Summary of How The Other Half Lives

How The Other Half Lives is a pioneering work of investigative journalism by Jacob Riis, published in 1890, that unveiled the squalid living conditions in New York City's slums. Based on his personal investigations by exploring tenements and speaking with residents, Riis exposed the immorality and corruption of slumlords and the devastating effects of poverty on families living in urban centers, including overcrowding, unhealthy and dangerous environments, lack of basic services, and destitution. He also focused on immigrants, especially from southern and eastern Europe, and the prejudice and discrimination they experienced in the city. Riis's book was widely read and had a major effect on public opinion and the development of social reform and urban planning in the United States.