The first time you read a given Skill Book, your level in the associated Skill will be permanently increased by one point. If a major skill is increased, it will count towards leveling up; the skill increase will also contribute to the skill bonuses you receive next time you level up. Unlike Trainers, there is no limit to how many Skill Books you can read at one level (other than how many you are able to find).
You can open a Skill Book, read it, and acquire the skill bonus without it being considered theft. Theft occurs only if while reading it you choose to "Take" the book. If you just close the book (putting it back where you found it) no crime is committed.
If you find a second copy of a Skill Book that you have already read, you will not receive any skill bonus for reading the second copy.
When you have reached Mastery in a skill (100 pts), reading an unread skill book will not produce any effect: it will not increase your skill above 100 pts; it will not increase the Skill Books Read counter in your character statistics either, and you will not even be alerted of the skill book discovery. This also holds true if the skill in question is fortified past 100; you will not gain the relevant skill increase or be notified of the fact that you have found a skill book. Unlike with trainers, using a Drain Skill spell to decrease a skill level under 100 will not allow you to use the skill book to increase your skill level over 100. However, you can decrease your Master skill back down to Expert by serving jail time, allowing you to read the book and get the skill point as normal.
A potential way to maximize skill books bonuses is to delay reading books located
- in containers -- since you can transfer them in your inventory without reading them
- outside containers, in a permanent, non-hostile, easily accessible location (such as a Mages Guild bookshelf or the Arcane University)
until you have reached Expert status (75 to 99 pts) in the relevant skill, since one extra skill point is much harder to gain when you're an Expert than when you're still a Novice. However, this advice does not work for skill books found outside containers during quests, as it is not possible to take them without opening, thus reading them first.
There are 109 skill books in total: 5 for most skills; 6 for Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, Mysticism, and Heavy Armor; and 4 for Speechcraft. (The four "extra" Magic books are the four Mythic Dawn Commentaries the player is supposed to read as part of The Path of Dawn, leaving the standard 5-per-skill to be discovered outside of the quest).
Twenty of the skill books (one in each skill, except for Speechcraft) can be found in random loot. This means that there is a small chance that one of these twenty books will appear in boss-level chests in dungeons with certain types of enemies. The remaining 89 books exist only in specific locations. The following dungeons (in descending order) are the best sources to acquire the three different types of skill books found in random loot:
- For Combat skill books: Miscarcand (exterior boss chest) and Infested Mine (exterior boss chest).
- For Magic skill books: Ceyatatar Gorihame (enter from exterior trap door to access first boss chest, save outside and reload to easily access other boss chests after the 'Press block' has been pushed once), Fort Rayles Hall of Winter (enter from door D, 2 boss chests), Echo Necromancer's Chamber (5 boss chests, no easy access) and Silorn.
- For Stealth skill books: The North Tunnel Sewers has the best option (2 boss chests, from 2nd visit even easier access). Other good sources are: Undertow Cavern Hold-Your-Breath (2 boss chests, no easy access), Telepe, Rockmilk Cave, Bloodmayne Cave Labyrinth (enter from exterior), Bleak Mine, Flooded Mine, Bloodcrust Cavern and Nornalhorst.
There are also two quests from which you will receive a random skill book as your reward:
- Bear Season: one of six Combat skill books (all the Combat books found in normal random loot, except for Armorer).
- Two Sides of the Coin: one random Combat or Magic skill book, including those not normally found in random loot; plus one of the following 6 books: Purloined Shadows (Sneak), Mystery of Talara v1 (Acrobatics), Rislav The Righteous (Light Armor), The Black Arrow v2 (Marksman), A Dance in Fire v7 (Mercantile), or Surfeit of Thieves (Security).
If you have Shivering Isles installed, there is an additional quest from which you will receive a random skill book as your reward:
- Everything In Its Place (after giving the notebook to Ranarr-Jo): any random skill book from the entire game.
AcrobaticsEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Black Arrow, v 1 000243cd |
Gorgic Guine | Volume one of a story of revenge, and a true master archer |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v1 000243cb |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 1 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v4 000243cc |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 4 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
Mystery of Talara, v 1 000243ce |
Mera Llykith | Part one of the story of Princess Talara |
|
|
Thief 000243ca |
Reven | The second chapter of the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
|
AlchemyEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Calcinator Treatise 00073a5f |
Argonian secrets of proper Calcinator positioning |
|
||
De Rerum Dirennis 000243d2 |
Vorian Direnni | Tales about a creator of Alchemy Science |
|
|
A Game at Dinner 000243cf |
An Anonymous Spy | A spy's observations upon poison making and a dinner party |
|
|
Mannimarco, King of Worms 1 000243d0 |
Horicles | Biography of Mannimarco, the leader of Necromancers, in verse |
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|
Song of the Alchemists 1 000243d1 |
Marobar Sul | Book 5 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
|
AlterationEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Daughter of the Niben 000243d4 |
Sathyr Longleat | The history of Bravil and its famous statue of the Lucky Old Lady |
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The Dragon Break 3 000243d5 |
Fal Droon | Explanation of a historical error of timing |
|
|
The Lunar Lorkhan 000243d8 |
Fal Droon | A theory about the moons Masser and Secunda |
|
|
Reality & Other Falsehoods 00073a69 |
Summary of the basic principles of Alteration magic |
|
||
Sithis 000243d6 |
Text detailing an apparent connection between Sithis and Lorkhan |
|
ArmorerEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Armorer's Challenge 000243d9 |
Mymophonus | A competition between two skilled armorsmiths |
|
|
Cherim's Heart of Anequina 000243dc |
Livillus Perus, Professor at the Imperial University | Interview with Cherim, a master tapestry weaver |
|
|
Heavy Armor Repair 00073a68 |
Information on the best ways to repair various types of heavy armor |
|
||
Last Scabbard of Akrash 3 000243da |
Tabar Vunqidh | Story of a slaver's daughter and her Khajiit lover |
|
|
Light Armor Repair 00073a67 |
A guide to refurbishing light armor |
|
AthleticsEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Argonian Account, Book 1 000243e2 |
Waughin Jarth | Decumus Scotti's continued adventures in Black Marsh, Volume 1 |
|
|
Beggar 000243e1 |
Reven | The first chapter in the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v3 000243df |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 3 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
The Ransom of Zarek 000243de |
Marobar Sul | How a boy escapes his kidnappers |
|
|
The Red Kitchen Reader 000243e0 |
Simocles Quo | Autobiographical musings of how the Master of Cuisine came to adore viands |
|
BladeEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Morning Star 000243e4 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 1 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
Battle of Sancre Tor 00073a61 |
The story of how General Talos defeated the stronghold of Sancre Tor |
|
||
Fire and Darkness 000243e5 |
Ynir Gorming | The history of the Morag Tong assassin guild |
|
|
Song Of Hrormir 3 000243e6 |
The epic narrative of Hrormir, one-time champion of Nocturnal |
|
||
Words and Philosophy 000243e3 |
An interview with a Bosmer master swordsman about her life |
|
BlockEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Dance in Fire, v2 000243ea |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 2 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
Death Blow of Abernanit 000243e8 |
Anonymous (with notes by Geocrates Varnus) | The death of Dagoth Thras |
|
|
The Mirror 000243e9 |
Berdier Wreans | About a skilled fighter's showdown with his greatest enemy |
|
|
The Warp in the West 000243ec |
Ulvius Tero | Reports from Imperial Blades concerning the effects of the Dragon Break on the Iliac Bay region |
|
|
Warrior 2 000243eb |
Reven | The third chapter of the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
|
BluntEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Importance of Where 000243ee |
Marobar Sul | Book 3 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
|
|
King 2 000243f0 |
Reven | The final chapter in the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
|
|
The Legendary Sancre Tor 00073a62 |
