Grumpy_Mike:
A book to last a lifetime is this:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/dp/0521370957
A third edition is anticipated late this year, according to this article in Wikipedia. Must be true if it's in Wikipedia 8). Current, second edition is dated 1989.....
I really like the look of Practical Electronics for Inventors, up-to-date 3rd edition (2013) already in the shops.