The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

NOTE: Thanks for the 300+ positive votes, guys! :D
(and PLEASE comment before you vote negatively, it's rather frustrating getting bad feedback and not knowing why)

NOTE 2: If you're for some reason planning on saving this until everything else is done, it's worth noting that the Hermaeus Mora's realm levels in the Dragonborn expansion (accessed through the Black Books) have many, many skill books strewn about in them, both in the chest pod things and on tables.

This guide will enable you to do each book in order, with the next one being located close to the last one as often as possible. Also, if you feel any descriptions are too vague, or maybe simply wrong, do leave a comment and I'll correct it as soon as possible. Tips on book locations are also welcome, but I'll have to personally verify them before I can add them to the guide.

For this achievement, keep in mind that you only need to read one of each skill book. So, for example, finding more than one Light Armor Forging book won't grant you two skill points, just one. You don't need to pick them up either, just a quick glance at the first page of the book will do! It might also be useful to know that skill books are always worth more than (most) regular books. Usually around 50-70 gold, making them easily distiguishable on the occasions when a skill book is found together with a bunch of other books, such as in a bookshelf. If you want to know how many books you've read, you can go into your stats page and look under "general stats". If you want to use this guide simply so you don't miss any books while still playing through the game in your own way, just press CTRL+F every time you get to a new area, enter the name of the area, and if there's a book there, it should be on this list. Or it might not, in which case I probably just haven't found it yet, and it will be added when I have.

WARNING: THIS GUIDE CAN AND WILL CONTAIN A FEW SPOILERS, SO JUST... BE AWARE OF THAT.

1. Song of the Alchemists: In Anise's Cabin (on the little shelf at the foot of her bed), a location just across the river to the northwest of the Guardian Stones you encounter as you come out of the tunnels following the tutorial mission.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Bard's College in Solitude. Enter through the front door, and turn right into the little library. The book is on the counter straight ahead, next to a jug and some apples.

2. Light Armor Forging: In the last big room of the Embershard Mine, located on the road between the Guardian Stones and Riverwood. It's on a table on the bottom level of a room with a rickety bridge across the upper level, next to some forging equipment.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: This book can also be found by going north from Bleakwind Basin (or northeast from Redoran's Retreat) to Silent Moons Camp. Once there, go to the top of the ruined stairs and enter the circular corridor from either side (there are some bandits there to show you where to enter), since they both lead to the same place; a room with forging equipment, a chest and this book on a workbench.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the basement of Lod's house in Falkreath. Lod is the blacksmith, in case you were wondering.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the outside area of Cracked Tusk Keep, on a table by the forge over on the right as you enter through the main gates. See "Rislav the Righteous" for location of the fort.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: Yet another copy of the book can be found in a chest a small unmarked ruin on a hill just south of Reachcliff Cave, and east of Dushnikh Yal (an orc camp). These locations are all in the mountains southeast of Markarth.

3. A Game At Dinner: Follow the road north of Riverwood until you get to Honningbrew Meadery. The book is inside the main building, on a table on the second floor, in Savjorn's room.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Dead Crone Rock, in the small room on the upper floor where you pull a lever to open a gate. It's right in front of the lever, so you can't miss it. The ruins are just northwest of Hag Rock Redoubt (see "2920, Last Seed, v8" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Harmugstahl, a fort ruin west of Bruca's Leap Redoubt (see "A Tragedy in Black" for location) and north of Karthwasten. It's behind a door with a Master lock, in the room with the Alchemy Lab after you've solved the puzzle involving levers and spikes. The book is on the top shelf of the bookcase to your right when you enter the locked room.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: On the second floor of the New Gnisis Cornerclub in Windhelm, on top of a dresser.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: On a table to the left inside the small room of the Forsaken Cave's crypt, where you find the White Phial during the quest by the same name, started at the alchemy shop in Windhelm.

4. Vernaccus and Bourlor: Cross the bridge to the east of Honningbrew Meadery, and follow the shore of the river until you reach Graywinter Watch, a cave just by the Ritual Stone. Inside, you will find two trolls in a single large room. Dispose of them and proceed to the upper lever, where this book and a unique bow can be found next to each other, on top of two barrels.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the bookshelf on your left as you enter Froki's Shack, just east of Autumnwatch Tower (see "Jornibret's Last Dance" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a table close to the forge at Knifepoint Ridge, west of Bannermist Tower (see "Advances In Lockpicking" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: On the altar next to the unique Bow of the Hunt inside the cave at Clearspring Tarn, northwest of Riften.

