Nellie Bly was a pioneering American journalist known for investigative reporting. She famously exposed asylum abuses in her landmark article Ten Days in a Mad-House and documented her around-the-world journey in Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.
If you enjoy reading books by Nellie Bly then you might also like the following authors:
Ida Tarbell was a journalist whose investigations exposed abuses of power by big businesses. Her work helped popularize investigative journalism and influenced social reform.
In The History of the Standard Oil Company, Tarbell detailed how ruthless business practices allowed John D. Rockefeller to dominate the oil industry. Her clear, evidence-based approach offers the same kind of insightful reporting readers admire in Nellie Bly.
Upton Sinclair, like Nellie Bly, used his writing to spotlight major social issues. He wrote realistically and without sentimentalizing about poor working conditions and abuses faced by everyday Americans.
In his novel The Jungle, Sinclair vividly described the harsh reality and unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry, encouraging calls for reform and regulation in the food industry.
Lincoln Steffens was a pioneering investigative writer who exposed corruption in American cities. His straightforward writing style revealed the links between money and political power.
Readers who appreciate Nellie Bly's courageous and investigative spirit will find similar qualities in Steffens' The Shame of the Cities, a collection of articles that revealed the systematic corruption in urban America.
Dorothy Kilgallen was a journalist known for her fearlessness in covering controversial crime stories and high-profile trials during the mid-20th century. She shared Nellie Bly’s curiosity, engagement, and passion for uncovering hidden truths.
In Murder One, Kilgallen's sharp observational skills and attention to detail offer fascinating insights into infamous criminal cases.
Martha Gellhorn was a war correspondent and writer whose fearless reporting gave readers an honest, unfiltered perspective on war and its human impact. Her bravery and willingness to seek the truth echo Nellie Bly's pioneering spirit.
In The Face of War, Gellhorn provides finely tuned insights into World War II, with sharp-eyed, humane observations about ordinary people experiencing extraordinary hardships.
Ida B. Wells was an influential journalist and activist who boldly exposed racial injustice in America. Like Nellie Bly, Wells used investigative journalism to shine a spotlight on vital social issues, such as lynching in the American South.
Her vivid reports and courageous advocacy are clear in her notable work, Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases, which fearlessly exposed violence against African Americans and demanded justice.
Elizabeth Bisland was an adventurous journalist known for her engaging travel writing. Similar to Nellie Bly, Bisland embarked on daring journeys that captivated readers with vivid descriptions and personal reflections.
Her work In Seven Stages: A Flying Trip Around the World chronicles her own race around the globe, offering enjoyable insights into different cultures and societies through her careful, observant style.
Jack London was a writer who embraced adventure and social critique through realistic storytelling and vivid descriptions. He explored themes of struggle, individualism, and social injustice, often drawing on his own rugged experiences.
London's memorable book, The People of the Abyss, highlights poverty and hardship in London's East End, showcasing his commitment to bringing social issues to light.
George Orwell is admired for his honest, clear-eyed reporting and social critique. Like Nellie Bly, Orwell combined journalism with a focus on exposing hidden truths and challenging accepted narratives.
His work Down and Out in Paris and London vividly captures life among the struggling poor through first-hand experiences and sympathetic observations.
Hunter S. Thompson was a ground-breaking journalist who crafted memorable stories with a unique, personal writing style known as Gonzo journalism. Thompson's vivid imagery, biting wit, and intense subjective narration distinguished him from traditional journalism.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas exemplifies his style, humorously exploring themes like the American dream, counterculture, and the absurdity of modern society.
Truman Capote blends journalism with compelling narrative storytelling. Like Nellie Bly, he explores real events and gives them emotional depth and vivid detail.
His book In Cold Blood tells the true story of a Kansas family tragically murdered, capturing both the facts and the humanity behind the crime.
Joan Didion writes clear, insightful journalism, often focusing on American culture and personal experience. Her precise observation and personal reflections result in writing that feels honest and intimate.
Slouching Towards Bethlehem examines social changes in 1960s California, skillfully weaving individual stories and cultural analysis.
Gloria Steinem tackles social issues through direct, engaging journalism and speaking from personal experience. Her work challenges stereotypes and advocates for women's rights.
In Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, she blends personal essays and reported articles, addressing feminism, activism, and social change.
Barbara Ehrenreich is an investigative journalist who digs deep into social inequality and economic hardships, writing plainly and powerfully about the struggles ordinary people face.
Her book Nickel and Dimed explores the harsh realities faced by low-wage workers across America, offering a firsthand account of economic struggle and social injustice.
Jacob Riis uses journalism combined with compelling photography to reveal the reality of poverty and urban hardships in late 19th-century America. Like Nellie Bly, he aims to shed light on unseen realities and push towards social reform.
His influential book How the Other Half Lives vividly documents living conditions in tenements, making him an important figure for social justice journalism.