Throughout Vvardenfell, there are books designed to enhance various skill levels through academic study of them. When you open one of these skill books, you receive a one-point increase in its associated skill. Unlike training, this skill increase occurs without regard to the level of the skill's governing attribute; however, once a particular skill reaches 100 points, skill books don't raise that skill above 100, but you still get a skill increase message, and if the skill raised is in major/minor groups, the raise counts towards leveling up and contributes to the attribute bonus. Note that reading a book does not count as theft even if it happens to belong to somebody. Thus you can read a book (and get your skill bonus) right in front of its owner without being accused of stealing. Unless you click the "Take" button on the bottom, it's not illegal. A skill book can be picked up without reading it by opening your inventory and dragging the book from the game world into your inventory, thus enabling you to save the skill increase for later use when your skill is higher.
A particular book only improves a skill once, when you first read it; repeat readings have no additional effect on your skill level. An exception to this is a few books that exist in both opened and closed varieties. You can read one of each and gain a skill point each time.
See Also:
Note: Locations only list places you are guaranteed to find a book. All of these books can also be found as random loot elsewhere.
Book Name | Skill | Author | Description | Locations |
---|---|---|---|---|
Realizations of Acrobacy bookskill_acrobatics1 |
Acrobatics | Master Rhunen Zebavi | Story of a struggle between Telvanni councilors |
|
A Dance in Fire, Chapter 1 BookSkill_Acrobatics2 |
Acrobatics | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 1 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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A Dance in Fire, Chapter 4 BookSkill_Acrobatics3 |
Acrobatics | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 4 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
The Black Arrow, Volume 1 BookSkill_Acrobatics4 |
Acrobatics | Gorgic Guine | Volume one of a story of revenge, and a true master archer | |
Mystery of Talara, Part 1 BookSkill_Acrobatics5 |
Acrobatics | Mera Llykith | Part one of the story of Princess Talara |
|
A Game at Dinner BookSkill_Alchemy1 |
Alchemy | An Anonymous Spy | A spy's observations upon poison making and a dinner party |
|
The Cake and the Diamond BookSkill_Alchemy2 |
Alchemy | Athyn Muendil | An alchemist tricks a thief! |
|
Song of the Alchemists BookSkill_Alchemy3 |
Alchemy | Marobar Sul | Book 5 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2 BookSkill_Alchemy4 |
Alchemy | Vivec | Book 2 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 18 BookSkill_Alchemy5 |
Alchemy | Vivec | Book 18 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
Breathing Water BookSkill_Alteration1 |
Alteration | Haliel Myrm | Lessons on water breathing |
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The Dragon Break Re-Examined BookSkill_Alteration2 |
Alteration | Fal Droon | Explanation of a historical error of timing |
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Sithis BookSkill_Alteration3 |
Alteration | Text detailing an apparent connection between Sithis and Lorkhan |
|
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 13 BookSkill_Alteration4 |
Alteration | Vivec | Book 13 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
The Lunar Lorkhan BookSkill_Alteration5 |
Alteration | Fal Droon | A theory about the moons Masser and Secunda |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 6 BookSkill_Armorer3 |
Armorer | Vivec | Book 6 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 25 BookSkill_Armorer4 |
Armorer | Vivec | Book 25 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 29 BookSkill_Armorer5 |
Armorer | Vivec | Book 29 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
The Armorer's Challenge BookSkill_Armorer1 |
Armorer | Mymophonus | A competition between two skilled armorsmiths |
|
Last Scabbard of Akrash BookSkill_Armorer2 |
Armorer | Tabar Vunqidh | Story of a slaver's daughter and her Khajiit lover |
|
The Ransom of Zarek BookSkill_Athletics1 |
Athletics | Marobar Sul | How a boy escapes his kidnappers |
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A Dance in Fire, Chapter 3 BookSkill_Athletics2 |
Athletics | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 3 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1 BookSkill_Athletics3 |
Athletics | Vivec | Book 1 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 8 BookSkill_Athletics4 |
Athletics | Vivec | Book 8 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 31 BookSkill_Athletics5 |
Athletics | Vivec | Book 31 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
The Axe Man bookskill_axe2 |
Axe | A surprising way to become proficient with an axe |
|
|
The Seed BookSkill_Axe3 |
Axe | Marobar Sul | Book 2 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
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The Third Door BookSkill_Axe1 |
