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catnipped's review against another edition
I read the 75 pages or so and then skimmed through the remainder of the book to finish the essay I was required to write on it. Since I didn't truly read it, all I can say is that I hated what parts I did read. I understand that this was written during a different time period, meaning that racist stereotypes would have been accepted at that time, but I just didn't find anything I could use from it. The photos and drawings did little for me as well. Overall, just depressing and worthless.
Riis's prose did little for me. I wanted to rip my hair out after a few sentences into each chapter. I think I would have enjoyed a more sympathetic author on this period of history. Or one who wasn't so melodramatic. Plus, his whole theory of assimilation being the only way to make American society successful irked me.
Seriously, I could rant on everything that annoyed me for hours, so I'm going to stop here.
Riis's prose did little for me. I wanted to rip my hair out after a few sentences into each chapter. I think I would have enjoyed a more sympathetic author on this period of history. Or one who wasn't so melodramatic. Plus, his whole theory of assimilation being the only way to make American society successful irked me.
Seriously, I could rant on everything that annoyed me for hours, so I'm going to stop here.
loganlangston's review against another edition
3.0
Really loved this edition, Leviatin provides thoughtful insights.
“Those who fight for the poor must fight the poor to do it”, Jacob Riis says in the final chapter of the How the Other Half Lives. This quote is intended to convey his assumption that poor people were undesirous of the changes needed to liberate them from their dark, dirty, and sick tenement lifestyles. The quote is also an apt representation for the way in which Riis dehumanizes people living in the tenements and condescendingly makes arguments ostensibly for their own good. Whether Riis was able to alleviate the issues facing the poor or reinforcing the ideas that birthed their situation is arguable. Undeniably, Riis’ writing embodied the racism, racial naturalism, and individualism that were trending locally and globally. It is a snapshot of time. He is a journalist; documenting his observations and data. But he is, even more so, a storyteller, crafting a compelling narrative about the life in the tenements with a progressive recognition about the systematic problems facing poor people in New York. His compassion directly contradicts his own axioms of the nature of the poor and oppressed. This seemed to have a significant impact on the future of cities, although he does not solely deserve the credit for creating this impact. How the Other Half Lives does remain a tale about the social and physical structure fail to serve and benefit all people. These points are still quite relevant today even if these failures have shifted locations or assumed a new façade.
“Those who fight for the poor must fight the poor to do it”, Jacob Riis says in the final chapter of the How the Other Half Lives. This quote is intended to convey his assumption that poor people were undesirous of the changes needed to liberate them from their dark, dirty, and sick tenement lifestyles. The quote is also an apt representation for the way in which Riis dehumanizes people living in the tenements and condescendingly makes arguments ostensibly for their own good. Whether Riis was able to alleviate the issues facing the poor or reinforcing the ideas that birthed their situation is arguable. Undeniably, Riis’ writing embodied the racism, racial naturalism, and individualism that were trending locally and globally. It is a snapshot of time. He is a journalist; documenting his observations and data. But he is, even more so, a storyteller, crafting a compelling narrative about the life in the tenements with a progressive recognition about the systematic problems facing poor people in New York. His compassion directly contradicts his own axioms of the nature of the poor and oppressed. This seemed to have a significant impact on the future of cities, although he does not solely deserve the credit for creating this impact. How the Other Half Lives does remain a tale about the social and physical structure fail to serve and benefit all people. These points are still quite relevant today even if these failures have shifted locations or assumed a new façade.
aprileclecticbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
This is almost like two different books in one. Every other or third page is a black and white photo that shows a heartbreaking scene from the end of the 1800s often featuring children and gives a glimpse of what life might have been like. The other half of the book was a little disappointing. There were few interesting stories most of the print was dry statistics or rants so prejudice they were absurd. To be fair, no nationality or ethnic group was spared, he seemed to feel that way about everyone there while fighting for change. Interesting and important but I'm sure there are more informative works available. 2.5
falonbookbrooklynite's review
5.0
So important. The racism is awful and evident (sorry @chinese people especially) but the housing crisis in NYC today has the same roots as in 1890. Absentee landlords, overcrowding, rich people planting their money in real estate and expecting absurd returns on investment which makes rent balloon, stagnant labor wages, and lack of affordable housing. Everyone in NYC needs to read this.
wai's review
4.0
If you're interested in sociology and understanding the history of poverty, please read this book.
Of course it should be read in its historical context. There are a lot of racist and antisemitic views perpetuated that are absolutely unacceptable. Yet for 1890, this was an extremely sympathetic view of those living in poverty in Manhattan. It goes into explicit detail the kind of hardships that many people were facing at the time and even attempts to offer real solutions to help, based in the belief that the impoverished people themselves were not the problem, but structural issues such as lack of employment and incompetent and exploitative landlords, etc.etc. as the real reason they were living in such horrible conditions.
Really though, this book is important because it gives a perspective on the historical aspect of poverty and that poverty has been a long generational issue. The idea of the United States as a meritocracy is a lie as shown through the intimate details of the extremely hard working people in this book.
Of course it should be read in its historical context. There are a lot of racist and antisemitic views perpetuated that are absolutely unacceptable. Yet for 1890, this was an extremely sympathetic view of those living in poverty in Manhattan. It goes into explicit detail the kind of hardships that many people were facing at the time and even attempts to offer real solutions to help, based in the belief that the impoverished people themselves were not the problem, but structural issues such as lack of employment and incompetent and exploitative landlords, etc.etc. as the real reason they were living in such horrible conditions.
Really though, this book is important because it gives a perspective on the historical aspect of poverty and that poverty has been a long generational issue. The idea of the United States as a meritocracy is a lie as shown through the intimate details of the extremely hard working people in this book.
geekery's review
Well, if you ever wanted statistics on how the poor people of New York lived in 1890 with a generous side helping of racist stereotypes, this is the book for you.
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