"How the Other Half Lives"

Definition

"How the Other Half Lives" is an influential book by Jacob Riis that documented the living conditions of New York City's poor during the late 19th century. It used both text and photographs to illustrate the squalid conditions.

Analogy

Think about "How The Other Half Lives" like a viral YouTube video today that exposes harsh realities many people aren't aware of - it grabs your attention, opens your eyes, and makes you want to do something about what you've seen.

Related terms

Slums: Heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor. These were often photographed by Riis.

Child Labor: The use of children in industry or business, especially when illegal or considered exploitative. This was one issue highlighted in Riis' work.

Public Health Issues: Concerns for health at a population level rather than individual level. Many public health issues such as sanitation problems were exposed through "How The Other Half Lives".