The first time you read a given Skill Book, your level in the associated skill will be permanently increased by one point. You do not actually have to read the entire book—simply opening the book and immediately closing it again is sufficient. There are five different books for each of the 18 skills making 90 in total. Unlike trainers, there is no limit to how many skill books you can read at one level.
When you pick up a skill book, you automatically start to read it, and therefore you immediately obtain the skill bonus. You can read any skill book without it being considered theft—theft only occurs if you select to "Take" an owned book while reading it. If you want to save a skill book for later, you can ask your follower to take or steal it for you.
If you find an additional copy of a skill book that you have already read, you will not receive any skill bonus for reading the additional copy.
Skill books are only available at the places listed in the following table, or as quest rewards (e.g. Hitting the Books). They are never found in random loot, and they are never part of a merchant's inventory. Skill books can be easily distinguished from most other books simply by looking at their value, which is usually around 50 gold or higher. Most other books are substantially less. They can be sold to any merchants who trade in books, i.e. spell and general goods merchants.
Title (ID) | Skill | Author | Description | Location | |
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A Game at Dinner 0001AFC4 |
Alchemy | An Anonymous Spy | A spy's observations upon poison making and a dinner party |
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De Rerum Dirennis 0001AFC7 |
Alchemy | Vorian Direnni | Tales about a creator of Alchemy Science |
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Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim 0001AFC8 |
Alchemy | Agneta Falia | A description of alchemy ingredients found in Tamriel's northernmost province, Skyrim. |
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Mannimarco, King of Worms 0001AFC5 |
Alchemy | Horicles | Biografia de Mannimarco, o líder dos Necromantes, em versos |
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Song of the Alchemists 0001AFC6 |
Alchemy | Marobar Sul | Book 5 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer. |
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Breathing Water 0001B236 |
Alteration | Haliel Myrm | Lessons on water breathing |
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Daughter of the Niben 0001AFC9 |
Alteration | Sathyr Longleat | The history of Bravil town and its famous statue of the Lucky Old Lady |
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Reality & Other Falsehoods 0001AFCC |
Alteration | Summary of the basic principles of Alteration magic |
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Sithis 0001AFCB |
Alteration | Text detailing an apparent connection between Sithis and Lorkhan |
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The Lunar Lorkhan 0001AFCD |
Alteration | Fal Droon | Uma teoria sobre as luas Masser e Secunda |
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Father Of The Niben 0001B008 |
Archery | Florin Jaliil | Tradução do diário fragmentado de Topal o Navegador |
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The Black Arrow, v2 0001B009 |
Archery | Gorgic Guine | Volume two of a story of revenge, and a true master archer |
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The Gold Ribbon of Merit 0001B005 |
Archery | Ampyrian Brum | A man tutors his old friend in marksmanship |
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The Marksmanship Lesson 0001B26D |
Archery | Alla Llaleth | How a Bosmer slave teaches his master's son marksmanship |
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Vernaccus and Bourlor 0001B007 |
Archery | Tavi Dromio | How a short-tempered Daedra tries to make something of himself |
(Only locations for the skill book are provided) |
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A Dance in Fire, v2 0001AFDF |
Block | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 2 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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Battle of Red Mountain 0002F83C |
Block | Vivec | The story of the Battle of Red Mountain and the Nerevarine Prophecies from Vivec's perspective |
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Death Blow of Abernanit 0001AFDD |
Block | Anonymous (with notes by Geocrates Varnus) | The death of Dagoth Thras |
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The Mirror 0001AFDE |
Block | Berdier Wreans | About a skilled fighter's showdown with his greatest enemy |
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Warrior 0001AFE0 |
Block | Reven | The third chapter of the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
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2920, Frostfall, v10 0001AFEA |
Conjuration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 10 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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2920, Hearth Fire, v9 0001AFE9 |
Conjuration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 9 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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Liminal Bridges 0001AFE8 |
Conjuration | Camilonwe of Alinor | A Discourse On The Theory and Praxis of Traveling Between Mundus and Oblivion |
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The Doors of Oblivion 0001AFE7 |
Conjuration | Seif-ij Hidja | The chronicles of Morian Zenas' journey through the realms of Oblivion, penned by his apprentice |
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The Warrior's Charge 0001AFEB |
Conjuration | An old poem of the Redguards that deals with the constellations |
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A Hypothetical Treachery 0001AFEE |
Destruction | Anthil Morvir | A One Act Play |
