自我救赎的旅程。我期待着，作者能够以一种极为个人化、又极为普遍化的视角，去描绘这种“出生即罪”的残酷图景。它或许是关于种族歧视的深刻揭露，或许是关于社会不公的无情批判，又或许是关于个体如何在被定义为“异类”的群体中，寻找自我价值的故事。我好奇，作者是用怎样的笔触，去刻画那个时代的氛围？是窒息的压抑，还是潜藏的愤怒？是绝望的边缘，还是不屈的呐喊？这本书的名字，仿佛是一个引子，引领着我去探索那些被历史尘封的角落，去聆听那些被遗忘的生命故事。它让我相信，即使在最黑暗的土壤里，也可能绽放出最绚烂的花朵。
"Born a Crime"——这四个英文单词，像是一声沉重的叹息，又像是一声无声的呐喊，直击我的心房。它唤起了一种对个体生命轨迹的强烈好奇，尤其是在一个充满限制和歧视的背景下。我无法不猜测，这个“罪”究竟是什么？是肤色的差异？是出身的阶层？还是某种被社会定义为“不被允许”的存在方式？这个书名，预示着一个关于个体如何在既定的不公中寻找出路的故事，一个关于如何在一个被视为“罪犯”的起点上，书写自己人生的篇章。我脑海中浮现出各种可能的画面：压抑的社会氛围，森严的制度壁垒，以及个人在其中进行的微小却又充满力量的抗争。这本书的名字，让我感受到一种强烈的宿命感，仿佛出生本身就注定了一种悲剧，一种被历史和社会所遗弃的命运。然而，我也坚信，在最黑暗的角落，总有希望的火苗在闪烁。我期待着，作者能够以他真实的经历，去揭示这种“出生即罪”的残酷真相，并在这个过程中，展现出人性的坚韧与光辉。这本书的叙事方式，会是怎样的？是充满激情地控诉，还是以一种近乎冷静的笔触，娓娓道来？我深信，无论形式如何，它都将以其深刻的内容，在我心中留下难以磨灭的印记。
"Born a Crime"——这个书名，如同一声低沉的警钟，在我心中敲响。它不仅仅是一本书的名字，更像是一个关于命运、关于身份、关于社会不公的深刻隐喻。我无法想象，一个人的出生，怎么会被无情地扣上“罪”的帽子。这种“罪”，绝非个人的过错，而是社会结构性的产物，是历史遗留的印记。它预示着一个充满压抑、挑战和歧视的世界，一个个体必须在被预设的“罪”的阴影下，艰难求生的故事。我非常期待，作者能够以他独特的视角和真挚的笔触，去描绘这种“出生即罪”的残酷现实。我想知道，他是如何在这样的困境中，保持人性的光辉，如何在被边缘化的角落，找到自我认同的价值。这本书名，也让我对作者的叙事方式产生了极大的好奇。它会是激昂的控诉，还是冷静的叙述？是充满苦涩的自嘲，还是依然闪烁着希望的火苗？无论如何，我相信，这本书都将以其深刻的内容，在我心中留下难以磨灭的印记，让我对“罪”与“罚”，“生”与“命”有更深的理解。
"Born a Crime"——这书名，自带一种史诗般的厚重感，它像是一扇通往未知世界的门，我迫不及待地想推开它。一个人的出生，竟然被冠以“罪”之名，这其中蕴含着多少不为人知的压抑、多少难以启齿的苦楚？这个名字，已经足够让我去想象一个充满挑战和挣扎的故事。它暗示着一种非自愿的起点，一种被社会规则所定义的“错误”，而这个人，却必须背负着这份“罪”，去书写自己的人生。我非常好奇，作者是如何在这种困境中，找到自己的声音，找到生存的意义。是愤怒的反抗，是沉默的忍耐，还是智慧的周旋？这本书名，也让我联想到历史上那些被时代所裹挟，被社会所遗弃的群体，他们的生命本身，在某些扭曲的意识形态下，就构成了一种“罪”。我期待着，作者能够以一种极为个人化、却又具有普遍意义的视角，去解读这种“出生即罪”的现象，去揭示其背后深刻的社会根源。这本书，绝不仅仅是一个书名，它更像是一种宣言，一种对不公命运的挑战，一种对人性尊严的捍卫。
