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Quick answer: If you liked Born a Crime, try Bossypants, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Long Walk to Freedom, The Glass Castle, Educated and Between the World and Me. They mix humor, hardship and honest growing-up stories.
Trevor Noah's 2016 memoir tells of growing up in apartheid South Africa as the child of a Black mother and white father, when their relationship was illegal. It is funny, sharp and moving. Readers who finish it want more memoirs by people who found humor and strength in hard conditions. These 15 books include comedians, activists and authors. Some include trauma and abuse.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bossypants | Tina Fey | Adult | readers who want laughs |
| Yes Please | Amy Poehler | Adult | comedy fans |
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | Maya Angelou | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| Long Walk to Freedom | Nelson Mandela | Adult | readers who want South African history |
| The Glass Castle | Jeannette Walls | Adult | readers who like survival stories |
| Educated | Tara Westover | Adult | readers who like coming-of-age stories |
| Between the World and Me | Ta-Nehisi Coates | Adult | readers who want a hard look |
| Persepolis | Marjane Satrapi | Adult | graphic memoir fans |
| Angela's Ashes | Frank McCourt | Adult | readers who like Irish memoirs |
| Becoming | Michelle Obama | Adult | readers who want an inspiring memoir |
| Heavy | Kiese Laymon | Adult | readers who want honesty |
| Open | Andre Agassi | Adult | sports readers |
| Dreams from My Father | Barack Obama | Adult | readers who like politics |
| Hunger | Roxane Gay | Adult | readers who want a honest memoir |
| It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) | Trevor Noah | 12+ | teens |
1. Bossypants by Tina Fey
Fey writes about her career in comedy and life as a working mother. Funny, quick and clear-eyed.
Best for: readers who want laughs.
2. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Poehler shares stories and advice from her comedy career. Warm and funny.
Best for: comedy fans.
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Angelou's account of childhood in the segregated South. Poetic, painful and powerful.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
4. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Mandela's autobiography, from his childhood to his presidency. Long and inspiring.
Best for: readers who want South African history.
5. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Walls grew up with brilliant but irresponsible parents. Vivid, funny and sad.
Best for: readers who like survival stories.
6. Educated by Tara Westover
Westover grows up in a survivalist family and goes to college. Gripping and honest.
Best for: readers who like coming-of-age stories.
7. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A letter to his son about being Black in America. Short and powerful.
Best for: readers who want a hard look.
8. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
A graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the revolution. Funny and sad.
Best for: graphic memoir fans.
9. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
McCourt's childhood in poverty in Limerick. Funny and heartbreaking.
Best for: readers who like Irish memoirs.
10. Becoming by Michelle Obama
Obama writes about her childhood, career and time as First Lady. Warm and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who want an inspiring memoir.
11. Heavy by Kiese Laymon
A memoir about weight, abuse and growing up Black in Mississippi. Raw and honest.
Best for: readers who want honesty.
12. Open by Andre Agassi
Agassi's memoir of tennis, family and doubt. Frank and gripping.
Best for: sports readers.
13. Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
Obama's early memoir about identity and race. Thoughtful and reflective.
Best for: readers who like politics.
14. Hunger by Roxane Gay
Gay writes about her body, trauma and the world's judgment. Direct and painful.
Best for: readers who want a honest memoir.
15. It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah
The young readers' edition of Noah's memoir. Shorter and suitable for teens.
Best for: teens.
How to Choose
For funny memoirs, begin with Bossypants or Yes Please. For history and hardship, read Long Walk to Freedom or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. For survival, try The Glass Castle or Educated. For teens, choose the young readers' edition of Born a Crime. A simple plan is to follow a heavy memoir with a funny one. Many of these books discuss racism, abuse and poverty, so read with care. A smart way to read memoirs is to pair a funny one with a serious one, and to listen to authors who narrate their own audiobooks, as Noah does. Take notes on one lesson from each. When you finish, try a short history book or documentary about the era the author describes so the personal story has context. Memoir groups also work well, since each reader notices different details.
Related: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah: Summary and Key Takeaways · Born a Crime Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Born a Crime about?
Trevor Noah's childhood in South Africa, where his mixed-race birth was illegal under apartheid.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes. Noah narrates it himself, and many readers recommend it.
Is it suitable for teens?
Yes, a young readers' edition exists for ages 12 and up.
Is it funny?
Yes. Noah uses humor even for painful subjects.
Is Trevor Noah's memoir all humor?
No. It mixes comedy with serious stories about race, poverty and violence.
What other memoirs are set in South Africa?
Long Walk to Freedom and Country of My Skull give different views.
Do I need to know South African history first?
No. Noah explains what you need as he goes.