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Horror of Castle Xyr 0001AFEC |
Destruction | Baloth-Kul | A One Act Play |
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Mystery of Talara, v3 0001AFF0 |
Destruction | Mera Llykith | Part three of the story of Princess Talara |
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Response to Bero's Speech 0001AFED |
Destruction | Malviser, Battlemage | Commentaries of "Bero's Speech to the Battlemages" book |
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The Art of War Magic 0001AFEF |
Destruction | Zurin Arctus, with Commentary By Other Learned Masters | Mastering the art of winning |
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A Tragedy in Black 0002F838 |
Enchanting | The story of a youth summoning a Dremora |
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Catalogue of Armor Enchantments 0002F83B |
Enchanting | Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher | An incomplete list of all the spells and armor used in enchanting |
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Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments 0002F83A |
Enchanting | Yvonne Bienne, Synod researcher | An incomplete list of all the spells and weapons used in enchanting |
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Enchanter's Primer 0002F837 |
Enchanting | Sergius Turrianus | A guide for novices in enchanting issued by the College of Winterhold |
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Twin Secrets 0002F839 |
Enchanting | Brarilu Theran | A tale of an enchanter's demise from a perilous experiment |
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2920, MidYear, v6 0001AFF7 |
Heavy Armor | Carlovac Townway | Volume 6 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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Chimarvamidium 0001AFF8 |
Heavy Armor | Marobar Sul | Book 6 of a series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
Skill books:
Ordinary books:
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Hallgerd's Tale 0001AFF6 |
Heavy Armor | Tavi Dromio | Squabbling over the greatest warrior ever leads to a tale of heavy-armor-master Hlaalu Pasoroth |
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Orsinium and the Orcs 0001AFF9 |
Heavy Armor | Menyna Gsost | The story of how Gortwog won the land to the north of Wayrest |
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The Knights of the Nine 0001AFFA |
Heavy Armor | Karoline of Solitude | The founding and breakup of the original Knights of the Nine |
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2920, Sun's Dawn, v2 0001B010 |
Illusion | Carlovac Townway | Volume 2 de uma série histórica sobre Vivec e o Império |
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Before the Ages of Man 0001B012 |
Illusion | Aicantar de Shimerene | Crônicas dos maiores eventos das eras da Alvorada e Merética |
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Incident at Necrom 0001B00F |
Illusion | Jonquilla Bothe | A story about an illusionist |
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Mystery of Talara, Part 4 0001B013 |
Illusion | Mera Llykith | Part four of the story of Princess Talara |
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The Black Arts On Trial 0001B011 |
Illusion | Hannibal Traven, Archmagister of the Mages Guild | A summary of the salient points of the debate which led to the resolution of the Mages Guild on the subject of Necromancy |
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Ice and Chitin 0001B001 |
Light Armor | Pletius Spatec | A tale of the manipulation of chitin armor |
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Jornibret's Last Dance 0001B002 |
Light Armor | Song involving men and women's parts |
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Rislav The Righteous 0001B004 |
Light Armor | Heroic tales of Rislav Larich, ancient King of Skingrad |
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The Rear Guard 0001B000 |
Light Armor | Tenace Mourl | How a lone man guards a besieged castle and how he obtains his food |
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The Refugees 0001B003 |
Light Armor | Geros Albreigh | History of refugees fleeing the Camoran Usurper |
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Advances in Lockpicking 0001B01C |
Lockpicking | An experienced thief summarizes the intricacies of lockpicking |
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Proper Lock Design 0001B01B |
Lockpicking | Unknown |
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Surfeit of Thieves 0001B01D |
Lockpicking | Aniis Noru | How a busted robbery gets even worse |
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The Locked Room 0001B019 |
Lockpicking | Porbert Lyttumly | How a pupil outlocks her cruel picklock instructor |
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The Wolf Queen, v1 0001B01A |
Lockpicking | Waughin Jarth | Life of Queen Potema, Book One |
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2920, Morning Star, v1 0001AFD9 |
One-handed | Carlovac Townway | Volume 1 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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Fire and Darkness 0001AFDA |
One-handed | Ynir Gorming | The history of the Morag Tong assassin guild |
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Mace Etiquette 0001AFE6 |
One-handed | A warrior's instruction pamphlet on proper mace tactics |
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Night Falls on Sentinel 0001AFE4 |
One-handed | Boali | How a knight weeds out an enemy of the king |
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The Importance of Where 0001AFE3 |
One-handed | Marobar Sul | Book 3 of an incomplete series of fictional stories about the Dwemer |
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Aevar Stone-Singer 0001ACE6 |
