Spiritualism and mediumship are often regarded as the product of lingering superstition in the Victorian era, and as having limited relevance in modern Anglo-American society. Scholarship to date which has considered Spiritualism as a distinct religious tradition has focussed on analysing the phenomenon in terms of spirit possession only. This volume analyses the development of shamanism (communication with the spiritual world) as a concept within North American English-speaking scholarship, with particular focus on Mircea Eliade's influential cross-cultural presentation of shamanism. By re-examining the work of Sergei Shirokogoroff, one of Eliade's principal sources, the traditional Evenki shamanic apprenticeship is compared and identified with the new Spiritualist apprenticeship. The author demonstrates that Spiritualism is best understood as a traditional shamanism, as distinct from contemporary appropriations or neo-shamanisms. He argues that shamanism is the outcome of an apprenticeship in the management of psychic experiences, and which follows the same pattern as that of the apprentice medium. In doing so, the author offers fresh insights into the mechanisms that are key to sustaining mediumship as a social institution.

One of the only books to focus on turbomachinery and gas turbines from the “design” point of view. This volume reviews the necessary thermodynamics, gives extensive design data, provides engine and component illustrations (with comments on good and less-than-good design features), and contains many worked examples — allowing readers to produce preliminary designs that can be made and run quickly. More comprehensive than similar books, it features a simplified — and more accurate — thermodynamic treatment that eliminates the confusing use of “gamma” and specific heat together, and provides individual full-chapter coverage of on axial-flow turbines and compressors and radial-flow versions of the same.

Product Description: Regenerative gas turbines are attractive alternatives to diesel engines and spark­ ignition engines for automobiles and to diesel engines and combined-cycle en­ gines for power generation. Theory indicates regenerative gas turbines should achieve higher thermal efficiencies than those of diesel engines and combined­ cycle engines...read more

Product Description: Explains the history of human powered vehicles (HPVs), offers practical insights into their design, and considers future possibilities of human-powered travel. The book reviews the development of human-powered water, land and air vehicles, focusing on recent improvements in performance...read more

Product Description: Book by Zalygin, Sergei Pavlovich (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

The second edition of Bicycling Science includes new information on recent achievements and experiments in human-powered transportation, from the "ultimate human-powered vehicle" (UHPV) in which supine riders can achieve speeds well over 60 mph, to human-powered aircraft, boats, and rail transportation. New chapters cover the history of bicycle and humanpower technology and science, and the speed-power relationships of various modes and vehicles including performance predictions for the UHPV and the "commuter human-powered vehicle." The chapters on braking, steering, friction, air drag, rider cooling, and transmissions and gearing have all been enlarged and updated. James McCullagh, editor of Bicycling Magazine has written a Foreword for this edition which also includes many new illustrations.