Axe | Annanar Orme | Tale of a heart-broken, vengeful, axe-wielding woman |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 5 BookSkill_Axe4 |
Axe | Vivec | Book 5 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 16 BookSkill_Axe5 BookSkill_Axe5_open |
Axe | Vivec | Book 16 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | Closed:
Open:
|
A Dance in Fire, Chapter 2 BookSkill_Block3 |
Block | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 2 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
The Death Blow of Abernanit BookSkill_Block1 |
Block | Anonymous (with notes by Geocrates Varnus) | The death of Dagoth Thras | |
The Mirror bookskill_block2 |
Block | Berdier Wreans | About a skilled fighter's showdown with his greatest enemy |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 7 BookSkill_Block4 |
Block | Vivec | Book 7 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 32 BookSkill_Block5 |
Block | Vivec | Book 32 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
The Hope of the Redoran bookskill_blunt weapon1 |
Blunt Weapon | Turiul Nirith | A tale of a child blessed by a prophecy and the interpretation thereof |
|
The Importance of Where BookSkill_Blunt Weapon2 |
Blunt Weapon | Marobar Sul | Book 3 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
|
Night Falls On Sentinel bookskill_blunt weapon3 |
Blunt Weapon | Boali | How a knight weeds out an enemy of the king | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3 BookSkill_Blunt Weapon4 |
Blunt Weapon | Vivec | Book 3 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 9 BookSkill_Blunt Weapon5 |
Blunt Weapon | Vivec | Book 9 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
Feyfolken II BookSkill_Conjuration1 |
Conjuration | Waughin Jarth | The Great Sage tells Volume 2 of a story of Artaeum, Psijics, and Robotic Enchanters | |
Feyfolken III BookSkill_Conjuration2 |
Conjuration | Waughin Jarth | The Great Sage tells Volume 3 of a story of Artaeum, Psijics, and Robotic Enchanters | |
2920, Hearth Fire BookSkill_Conjuration3 |
Conjuration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 9 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
2920, FrostFall BookSkill_Conjuration4 |
Conjuration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 10 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
The Warrior's Charge bookskill_conjuration5 |
Conjuration | An old poem of the Redguards that deals with the constellations | ||
The Horror of Castle Xyr bookskill_destruction1 |
Destruction | Baloth-Kul | A One Act Play |
|
Response to Bero's Speech bookskill_destruction2 |
Destruction | Malviser, Battlemage | Commentaries of "Bero's Speech to the Battlemages" book |
|
A Hypothetical Treachery bookskill_destruction3 |
Destruction | Anthil Morvir | A One Act Play |
|
The Art of War Magic bookskill_destruction4 |
Destruction | Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters | Mastering the art of winning |
|
Mystery of Talara, Part 3 BookSkill_Destruction5 BookSkill_Destruction5_open |
Destruction | Mera Llykith | Part three of the story of Princess Talara | Closed:
Open:
|
Feyfolken I BookSkill_Enchant1 |
Enchant | Waughin Jarth | The Great Sage tells Volume 1 of a story of Artaeum, Psijics, and Robotic Enchanters | |
The Wolf Queen, Book VIII BookSkill_Enchant2 |
Enchant | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Eight |
|
Palla, Book II bookskill_enchant3 |
Enchant | Vojne Mierstyyd | A conjurer's tragic infatuation with a dead woman (volume 2 of 2) |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 19 bookskill_enchant4 |
Enchant | Vivec | Book 19 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
The Final Lesson bookskill_enchant5 |
Enchant | Aegrothius Goth | Two apprentices are separated |
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Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 2 bookskill_hand to hand3 |
Hand-to-hand | Koniinge | Letter sent from Koniinge to Charwich about their search for Azura's Star | |
Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 4 bookskill_hand to hand4 |
Hand-to-hand | Charwich and Koniinge | Letter sent between Charwich and Koniinge about their search for Azura's Star |
|
Master Zoaraym's Tale bookskill_hand to hand5 |
Hand-to-hand | Gi'Nanth | About the Temple of the Two Moons in Elsweyr and its students |
|
The Prayers of Baranat bookskill_hand to hand1 |
Hand-to-hand | Adventure of a man in his quest to release a kidnapped lady |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, Book II bookskill_hand to hand2 |
Hand-to-hand | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Two |
|
Hallgerd's Tale bookskill_heavy armor1 |
Heavy Armor | Tavi Dromio | Squabbling over the greatest warrior ever leads to a tale of heavy-armor-master Hlaalu Pasoroth |
|
2920, MidYear BookSkill_Heavy Armor2 |
Heavy Armor | Carlovac Townway | Volume 6 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire | |
Chimarvamidium BookSkill_Heavy Armor3 |
Heavy Armor | Marobar Sul | Book 6 of a series of fictional stories about the Dwemer | |