Pickpocket | Mito Skaal tradicional sobre a jornada de um jovem Skaal para recuperar os Presentes do Todo-Criador |
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Beggar 0001AFD6 |
Pickpocket | Reven | The first chapter in the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
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Guide to Better Thieving 0002F836 |
Pickpocket | Wulfmare Shadow-Cloak | A boastful thief discusses the tricks of the trade |
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Purloined Shadows 0001B022 |
Pickpocket | Waughin Jarth | A chill tale recounting the theft of Nocturnal's cowl |
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Thief 0001AFBF |
Pickpocket | Reven | The second chapter of the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
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2920, Rain's Hand, v4 0001B017 |
Restoration | Carlovac Townway | Volume 4 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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Mystery of Talara, v 2 0001B018 |
Restoration | Mera Llykith | Part two of the story of Princess Talara |
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Racial Phylogeny 0001B015 |
Restoration | the Council of Healers, Imperial University | About the similarities and differences between the races of Tamriel |
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The Exodus 0001B016 |
Restoration | Waughin Jarth | The tale of a parent's desperate bid to save their only child |
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Withershins 0001B014 |
Restoration | Yaqut Tawashi | A humorous tale of a man's ailment and cure |
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Cherim's Heart 0001AFD1 |
Smithing | Livillus Perus, Professor at the Imperial University | Interview with Cherim, a master tapestry weaver |
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Heavy Armor Forging 0001AFD2 |
Smithing | Sven Two-Hammers | A guide to creating Heavy Armor |
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Last Scabbard of Akrash 0001AFCF |
Smithing | Tabar Vunqidh | Story of a slaver's daughter and her Khajiit lover |
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Light Armor Forging 0001AFD0 |
Smithing | Revus Sarvani | A book detailing various aspects of forging the various types of light armor. |
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The Armorer's Challenge 0001AFCE |
Smithing | Mymophonus | A competition between two skilled armorsmiths |
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2920, Last Seed, v8 0001B01F |
Sneak | Carlovac Townway | Volume 8 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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Legend of Krately House 0001B021 |
Sneak | Baloth-Kul | A play about the ghostly Krately family and how they died |
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Sacred Witness 0001B020 |
Sneak | Enric Milnes | Account of Enric's meeting with the Night Mother and career as an assassin |
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The Red Kitchen Reader 0001AFD5 |
Sneak | Simocles Quo | Autobiographical musings of how the Master of Cuisine came to adore viands |
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Three Thieves 0001B276 |
Sneak | Anonymous | Some thieves in Morrowind plan a heist |
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2920, Second Seed, v5 0001B025 |
Speech | Carlovac Townway | Volume 5 of a historical series about Vivec and the Empire |
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A Dance in Fire, v6 0001B00D |
Speech | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 6 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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A Dance in Fire, v7 0001B00E |
Speech | Waughin Jarth | Chapter 7 of a clerk's adventures in Valenwood |
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Biography of the Wolf Queen 0001B023 |
Speech | Katar Eriphanes | A history of the unambiguously evil Queen Potema, the so-called Wolf Queen of Solitude |
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The Buying Game 0001B00A |
Speech | Adabael Timsar-Dadisun | Dicas sobre barganha. |
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Battle of Sancre Tor 0001AFDC |
Two-handed | The story of how General Talos defeated the stronghold of Sancre Tor |
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King 0001AFE5 |
Two-handed | Reven | The final chapter in the adventures of Eslaf Erol |
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Song Of Hrormir 0001AFDB |
Two-handed | The epic narrative of Hrormir, one-time champion of Nocturnal |
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The Legendary Sancre Tor 0001AFE2 |
Two-handed | Matera Chapel | An attempt to chronicle the rise and fall of Sancre Tor |
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Words and Philosophy 0001AFD8 |
Two-handed | An interview with a Bosmer master swordsman about her life |
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Achievements
The achievement related to skill books is:
- {{{name}}} ({{{points}}} points)
- To unlock this achievement 50 different skill books must be read, out of the 90 available.
- Books count towards this achievement even if they are read after the related skill has reached 100. In this case, no message appears on screen informing you that you have read a new skill book, but the game's counter is still increased.
- You can track your progress towards the achievement using the "Skill Books Read" statistic on the General page of your journal's General Stats.
Bugs
- On rare occasions, reading a skill book will report the skill being leveled, but not actually increase the skill's level. Being close to leveling the skill may increase the likelihood of this happening.
- Save your game and check the skill's value before reading any books. If it doesn't increase after reading, reload the save and increase the level of the skill before reading the book.