History textbooks always seem to focus on the advances of civilization, often ignoring the humble beginnings from which these achievements stem. How the Other Half Lives journalist-photographer Jacob A. Riis explores the streets of New York, using "muck-racking" to expose how "the other half lives" outside of the optimistic, rich, and busy nights of girls. so stereotypical of New York in the 1800s. Meanwhile, immigrants from around the world flocked to the fledgling city, bright-eyed and awaiting new opportunities; Little did they know, almost all of them will spend their lives in financial difficulties, in poverty and in overcrowded buildings and plagued by disease. Jacob A. Riis will photograph this poverty in How the Other Half Lives, hoping to bring awareness to the other half of New York. On the first page, Riis declares: “A long time ago it was said that “half the world does not live”. I don't know how the other half lives. It was true at the time. He didn't know because he didn't care (5). In the first person, Riis discusses his observations through a somewhat dispassionate analysis, delivering cold, hard and simple facts. After the War of 1812, New York City had about half a million residents, in desperate need of housing. The solutions were mediocre buildings: large spaces divided into cheaper, smaller rooms, whether there were windows or not. Some families were lucky enough to be able to afford rooms with windows, while others had to live in tiny, dark, damp rooms literally in the center of the building. These buildings contained inadequate living conditions; The disease killed many citizens, causing a shortage of industrial workers. The Board of Health passed the "Tenement-House Act" in 1867,...... middle of paper...... New York in the 19th century. The reader will realize that not all immigrants coming to America for a better life will achieve their dream. However, I would not recommend How the Other Half Lives to those who are not interested in the 19th century origins of New York and to optimists who want to avoid negative ideas. The entire novel revolves around the crowded tenements and unfavorable conditions of New York's slums in the mid-to-late 19th century, where overcrowded populations caused mass sanitation problems and disease. Although the charitable works and hardworking aura of the citizens were mentioned, Riis mainly focused on the struggles of the times. Despite this, I would highly recommend How the Other Half Lives to anyone looking for a fantastic read; Riis' use of "muckraking" will show you a totally different point of view from traditional non-fiction novels..