"Born a Crime"——光是这个书名，就足以让我的思绪万千。它带着一种难以言喻的冲击力，让我忍不住去猜测，在这四个字背后，究竟隐藏着怎样一段不平凡的人生故事。一个人的出生，怎么会被贴上“罪”的标签？这其中一定牵扯着复杂的社会背景，沉重的历史包袱，以及个人命运的无奈抗争。我脑海中描绘出各种可能的场景：或许是在一个种族隔离严格的年代，或许是在一个充满禁忌的社会，作者的出现本身就触犯了某种规则，成为了某种“罪”。这种“罪”，不是源于个体的行为，而是来自外界的定义，是社会强加的烙印。我非常期待，作者能够以他最真实、最赤裸的笔触，去揭示这种“出生即罪”的残酷现实。我想知道，他如何在一个被定义为“罪”的起点上，去寻找生存的意义，去塑造自己的身份，去捍卫自己的人格尊严。书名本身就蕴含着一种强烈的叙事张力，它像是一个巨大的问号，激励着我去探寻答案。它让我相信，这绝对不是一本轻松的读物，而是一部能够触动灵魂、引发深刻反思的杰作。
我总觉得，一本真正的好书，就像一位老友，在你翻开它的时候，便能感受到一种莫名的亲切，仿佛它一直在等你，等待你的解读。"Born a Crime"这个书名，给我带来的就是这种感觉，一种沉甸甸的、却又充满吸引力的邀请。它不是那种一眼就能看穿其内容的书，而是像一位深邃的朋友，藏着无数故事和秘密，等待你去一层层地剥开。我脑海中浮现出各种可能的画面：也许是在一个种族隔离严酷的年代，也许是在一个充满禁忌的社会，作者的出生本身就触犯了某种规则，成为了某种“罪”。这种“罪”，究竟是对个人施加的烙印，还是社会强加的审判？我迫不及待地想知道，作者是如何在这种非自愿的“罪”中，找到自我认同的路径。这本书的书名，也让我联想到很多历史上的真实事件，那些被压迫、被歧视的群体，他们的生命本身，在某种程度上，就被冠以了“罪名”。我很好奇，作者是否能够以一种旁观者清的视角，又或者以一种亲历者的深刻感悟，去剖析这种社会性的“罪”，以及它对个体命运的无情塑造。同时，我也在思考，这本书的文字风格会是怎样的？是激昂的控诉，还是平静的叙述？是充满愤怒，还是带着一丝自嘲？无论如何，我相信，它都会以一种独特的方式，在我心中留下深刻的印记。
这本书的名字听起来就充满了故事性，"Born a Crime"——天生之罪。光是这个标题，就足以勾起我的强烈好奇心。我无法想象，一个人的出生，怎么会被贴上“罪”的标签。是什么样的社会环境，什么样的历史背景，才能孕育出如此压抑而深刻的认知？这本书的封面设计也相当有意思，也许是简洁有力，也许是意味深长，但无论如何，它都在无声地诉说着一种被压迫、被边缘化的命运。我期待着，在翻开这本书的扉页后，能够走进一个完全不同于我所熟悉的现实的世界。我渴望了解，作者是如何在一个被定义为“罪”的起点上，寻找生存的意义，挖掘人性的光辉，并最终打破命运的枷锁。这本书的名字，本身就是一种强烈的文学宣言，预示着一段关于抗争、关于自由、关于自我救赎的史诗。它让我预感到，这不会是一本轻松读物，但绝对是一本能触动灵魂、引发深刻反思的作品。我好奇，作者是如何用文字来描绘那个时代的空气，那种无处不在的压抑感，以及在这种环境下，个人是如何挣扎求生，又是如何保持希望的。这不仅仅是一本书名，更像是一扇窗，透过它，我能瞥见一个充满挑战和不公的世界，而我也准备好，带着我的全部感官和心灵，去深入探索其中隐藏的真相。
"Born a Crime"——这仅仅四个字，就足以在我心中勾勒出一幅波澜壮阔的画面。它不是那种轻松的阅读体验，而是一种沉浸式的、触及灵魂的探索。这个书名，传递出一种宿命的沉重感，仿佛生命的开端，就已注定了一种不被允许的存在。我想象着，这个“罪”字，一定承载着厚重的社会历史背景，它可能是种族歧视的产物，可能是政治压迫的遗留，也可能是某种根深蒂固的社会偏见。我期待着，作者能够以他独特的视角，去解读和阐释这种“出生即罪”的含义。它不仅仅是对个体命运的概括，更是对整个社会结构性问题的深刻反思。这本书的名字，让我联想到那些在历史洪流中被边缘化、被压迫的群体，他们的生命本身，在某些扭曲的观念中，就构成了一种“罪”。我迫不及待地想知道，作者是如何在这样的困境中，寻找生存的意义，又如何用他的笔，去颠覆那些被强加的“罪名”。我好奇，书中的语言风格会是怎样的？是激昂的呐喊，还是沉郁的独白？无论如何，我相信，它都会以其深刻的洞察力，在我心中留下深深的烙印。
