I'm sorry to hear that my compatriot didn't get a book in the same format. Newnes must have listened, however, because the one I got was in the same format as the first two.
Again, Marston has loads of circuit clippings to show you how to design with different components-- clippings you can easily modify and adapt to your own project. If you want to use logic IC's for an astable timer circuit, it's in there. Just plug in the clipping, adjust for whatever output you need, adjust for your own power supply, and you're done. With a tiny bit of electronic background, this whole series is fantastic. Also got my brain around working a few things out a different way. That is the ultimate goal. Designing your own circuit.