How the Other Half Lives

Step inside the hidden world of 19th-century New York City with How the Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis, the groundbreaking work of photojournalism and social reform that exposed the harsh realities of urban poverty. Originally published in 1890, this pioneering text combined vivid writing with stark photographs to document the living conditions of the city’s immigrant tenement dwellers.

Riis’s exposé shocked the public and spurred changes in housing policy, public health, and labor reform. With unflinching honesty and compassion, he gave voice to the marginalized, challenging readers to confront the deep inequalities of America’s Gilded Age. More than a historical document, this book remains a powerful call to action in today’s conversations about poverty, housing, and social justice.