BOOK BRIEF

How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York

Jacob A. Riis
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How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997

Book Brief

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Jacob A. Riis

How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 1890s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York by Jacob A. Riis is a groundbreaking documentation of the living conditions in New York City's tenements during the late 19th century. Riis uses photography and detailed descriptions to highlight the struggles and resilience of individuals and families in impoverished urban environments.

Informative

Gritty

Unnerving

Melancholic

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.9

3,415 ratings

62%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

How the Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis is praised for vividly exposing the harsh realities of New York's tenements at the turn of the 20th century. The book's compelling photographs and firsthand observations offer valuable social insights. However, some critics note its ethnocentric perspective. Overall, it remains an influential work in social reform journalism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York?

Readers interested in urban history, social reform, and photography would enjoy Riis's How the Other Half Lives. Comparable to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, it appeals to those curious about societal impacts of poverty in late 19th-century America and investigative journalism.

3.9

3,415 ratings

62%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 1890s

Publication Year

1997

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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