History textbooks always seem to focus on the advancements of civilization, often ignoring the humble beginnings from which these achievements stem. How the Other Half Lives by journalist-photographer Jacob A. Riis explores the streets of New York, using "muck-racking" to reveal how "the other half lives," aside from the happy, rich, flapper-girl-filled nights . so stereotypical of New York City in the 1800s. During this time, immigrants from around the world flocked to the fledgling city, bright-eyed and waiting for new opportunities; they didn't know that almost everyone will spend their lives in financial hardship, poverty, and crowded, disease-ridden public housing. Jacob A. Riis will photograph this poverty in How the Other Half Lives, hoping to raise awareness for the other half of New York. On the very first page, Riis states: “Long ago it was said that 'half the world I don't know how the other half lives.' Then it was true. He didn't know because he didn't care (5).” In the first person, Riis discusses his observations through a rather even-handed analysis, providing cold, hard, straight facts. After the War of 1812, New York had a population of about half a million, desperately in need of housing mediocre apartment buildings: large spaces divided into smaller, cheaper rooms, regardless of whether they have windows or not. Some families were lucky, able to afford rooms with windows, while others had to live in dark, damp, tiny rooms, literally in the middle of the street. 'building. These tenements contained inadequate living conditions; disease killed many citizens, causing a shortage of industrial workers. Board of Health passed the Tenement-House Act in 1867 ......New York City in the 19th century. The reader will realize that not all immigrants who come to America for a better life will live their dream. However, I would not recommend How the Other Half Lives to those who do not they are interested in the origins of New York City, the 19th century, and 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 crowded populations caused sanitation problems and mass disease. Although the charities and hard-working aura of the citizens were mentioned, Riis focused primarily on the struggles of the time period. Despite this, I highly recommend How the Other Half Lives to anyone looking for a great read; Riis' use of the term "muckraking" will show you a completely different point of view than traditional non-fiction novels.