Matera Chapel | An attempt to chronicle the rise and fall of Sancre Tor |
|
|
Mace Etiquette 00073a66 |
A warrior's instruction pamphlet on proper mace tactics |
|
||
Night Falls on Sentinel 000243ef |
Boali | How a knight weeds out an enemy of the king |
ConjurationEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Frostfall 000243f5 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 10 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
2920, Hearth Fire 000243f4 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 9 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
The Doors of Oblivion 000243f2 |
Seif-ij Hidja | The chronicles of Morian Zenas' journey through the realms of Oblivion, penned by his apprentice |
|
|
Liminal Bridges 1 00073a60 |
Camilonwe of Alinor | A Discourse On The Theory and Praxis of Traveling Between Mundus and Oblivion |
|
|
Mythic Dawn Commentaries 1 00022b04 |
Mankar Camoran | The first book read by initiates to the Mythic Dawn cult |
|
|
The Warrior's Charge 000243f6 |
An old poem of the Redguards that deals with the constellations |
|
DestructionEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Art of War Magic 000243fa |
Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters | Mastering the art of winning |
|
|
The Horrors of Castle Xyr 000243f7 |
Baloth-Kul | A One Act Play |
|
|
A Hypothetical Treachery 3 000243f9 |
Anthil Morvir | A One Act Play | ||
Mystery of Talara, v 3 000243fb |
Mera Llykith | Part three of the story of Princess Talara |
|
|
Mythic Dawn Commentaries 2 00022b05 |
Mankar Camoran | The second book read by initiates to the Mythic Dawn cult |
|
|
Response to Bero's Speech 1 000243f8 |
Malviser, Battlemage | Commentaries of "Bero's Speech to the Battlemages" book |
|
Hand to HandEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ahzirr Traajijazeri 000243fe |
Anonymous | The public manifesto of the Khajiit organization Renrijra Krin |
|
|
Immortal Blood 000243fc |
Anonymous | Dialogues about fighting with vampires |
|
|
Master Zoaraym's Tale 00024400 |
Gi'Nanth | About the Temple of the Two Moons in Elsweyr and its students |
|
|
Way of the Exposed Palm 00073a6a |
Explanation of the key towards mastery of open-handed combat |
|
||
The Wolf Queen, v 2 000243fd |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Two |
|
Heavy ArmorEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, MidYear 00024402 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 6 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
Chimarvamidium 3 00024403 |
Marobar Sul | Book 6 of a series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
|
|
Fighters Guild History, 1st Ed. 1 000a915c |
Detailing the events leading up to the foundation of the Syffim, now known as the Fighters Guild |
|
||
Hallgerd's Tale 00024401 |
Tavi Dromio | Squabbling over the greatest warrior ever leads to a tale of heavy-armor-master Hlaalu Pasoroth |
|
|
History of the Fighters Guild 00024405 |
Detailing the events leading up to the foundation of the Syffim, now known as the Fighters Guild |
(Note that this is the standard edition of this book; there is also a more expensive first edition, see above) |
||
How Orsinium Passed to Orcs 00024404 |
Menyna Gsost | The story of how Gortwog won the land to the north of Wayrest |
|
IllusionEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Argonian Account, Book 3 1 00024407 |
Waughin Jarth | Decumus Scotti's continued adventures in Black Marsh, Volume 3 |
|
|
Incident in Necrom 00024408 |
Jonquilla Bothe | A story about an illusionist |
|
|
Mystery of Talara, v 4 0002440a |
Mera Llykith | Part four of the story of Princess Talara |
|
|
Mythic Dawn Commentaries 3 00022b06 |
Mankar Camoran | The third book read by initiates to the Mythic Dawn cult |
|
|
Palla, volume 1 00024409 |
Vojne Mierstyyd | A conjurer's tragic infatuation with a dead woman (volume 1 of 2) |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, v 3 00024406 |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Three |
|
Light ArmorEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ice and Chitin 0002440C |
Pletius Spatec | A tale of the manipulation of chitin armor |
|
|
Lord Jornibret's Last Dance 0002440d |
Song involving men and women's parts |
|
||
The Rear Guard 0002440b |
Tenace Mourl | How a lone man guards a besieged castle and how he obtains his food |
|
|
The Refugees 0002440e |
Geros Albreigh | History of refugees fleeing the Camoran Usurper |
|
|
Rislav The Righteous 0002440f |
Sinjin | Heroic tales of Rislav Larich, ancient King of Skingrad |
|
MarksmanEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Black Arrow, v 2 00024531 |
