Anyone remember Forest Mims (the 3rd, I think)? He wrote for Popular Electronics magazine and you could get his electronics notebooks from Radio Shack. I devoured that stuff - I got into electronics in the early 1970's with the Radio Shack 250-in-1 kits. I also built several Heathkits and we had a Lafayette Radio chain here in the Northeast that I spent time in. The only place left to get hobbyist parts around here (brick & mortar) is the "you do it" store...

http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/