BETWEEN 1970 AND 1973, THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK, A SOCIOLOGIST, ENGAGED IN PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION AT JELLY'S. DURING THIS PERIOD HE SOCIALIZED WITH BLACK WORKING AND NONWORKING MEN AT THE BAR, DRINKING, AND TALKING WITH THEM. TO OUTSIDERS, THE MEN AT JELLY'S MIGHT APPEAR THREATENING AND DISORGANIZED, BUT THIS STUDY SEES JELLY'S INSTEAD AS AN ARENA FOR SOCIABILITY WHERE PATTERNS OF DEFERENCE AND DEMEANOR REVEAL AN UNDERLYING SOCIAL ORDER. A MAN'S RANK AT JELLY'S IS ESTABLISHED THROUGH SOCIAL INTERACTION AND DEMONSTRATED BY DEGREES OF FAMILIARITY EXPRESSED IN TALK AND ACTION. IN THIS WAY THE MEN RANK THEMSELVES INTO THREE DISTINCT, IF OVERLAPPING, CATEGORIES: REGULARS, WINEHEADS, AND HOODLUMS. TO THE REGULARS (STEADILY EMPLOYED AND WITH A STABLE FAMILY) THE CENTRAL VALUES ARE A VISIBLE MEANS OF SUPPORT AND DECENCY. WINEHEADS SETTLE FOR OBTAINING WINE AND HAVING SOME FUN, WHILE HOODLUMS VALUE TOUGHNESS AND MONEYMAKING. THE MEN ARE SHOWN MAKING AND REMAKING THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF SOCIAL STATUS THROUGH THE ROUTINE EXPERIENCES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. NOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)