The modern world book of hobbies

I have a book within which is a chapter that really got me interested in model aeroplanes when I was about 10. It was already an old book when I first read it. The prose is very poetic (or should I say lyrical?) and was surely written to capture a 1950s youngster's imagination.
Its 35 chapters cover many 'Modern World' hobbies such as model trains, camping, Chemistry as a pastime, The joy of reading, Swimming and diving, gardening, Puppets and marionettes and even How to make good Photographs.
I suppose we are living in a Post-Modern world nowadays.