Vols 1 & 2 of The Amateur Mechanic edited by Bernard E Jones, 1914 - very useful books (though they are somewhat dated and weigh about 2 kg each...)
Tell you how to do a lot of interesting things, and where electricity is concerned, how to make that from first principles.
There are processes in there which I shall certainly use, including: electroplating, bookbinding; bootmaking and repairing; leaded glasswork; soapmaking; repairing clock movements; machine for stoning raisins...
Lots more, and I haven't looked in Vol 2 yet.