A Modest Proposal

For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick

The book you are referring to is actually an essay titled "A Modest Proposal" written by Jonathan Swift. It was first published anonymously in 1729. The essay is a satirical work in which Swift suggests that the impoverished Irish should sell their children as food to the rich in order to alleviate their economic troubles. The proposal is meant to criticize the British government's harsh economic policies towards Ireland and highlight the plight of the poor in the country. "A Modest Proposal" is considered a classic work of English literature and a prime example of political satire. It has been widely studied and analyzed for its dark humor and social commentary.