This is a Tribology in Practice Series (TIPS) title. Total Tribology is a term coined to express the practice of considering tribology at all stages of the lifecycle of interface components to reduce the impact of wear and improve the lubrication of machinery. It emphasises that tribology can be applied to improve aspects of machine performance at all stages of their lifecycle from design, through manufacture, usage, and finally, disposal. Viewing the total picture of lubrication and wear offers tremendous opportunities such as reducing the loss of energy due to excessive friction and wear, reducing the overall use of lubricants, extending the useful life of equipment and components, reducing costly down time of equipment and machinery. Highly respected experts have written specially commissioned chapters to explore and explain the elements of tribology which complement the Total Tribology approach, representing the latest thoughts on tackling wear and lubrication problems. The contents include: the possible impact of tribology on future machine design; materials in tribology opportunities and challenges; trends in lubrication; use of solid lubricants; the role of tribology in manufacturing processes; porous ceramic water hydrostatic bearings; design of abrasive machining processes; on the lubrication of power plants; tribology in aerospace; and friction prediction and cold starting of diesel engines.