5. The Knights of the Nine: Continue east along the river until you reach Guldun Rock, a giant camp. When you arrive, maneuver past the giants and into the cave. Once inside, go around the rock structure and look on the rock next to the chest, to the left of the bonfire, to find the book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the basement of the Hall of the Vigilant, south of Dawnstar. It's on a table to the left as you enter the small room.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the longhouse at the Narzulbur orc stronghold, southeast of Windhelm. It's on top of a dresser in the room on the right, underneath a copy of "The True Nature of Orcs".

6. The Black Arrow, v2: Just to the north of Guldun Rock are the mighty Valtheim Towers, home to a very powerful group of bandits. If you're playing on the highest difficulty, you should probably skip this one for now. If you do choose to go for it, the book can be found next on the nightstand next to the bed in the northern tower, which you'll have to cross the small bridge from the south tower to reach. The you need to go around the back of the north one and climb some stairs to get to where the bed is.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the table in the Bandit Chief's house at Robber's Gorge, just across the river quite far east of Broken Tower Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). The house is at the top of the camp, and also contains a trap door to Robbers' Cave.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Brood Cavern, up the river east from Robber's Gorge, where the last copy of th this book was. It's on the left side of the only room of the cave, on the body of a dead hunter next to a chest.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Behind/under the counter inside The Drunken Huntsman, a store in Whiterun.

7. The Importance of Where: Backtrack for a while and cross the bridge north of Honningbrew Meadery to Chillfurrow Farm and find the small house there. The book is inside, on a desk in the bedroom.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Gallows Rock fort (you come here during the Companions quest "The Silver Hand"). It's on the upper level of the big room west of the prison cells, on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the same room of the Markarth Guard Tower as "Ice and Chitin" (see that book for location), on a table along the southern wall.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the ground next to a shrine of Talos on a small island north of Soarthal and west of Winterhold. You can see the island on the map, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

8. The Armorers' Challenge: Found by the Skyforge in Whiterun, accessible by going up the stairs behind the Jorrvaskr, i.e. the Companions' mead hall.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Mor Khazgur orc camp, southwest of Rimerock Burrow (see "2920, Hearth Fire, v9" for location). It's on a shelf in a little tent thing by some smithing equipment outside, past the Longhouse.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Inside Bilegulch Mine, on a table on the lower level. The mine is located South of Rorikstead.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: On a counter in the west corner of the first room of the Tower of Mzark, a location in Blackreach which you go to during the daedric quest "Discerning The Transmundane".

9. Enchanter's Primer: In the upstairs bedroom of Carlotta Valentia's house, to your left as you come up the stairs left of the Whiterun gates. It's hidden between her nighstand and her bed, but it might just have fallen down there accidentally when I visited, in which case it should be on the nightstand itself.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Hob's Fall Cave, east of Dawnstar, very close to the Frostflow Lighthouse. It's on an Arcane Enchanter in a room to the northeast, with a few necromancers in it, and a fire and candles in the middle of the room.

10. Battle of Sancre Tor: As you leave Carlotta's house, the House of Clan Battle-Born will be to your left. Enter through the main doors, and go into the first room on the left. The book is on the shelf there.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In plain view on the table in the first (and only, unless you have activated the Companion quest "Proving Honor") room of Dustman's Cairn, a ruin west of Silent Moons Camp (see "Light Armor Forging" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the room on the right ("Tiber Septim's room") in Old Hroldan Inn, southwest of Rorikstead.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the northwesternmost room of Bleakcoast Cave (southeast of Winterhold) on a dead conjurer.

11. Death Blow of Abernanit: In the Whiterun Catacombs, accessed through the Hall of the Dead, which is found next to the Chapel of Kynareth. It's in the first room on the left as you enter. Mind the skeletons.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Jarl's Longhouse in Falkreath. It's in the room on the left as you enter, on a table on the right side of the room.

