"This book is a professional publication, describing oil shale's geology, resources, properties, evaluation, retorting for producing shale oil, burning for generating power, and utilization for making cement, and it also includes environmental protection, economics, design key points and describes the history, development and outlook of world's oil shale industry. "-- Verso of t.p. Originally published in Chinese in 2008, English edition is revised and expanded -- Preface. Includes bibliographical references.