How Orsinium Passed to the Orcs bookskill_heavy armor4 |
Heavy Armor | Menyna Gsost | The story of how Gortwog won the land to the north of Wayrest |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 12 bookskill_heavy armor5 |
Heavy Armor | Vivec | Book 12 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
Incident in Necrom bookskill_illusion3 |
Illusion | Jonquilla Bothe | A story about an illusionist |
|
Mystery of Talara, Part 4 bookskill_illusion5 |
Illusion | Mera Llykith | Part four of the story of Princess Talara |
|
Palla, Book I bookskill_illusion4 |
Illusion | Vojne Mierstyyd | A conjurer's tragic infatuation with a dead woman (volume 1 of 2) | |
Silence bookskill_illusion2 |
Illusion | Ganpheril Kimeth | How an adventurer's fight with a powerful mage was aided with a simple Silence spell | |
The Wolf Queen, Book III bookskill_illusion1 |
Illusion | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Three | |
Ice and Chiton BookSkill_Light Armor2 |
Light Armor | Pletius Spatec | A tale of the manipulation of chitin armor |
|
Lord Jornibret's Last Dance bookskill_light_armor3 |
Light Armor | Song involving men and women's parts |
|
|
The Rear Guard BookSkill_Light Armor1 |
Light Armor | Tenace Mourl | How a lone man guards a besieged castle and how he obtains his food | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 21 bookskill_light armor4 |
Light Armor | Vivec | Book 21 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 28 bookskill_light armor5 |
Light Armor | Vivec | Book 28 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
2920, Morning Star BookSkill_Long Blade2 |
Long Blade | Carlovac Townway | Volume 1 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 17 bookskill_long blade3 |
Long Blade | Vivec | Book 17 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 20 bookskill_long blade4 |
Long Blade | Vivec | Book 20 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 23 bookskill_long blade5 |
Long Blade | Vivec | Book 23 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
Words and Philosophy BookSkill_Long Blade1 |
Long Blade | An interview with a Bosmer master swordsman about her life |
|
|
The Black Arrow, Volume II bookskill_marksman5 |
Marksman | Gorgic Guine | Volume two of a story of revenge, and a true master archer |
|
A Dance in Fire, Chapter 5 BookSkill_Marksman2 |
Marksman | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 5 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
The Gold Ribbon of Merit bookskill_marksman1 |
Marksman | Ampyrian Brum | A man tutors his old friend in marksmanship | |
The Marksmanship Lesson bookskill_marksman4 |
Marksman | Alla Llaleth | How a Bosmer slave teaches his master's son marksmanship |
|
Vernaccus and Bourlor bookskill_marksman3 |
Marksman | Tavi Dromio | How a short-tempered Daedra tries to make something of himself |
|
Bone, Part One BookSkill_Medium Armor2 |
Medium Armor | Tavi Dromio | Part one of the invention of bonemold armor |
|
Bone, Part Two BookSkill_Medium Armor3 |
Medium Armor | Tavi Dromio | Part two of the invention of bonemold armor |
|
Cherim's Heart of Anequina bookskill_medium armor1 |
Medium Armor | Livillus Perus, Professor at the Imperial University | Interview with Cherim, a master tapestry weaver |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 22 bookskill_medium armor4 |
Medium Armor | Vivec | Book 22 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 33 bookskill_medium armor5 |
Medium Armor | Vivec | Book 33 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
2920, Sun's Height BookSkill_Mercantile3 |
Mercantile | Carlovac Townway | Volume 7 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
The Buying Game bookskill_mercantile1 |
Mercantile | Adabael Timsar-Dadisun | Tips on buying and selling |
|
A Dance in Fire, Chapter 6 bookskill_mercantile4 |
Mercantile | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 6 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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A Dance in Fire, Chapter 7 bookskill_mercantile5 |
Mercantile | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 7 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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The Wolf Queen, Book IV bookskill_mercantile2 |
Mercantile | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Four |
|
2920, Sun's Dawn BookSkill_Mysticism2 |
Mysticism | Carlovac Townway | Volume 2 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 3 BookSkill_Mysticism5 |
Mysticism | Charwich | Letter sent from Charwich to Koniinge about their search for Azura's Star |
|
The Firsthold Revolt bookskill_mysticism1 |
Mysticism | Maveus Cie | The story of how Hlaalu Helseth's sister kept the Summerset Isle city of Firsthold | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 4 BookSkill_Mysticism3 |
Mysticism | Vivec | Book 4 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 36 BookSkill_Mysticism4 |
Mysticism | Vivec | Book 36 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
2920, Rain's Hand BookSkill_Restoration4 |