Gorgic Guine | Volume two of a story of revenge, and a true master archer |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v5 00024411 |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 5 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
Father Of The Niben 00024530 |
Florin Jaliil | Translation of the fragmented journal of Topal the Pilot |
|
|
The Gold Ribbon of Merit 00024410 |
Ampyrian Brum | A man tutors his old friend in marksmanship |
|
|
Vernaccus and Bourlor 0002452f |
Tavi Dromio | How a short-tempered Daedra tries to make something of himself |
|
MercantileEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Sun's Height 3 00024534 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 7 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
The Buying Game 3 00024532 |
Adabael Timsar-Dadisun | Tips on buying and selling |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v6 3 00024535 |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 6 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
A Dance in Fire, v7 00024536 |
Waughin Jarth | Chapter 7 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, v 4 3 00024533 |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Four |
MysticismEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Sun's Dawn 2 00024538 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 2 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
Before the Ages of Man 1 00073a63 |
Aicantar of Shimerene | Chronicles the major events of the Dawn and Merethic Eras |
|
|
The Black Arts On Trial 00024539 |
Hannibal Traven, Archmagister of the Mages Guild | A summary of the debate which led to the Mages Guild resolution on Necromancy |
|
|
The Firsthold Revolt 00024537 |
Maveus Cie | The story of how Hlaalu Helseth's sister kept the Summerset Isle city of Firsthold |
|
|
Mythic Dawn Commentaries 4 00022b07 |
Mankar Camoran | The fourth and final book read by initiates to the Mythic Dawn cult |
|
|
Souls, Black and White 00073a6b |
A scholar's look at the souls of man and beast |
|
RestorationEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Rain's Hand 0002453f |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 4 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
The Exodus 2 0002453e |
Waughin Jarth | The tale of a couple's desperate bid to save their only child |
|
|
Mystery of Talara, v 2 00024540 |
Mera Llykith | Part two of the story of Princess Talara |
|
|
Notes on Racial Phylogeny 0002453d |
the Council of Healers, Imperial University | About the similarities and differences between the races of Tamriel |
|
|
Withershins 0002453c |
Yaqut Tawashi | A humorous tale of a man's ailment and cure |
|
SecurityEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advances in Lock Picking 00073a65 |
A Skill Book in Security, providing tips on how to pick locks |
|
||
The Locked Room 00024541 |
Porbert Lyttumly | How a pupil outlocks her cruel lockpick instructor |
|
|
Proper Lock Design 00073a64 |
Written as a manual for lock designers, unintentionally helpful to thieves |
|
||
Surfeit of Thieves 00024545 |
Aniis Noru | How a busted robbery gets even worse |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, v 1 00024542 |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book One |
|
SneakEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Last Seed 00024547 |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 8 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
Legend of Krately House 00024549 |
Baloth-Kul | A play about the ghostly Krately family and how they died |
|
|
Purloined Shadows 0002454a |
Waughin Jarth | A chill tale recounting the theft of Nocturnal's cloak |
|
|
Sacred Witness 00024548 |
Enric Milnes | Account of Enric's meeting with the Night Mother and career as an assassin |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, v 6 00024546 |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Six |
SpeechcraftEdit
Book Name (ID) | Author | Description | Where this book can be found | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2920, Second Seed 0002454d |
Carlovac Townway | Volume 5 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
|
|
Biography of the Wolf Queen 3 0002454b |
Katar Eriphanes | A history of the unambiguously evil Queen Potema, the so-called Wolf Queen of Solitude |
|
|
The Wolf Queen, v 5 0002454c |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Five | ||
The Wolf Queen, v 7 0002454e |
Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book Seven |
|
1 You need to complete the Mages Guild Recommendation Quests to reach this location.
2 If someone sees you here you are Trespassing.
3 Taking this book is theft.