Downshifting

Drake, who successfully downshifted his own work life, gives timely advice to help people move from the "fast track" to a more satisfying, less-focused lifestyle.

What does it mean to “downshift”? Why is it now imperative that millions of people begin moving towards a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle? If you, too, are to join this worldwide effort to create a different sort of world, when should you start? How should you set about it? Might you need to move house in order to live more sustainably, and if so, to where? And to whom can you turn for advice and guidance? This easy-to-read guidebook, by an author who undertook a similar journey, aims to answer all these questions and more. It will reassure you that while the downshifting process is not without its challenges, the rewards, in terms of life satisfaction, enjoyment and sense of fulfilment, can be huge. There are many books full of practical ideas for green living. But this one goes to the heart of the matter by looking at who you are, what your needs are and how to create your custom-made plan for a lifestyle perfectly adapted to the coming “Age of Sustainability”.

An eye-opening overview of the exciting new trend called "downshifting". Saltzman discusses how our exhausting drive to succeed is leading some successful professionals to seek--and find--a better way.

The evolution of the automotive transmission has changed rapidly in the last decade, partly due to the advantages of highly sophisticated electronic controls. This evolution has resulted in modern automatic transmissions that offer more control, stability, and convenience to the driver. Electronic Transmission Controls contains 68 technical papers from SAE and other international organizations written since 1995 on this rapidly growing area of automotive electronics. This book breaks down the topic into two sections. The section on Stepped Transmissions covers recent developments in regular and 4-wheel drive transmissions from major auto manufacturers including DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, and Ford. Technology covered in this section includes: smooth shift control; automatic transmission efficiency; mechatronic systems; fuel saving technologies; shift control using information from vehicle navigation systems; and fuzzy logic control. The section on Continuously Variable Transmissions presents papers that demonstrate that CVTs offer better efficiency than conventional transmissions. Technologies covered in this section include: powertrain control; fuel consumption improvement; development of a 2-way clutch system; internal combustion engines with CVTs in passenger cars; control and shift strategies; and CVT application to hybrid powertrains. The book concludes with a chapter on the future of electronic transmissions in automobiles.