Restoration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 4 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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The Four Suitors of Benitah bookskill_restoration3 |
Restoration | Jole Yolivess | A man quests to marry his childhood crush through the use of Fortify Attribute spells |
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Mystery of Talara, Part 2 BookSkill_Restoration5 |
Restoration | Mera Llykith | Part two of the story of Princess Talara |
|
Notes on Racial Phylogeny bookskill_restoration2 |
Restoration | the Council of Healers, Imperial University | About the similarities and differences between the races of Tamriel |
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Withershins bookskill_restoration1 |
Restoration | Yaqut Tawashi | A humorous tale of a man's ailment and cure |
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Chance's Folly bookskill_security4 |
Security | Zylmoc Golge | The folly of a double-crosser |
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The Dowry BookSkill_Security3 |
Security | Marobar Sul | Book 10 of a series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
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The Locked Room bookskill_security1 |
Security | Porbert Lyttumly | How a pupil outlocks her cruel lockpick instructor |
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Surfeit of Thieves bookskill_security5 |
Security | Aniis Noru | How a busted robbery gets even worse | |
The Wolf Queen, Book I bookskill_security2 |
Security | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book One | |
2920, Sun's Dusk BookSkill_Short Blade2 |
Short Blade | Carlovac Townway | Volume 11 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
2920, Evening Star BookSkill_Short Blade3 |
Short Blade | Carlovac Townway | Volume 12 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 10 BookSkill_Short Blade4 |
Short Blade | Vivec | Book 10 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 30 BookSkill_Short Blade5 |
Short Blade | Vivec | Book 30 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
Unnamed Book bookskill_short blade1 |
Short Blade | Anonymous | A lesson on how to assassinate with a knife, followed by a story of counterbetrayal | |
2920, Last Seed BookSkill_Sneak2 |
Sneak | Carlovac Townway | Volume 8 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire | |
Azura and the Box BookSkill_Sneak3 |
Sneak | Marobar Sul | Book 11 of a series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 26 bookskill_sneak5 |
Sneak | Vivec | Book 26 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
Trap bookskill_sneak4 |
Sneak | Anonymous | A starving man steals money for food, but pays a high price for his action |
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The Wolf Queen, Book VI bookskill_sneak1 |
Sneak | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Six |
|
2920, First Seed BookSkill_Spear2 |
Spear | Carlovac Townway | Volume 3 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
Smuggler's Island bookskill_spear1 |
Spear | Quarde Anarion | A tale of eleven moon sugar smugglers' grisly fate |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 14 bookskill_spear3 |
Spear | Vivec | Book 14 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 24 bookskill_spear4 |
Spear | Vivec | Book 24 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
|
36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 35 bookskill_spear5 |
Spear | Vivec | Book 35 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
2920, Second Seed BookSkill_Speechcraft3 |
Speechcraft | Carlovac Townway | Volume 5 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
Biography of the Wolf Queen BookSkill_Speechcraft1 |
Speechcraft | Katar Eriphanes | A history of the unambiguously evil Queen Potema, the so-called Wolf Queen of Solitude |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 27 bookskill_speechcraft5 |
Speechcraft | Vivec | Book 27 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
The Wolf Queen, Book V bookskill_speechcraft2 |
Speechcraft | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Five | |
The Wolf Queen, Book VII bookskill_speechcraft4 |
Speechcraft | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Seven |
|
Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 1 bookskill_unarmored2 |
Unarmored | Charwich | Letter sent from Charwich to Koniinge about their search for Azura's Star |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 11 bookskill_unarmored3 |
Unarmored | Vivec | Book 11 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 15 bookskill_unarmored4 |
Unarmored | Vivec | Book 15 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec |
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36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 34 bookskill_unarmored5 |
Unarmored | Vivec | Book 34 of a series of words of wisdom relating to Vivec | |
The Wraith's Wedding Dowry bookskill_unarmored1 |
Unarmored | Voltha gra-Yamwort, translated by Apthorne | Story of how an Orc reclaims her wedding gift from thieves |
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