"Born a Crime"——这个书名，就像一颗投入平静湖面的石子，激起了我内心层层涟漪的思考。它在诉说着一种命运的初始设定，一种被动的、无法选择的起点，而这个起点，竟然被赋予了“罪”的含义。这种“罪”，是内在的，还是外在的？是个人行为的产物，还是社会规则的遗留？这些问题，如同无形的丝线，将我的思绪牢牢地缠绕。我想象着，作者笔下的世界，一定充斥着压抑、不公，以及在夹缝中求生的艰难。这个“罪”，或许是一种身份的标签，一种被剥夺权利的理由，一种被排斥在主流之外的惩罚。它不仅仅是一种抽象的概念，更是具体到生活中的点点滴滴，是每一次呼吸都可能触碰到的痛楚。我期待着，作者能够用他独特的视角，去描绘这种“出生即罪”的残酷现实。这本书的名字，也让我联想到那些历史上被剥夺基本人权、被贴上负面标签的群体。他们的存在本身，在某些扭曲的意识形态下，就构成了一种“罪”。我想知道，作者是如何在这种绝望的环境中，寻找一丝希望的曙光，又是如何用自己的生命故事，去反驳这种被强加的“罪名”。这本书，绝不仅仅是一个书名，它更像是一声低沉的呐喊，一种对不公命运的挑战，一种对人性尊严的捍卫。
"Born a Crime"——这个书名，像一首悲壮的史诗，在我的脑海中缓缓展开。它预示着一个关于起点就被判定的故事，一个关于生命如何在既定的不公中，寻找自由与尊严的抗争。我无法想象，是什么样的力量，能够将一个新生儿的降临，贴上“罪”的标签。这种“罪”，是来自社会制度的压迫，还是源于历史遗留的偏见？它一定是深深地烙印在个体的生命轨迹中，影响着他的每一个选择，每一次呼吸。我期待着，作者能够以一种真挚而深刻的笔触，去描绘这种“出生即罪”的现实。它或许是关于被禁止的爱，或许是关于被压制的身份，又或许是关于在黑暗中寻找光明的勇气。书名本身就带着一种戏剧性的张力，仿佛预告着一场关于命运的挑战，一场关于人性的考验。我好奇，作者将如何用他的文字，去构筑那个充满矛盾和冲突的世界。是冷静的叙述，还是充满激情的控诉？是带着一丝苦涩的自嘲，还是依然闪烁着希望的光芒？这本书，就像一本被封存的日记，等待着我去翻开，去感受其中跳动的脉搏。
I'm just thinking how much you must be interested in a person to be patient enough to read through his childhood stories..
I'm just thinking how much you must be interested in a person to be patient enough to read through his childhood stories..
Trevor 是那种历经艰辛，披荆斩棘一路爬上美国主流社会的名人。他的人生确实和书名一样，这种出生，该吃的苦都吃过，不该吃的也都吃了，吃完整个人还没扭曲，活成了幽默自信且低层逻辑极其扎实的人。囧司徒的眼光真毒。
太educational了 白人真是太创意了 日本人算白人 其他亚洲人算colored 咯咯咯你们开心就好。以及 妈妈的故事真的是够让on the fence的人信主了吧hhh
每天坐车俩小时，心说怎么也得听一星期，结果到家后完全停不下来，两天就听完了。希特勒和舞会女友的故事也太扯了，比他妈死里逃生还神奇。到最后也没提职业生涯，憋着下一本呢吧。看每日秀时还以为Trevor是个上流社会出身的高材生类型，想不到竟是个中学毕业的无产阶级，三十出头能混成这样挺不容易的。
