An elegy—angry, funny, and powerfully detailed—about the slow death of a Detroit auto plant and an American way of life. How does a country dismantle a century’s worth of its industrial heritage? To answer that question, Paul Clemens investigates the 2006 closing of one of America’s most potent symbols: a Detroit auto plant. Prior to its closing, the Budd Company stamping plant on Detroit’s East Side, built in 1919, was one of the oldest active auto plants in America’s foremost industrial city—one whose history includes the nation’s proudest moments and those of its working class. Its closing also reflects the character of the country in a new era—the sad, brutal process of picking it apart and sending it, piece by piece, to the countries that now have use for its machines. Punching Out is an up-close report, at once tender and angry, from the meanest, sharpest edge of America’s deindustrializa­tion, and a lament for a working-class culture that once defined a prosperous America—and that is now on the verge of eco­nomic extinction.

Punching Out features a unique collection of firsthand stories of the rare individuals who have been baptized by rocket fire, pushed beyond the edge of endurance, and experienced face-to-face encounters with their own mortality. These are the pilots who have survived high-speed ejections and lived to tell their stories to a new generation. Except for aerospace technical research, manuals, and periodicals, this is intended to represent the first major body of work on this subject from an experiential perspective. Many of the pilots whose stories are contained here are among the most famous names in the history of aviation. But for each, on that fateful day, fame was of no use. Their lives hung in the balance...from long silk parachute lines. Preceding these awe-inspiring stories of ejection survivors are various pages taken from the past: pilots who bailed out and survived, before there were ejection seats. It is their sacrifices, and their experiences, which has led to future generations who can count on this life-saving equipment in that instant of stark terror and confusion known as punching out.

Jim Daniels takes readers inside an auto factory to experience the frustrations, the dehumanization, and the small victories found there.

Dinosaurs & Extinct Animals pairs the fun activity of building 3-D models with fun facts and trivia about each prehistoric animal.

Taro Gomi invites children to punch out more than 60 fantastic playthings, including ring-toss games, finger puppets, boxes, picture frames, a zoo's worth of animals, and more! Packed with Gomi's fun, accessible artwork and a delightful variety of games and toys, this book will appeal to children of all ages, engaging their imaginations and entertaining them all day long.

Always thought Skottie Young's incredible artwork leaps off the page? Well, now it does - with a little help - in this colorful collection of punch-out Marvel heroes! Featuring nine sturdy pages filled with die-cut characters just waiting to be popped free, you can build yourself an army of Skottie's small-fry super-type standees that will serve as an adorable adornment to any home - or place of work! Enliven your living room! Ornament your office! Fashion a mini Marvel chess set! Or just sit down and play Secret Wars with 'em to your heart's content! From Spider-Man to the Guardians of the Galaxy, they're all here - and they've never looked cuter. Now, make like the junior Avengers and X-Men every time they get together - start punching, and make a stand(ee)!

One book, so many ways to play! Acclaimed artist and designer Laura Ljungkvist invites children to punch out 10 different puzzles and 13 classic games, such as Memory, Go Fish, and Dominoes. Packed with fun, graphic artwork, a variety of games, and plenty of colorful envelopes for easy storage, this book provides hours of play for kids of all ages—all in an attractively priced package.