Memorable Muckraking Books

The term “muckraker,” originally a negative one, in the early twentieth century came to mean writing to expose scandals and problems that hurt the public, and advocating reform. Muckraking writers often had to be courageous, risking a lot to uncover dangerous truths and publish them. Many of their books made a difference, sometimes leading to new protective laws addressing the issues raised by the muckrakers. The term is used less frequently these days, but fortunately there are still writers in the muckraking tradition. Below are just a few of the most memorable examples of “muckraking” books published over the past century or so; in each case the book shed light on an issue in which there was misuse of power, generally for the profit of the few. Most of the books listed are nonfiction; a few are novels. These and other such books illustrate the power of the written word. We should all be grateful to the brave and intrepid writers who have made the world a bit better through their work.

All the President’s Men, by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
The American Way of Death, by Jessica Mitford
The Death and Life of Great American Cities, by Jane Jacobs
Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser
The History of the Standard Oil Company, by Ida Tarbell
The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, by Stephen Crane
McTeague, by Frank Norris
Nickle and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Octupus, by Frank Norris
The Shame of the Cities, by Lincoln Steffens
Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson
Ten Days in a Mad-House, by Nelly Bly
Unsafe at Any Speed, by Ralph Nader