A review by catnipped
How the Other Half Lives by Jacob A. Riis, David Leviatin

Did not finish book.

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.