This is a simple, working implementation of Pjax on a vanilla rails app. Based off of Chris Wanstrath's PJAX just include the jquery.pjax.js file in your pipeline and start coding.
ERB
<h2>
Cat In The Hat
</h2>
<p>
To show the page is not reloading: <%= Time.now %>
</p>
<a href="/book/beginning" data-pjax >Beginning</a>
<a href="/book/middle" data-pjax >Middle</a>
<a href="/book/end" data-pjax >End</a>
<div data-pjax-container >
<%= yield %>
</div>
JS
<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).pjax('a[data-pjax]', '[data-pjax-container]')
</script>
Ruby
class BookController < ApplicationController
def beginning
if request.headers['X-PJAX']
render :layout => false
end
end
def middle
if request.headers['X-PJAX']
render :layout => false
end
end
def end
if request.headers['X-PJAX']
render :layout => false
end
end
end
For more info checkout https://github.com/defunkt/jquery-pjax