IN THIS BOOK INDIVIDUAL HISTORIES OF THE POOR LIVING IN THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK CITY ARE PRESENTED AS A VEHICLE FOR DESCRIBING POVERTY AND EXPLORING ITS MYTHS, AND FOR SUGGESTING A CONCRETE ECONOMIC APPROACH TO HELP THE POOR TO HELP THEMSELVES. THE BOOK SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDS THAT NECESSARY JOBS BE CREATED BY EMPLOYING THE UNEMPLOYED POOR TO BUILD NEW HOUSING PROJECTS. IN ONE CHAPTER, REPRINTED FROM THE APRIL 1966 "ATLANTIC MONTHLY," THE POLITICAL ISOLATION OF THE POOR IS UNDERSCORED IN A DESCRIPTION OF AN URBAN RENEWAL BATTLE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED FOR $3.75 BY CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. (JL)