How the Other Half Lives

By: Jacob Riis

Narrated by: Danny Campbell

How the Other Half Lives was a pioneering work of photojournalism by Jacob Riis, documenting the squalid living conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s. It served as a basis for future muckraking journalism by exposing the slums to New York City's upper and middle class. How The Other Half Lives quickly became a landmark in the annals of social reform. Riis documented the filth, disease, exploitation, and overcrowding that characterized the experience of more than one million immigrants. He helped push tenement reform to the front of New York's political agenda, and prompted then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt to close down the police-run poor houses. Roosevelt later called Riis "the most useful citizen of New York". Riis's idea inspired Jack London to write a similar expos on London's East End, called People of the Abyss.

Public Domain (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Great trip back in time

A look into history from when it was happening. The narrator fits this book perfectly.

Of Historical Interest

Writing style is very “wordy“. Could have benefited from a better narrator. This particular man reads forcefully; in a raspy voice. He adds nothing to interpretation and mispronounces too many words for my taste.

Early Muckraking to a Fault

A title from 1890 is sure to fall on deaf ears for most listeners. Riis has a way to bring out the most lurid facets of poverty stricken NYC which personally I find very interesting. His own stereotypes and racism will sure rub a contingent of people the wrong way but it is best to hear it in the way he intended. The narrator did a great job at capturing that with the absolutely non-PC accents. A quicker listen than most that can take you back to a time most would probably rather sweep under the rug.

Mini series please

I would love to see this book, turned into a miniseries much in the way that masters of the air has been turned.

great history

found the book to be a great history lesson on the late 19th century U.S

. the similarities of the lower middle and upper class to today's political and class issues are astounding and I opening.