READ@PolyU is delighted to announce the 2023 Common Book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. The book is written by Trevor Noah, a world-famous comedian best known for hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central in the United States.

In this riveting memoir, Noah shares his personal experiences growing up as a mixed-race child in apartheid-era South Africa. Through a series of heartwarming and humorous stories, Noah takes readers on a journey through his struggles with identity, poverty, and violence, while also celebrating the love and resilience that helped him overcome these challenges.

Read with Us!

• Get a free copy during the annual Book Pick-Up event
• Borrow the print book from the Library
• Read the e-book version here

Learn more about the author from the author's website.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid

“Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s history that must never be forgotten.”—Esquire

Winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor and an NAACP Image Award • Named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, Esquire, Newsday, and Booklist

Slides_2023_Read@PolyU by The PolyU Library

Common Book Selection Criteria

The selection process with a campus-wide call for nomination in January 2022, and concluded with the final selection by the READ@PolyU Programme Committee in May 2022.

The selection criteria help ensure that the common book will support the programme goal of cultivating a reading culture at PolyU, as well as the University's goals to provide a campus experience that is international and enriching.
 

• The book will be in English, preferably less than 300 pages
• It should be engaging for the PolyU community
• It should be accessible, not difficult to read
• It should appeal to students’ imagination, and should include some elements of exploration of and reflection on multi-cultural issues
• It should preferably have been adapted for film
• It should preferably have an electronic version
• It should preferably have won international and critical acclaim
• Ideally, the author would be available to visit PolyU

Common Books in Previous Years

• 2011/12 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
• 2012/13 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• 2013/14 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 
• 2014/15 The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne 
• 2015/16 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• 2016/17 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon 
• 2017/18 The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 
• 2018/19 Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis 
• 2019/20 Persepolis: The Story of Childhood by Marjane Satrapi 
• 2020/21 Exhalation by Ted Chiang 
• 2021/22 The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
• 2022/23 First Person Singular: Stories by Haruki Murakami 
• 2023/24 Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Events

Book Distribution*

Time: 10 - 11 Aug (Thu - Fri), 4 - 15 Sep 2023 (Mon - Fri), 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Venue: P/F, Library

Pick up your free copy of the common book on the Library’s podium floor.

Book Chat Groups*

Time: Week 3 - 5 (Mon - Fri), 11:30 / 12:30 / 13:30
Venue: The Bubble, 6/F South Wing of the Library

Share your reading experience in a Book Chat Group! Each group will meet 3 times within Sep - Oct. Let’s make new friends and develop soft skills during the thought-provoking discussion.

Book Exhibition

Date: 1 October to End of 2023
Venue: Featured Book Display, P/F, Library

Get ready for an inspiring journey as we dive into a captivating collection of autobiographies and memoirs! From introspective reflections to thrilling adventures, this book exhibition takes you through the lives and experiences of remarkable individuals, uncovering their whispered secrets, untold sorrows, heartfelt emotions, and more.

Feature Talk - READ@PolyU: Born a Storyteller - Using Humour to Bring Your Story to Life

Date: 10 October 2023 (Tue), 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Hybrid Mode: The Forum, 6/F, Library, Library & Onine via Zoom
Guest Speaker: Mr Vivek Mahbubani

About the Talk

Want to learn how to use humour to enhance your storytelling skills? Join us for a workshop featuring the top local comedian in Hong Kong, Vivek Mahbubani, who will share techniques on how to connect with your audience, inject emotion into your presentations, and keep your listeners engaged and entertained. READ@PolyU is the community reading project to foster a love of reading on campus. Each year, we select a common book and invite the whole campus to read along. Our common book this year, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood takes readers on a journey of Trevor Noah’s life with a series of heart-warming and humorous stories. Whether you're a fan of Born a Crime or just looking to improve your storytelling skills, this talk is sure to inspire and inform. Come ready to laugh and learn how to bring your story to life!

Whether you're a fan of Born a Crime or just looking to improve your storytelling skills, this talk is sure to inspire and inform. Come ready to laugh and learn how to bring your story to life!

About the Speaker

Vivek Mahbubani is a highly acclaimed bilingual stand-up comedian from Hong Kong. Having been crowned the Funniest Person (in Chinese) in Hong Kong in 2007 followed by his victory in the English category at the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition in 2008, Vivek has had the opportunity to take his sense of humour all over the world.

In 2014, the World Famous Laugh Factory in the USA ranked Vivek as one of the top 10 comedians in their Annual Funniest Person in the World Competition. In 2015, he was handpicked to represent Asia’s best in Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s inaugural “Comedy Zone Asia” shows. In 2016, he was featured in Comedy Central’s first-ever “Stand up Asia!” shows.

Call for Book Nomination

Date: End of 2023

Please send us your Common Book nominations for a new year of reading. It will help us decide which book the PolyU community will read in 2024.

*For PolyU students only.

READ@PolyU X OWS Talk - From Data to Story: How to Communicate Your Academic Discoveries with Impact?

Date: 27 March 2024 (Wed), 4:00-5:00 pm

Hybrid Mode: The Forum, 6/F, Library & Online via Zoom

Guest Speaker: Ms Athena Cheung

About the Talk

Join Ms. Athena Cheung in this enlightening talk as she navigates the art of employing storytelling techniques to enhance your research presentations. Discover how to craft a narrative that highlights the importance of your research outcomes, conveys complex information clearly, and resonates profoundly with the audience. This talk is designed to equip you with the competency to communicate your academic discoveries with significant impact.

About the Speaker

Ever since her first storytelling competition at the age of 9, Athena has been captivated by the art of connecting with diverse audiences through powerful storytelling and impactful presentations. As the Chief Administration Officer of a multinational corporation, Athena blends her passion for storytelling and academic expertise with over 14 years of corporate experience to deliver impactful presentations that often highlight the significance of data while ensuring clarity and resonance with her audience. She has developed a unique ability to engage and resonate with listeners, honed through her 80+ emcee and public speaking experiences. Athena holds a Master of Biochemistry from the University of Bath in the UK and is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Coach.