The Plant In 1964, the National Motors auto manufacturing plant was a city sin unto itself: Liquor flowed, while fat-cats entertained clients with gambling, prostitutes and other vices in the plant's business underworld, and one had to learn to negotiate convoluted plant politics to survive. Robert Blue Bluestone started working at National Motors in 1964, when he was still in high school. The Plant relates his 40 years as a plant rat, learning who the movers and shakers were, who could and should not be crossed, and most importantly, how to survive a sometimes deadly environment. The Plant is an accessibly written book with intriguing and honest insight into the car manufacturing process that addresses fears and debunks myths. Written by an industry insider with experience on the front lines, the book offers a frank account of life in the plant, the nuts and bolts of assembly (literally ), and what does and doesn't really happen on the manufacturing floor.