12. The Marksmanship Lesson: In a display case in the basement of the Jorrvaskr, in the southwestern of the four rooms in the north half of the area. There is to my knowledge no key to the display case, so you'll have to pick it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the middle shelf of the bookcase in the small Cliffside Retreat house. This location is north of Broken Tower Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On top of a table in a corner in Gilfre's house at Mixwater Mill, southwest of Windhelf, along the river.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the Dawnstar Sactuary, which you unlock as part of the Dark Brotherhood questline. When you enter, go left, through the hallway, across the bridge, down the stairs, and the book will be on the table in front of you, along with a copy of "Fire and Darkness".

13. Song of Hrormir: In the same area as the last book, but this one is in Kodlok's room (not his bedroom), on the table by the map.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Jala's House in Solitude, which is in the east part of town, just west of the Bard's College. It's on the floor on some hay to the left as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the longhouse's cellar at the Narzulbur orc stronghold, southeast of Windhelm. It's straight ahead on one of the shelves in the cellar, which can be entered through a hatch outside the longhouse.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Leaning against a master locked chest at the end of some corridors past the cell areas in the Abandoned Prison, quite a way southwest of Windhelm.

14. Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim: Still in Whiterun, find Arcadia's Cauldron, the alchemy shop by the market square. The book is in the through the door at the far end of the room from where you enter, on the table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Hidden behind/underneath the counter at the Hag's Cure alchemy store in Markarth.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a wooden box inside the small Journeyman's Nook ruin, southeast of Winterhold.

15. Biography of the Wolf Queen: In Belethor's General Goods, the building next to the one we found the previous book in. It's on a shelf in the cupboard at the end of the room, in plain sight as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Found during the quest "The Only Cure" (started at the Peryite shrine, see "The Buying Game" for location). It's in the Dwelling area of Bthardamz, an optional area found about halfway between the point where you come back into the Upper District from the Workshop and the entrance to the Lower District. The book is on a table in the southwest corner of the small area, behind an Adept locked door.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Blue Palace in Solitude. When youy enter the palace, go up the stairs, turn around to the left and go to the room at the end of the hallway. The book is on top of a small wardrobe on the opposite end of the room from the bed.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Liar's Retreat, a cave northwest of Broken Tower Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). It's on a shelf on the wall next to an iron helmet, in the third room on the left in the hallway you reach if you turn left from the first, big, room of the cave.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: On a nightstand in the northeast corner of the Common House at Anga's Mill, west of Windhelm.

16. Before the Ages of Man: On the desk in the middle of one of the rooms next to the dining room in the Jarl's Quarters in Dragonsreach, the Whiterun castle.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the room on the left as you come down the first set of spiral stairs in Shroud Hearth Barrow, the ruin which is practically IN Ivarstead.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Reeking Cave, an unmarked location northwest of the Thalmor Embassy. You pass through this cave during the "Diplomatic Immunity" quest, which is part of the main questline, so it's hard to miss. The book is in the only semi-large room of the small cave, by a lantern next to the body of a dead Conjurer, below the ledge you jump down from when entering the cave from the Thalmor Embassy Dungeon.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Inside the small ruin at Skytemple Ruins, on an island just north of Winterhold. It's on the floor just in front of the chest.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: In the Ruins area of Angarvunde, in the mountains straight west of Riften. It's on a stone table in the first room of the area, which is one of two you can choose to enter to unlock the gate which leads to the "treasure".

17. 2920, Last Seed, v8: In the last room of a cave called Redoran's Retreat, on a wooden box. It's quite dark, so it might not be entirely easy to spot. There's also a powerful Bandit Chief in the room, so watch out for that. The cave itself can be found west of Bleakwind Basin and north of Fort Greymoor (all of these are also west of Whiterun).
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On a table in the first room on the right if you enter the Hag Rock Redoubt Ruins through the southernmost entrance. The ruins are just southwest of Markarth, in the mountains.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the dwemer ruin Raldbthar, in the mountains west of Windhelm. It's in the large room straight ahead as you enter, where Alain Dufont can be found. The book is on the middle one of three counters under the wall separating the room in two halves.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: This one is pretty tricky to find. Go to the very southeasternmost part of the world, where the road ends just before an open gate. When facing the gate, turn right, and you should see a kind of path going up the mountain. Follow it for a bit until it opens up into a snowy area, and you should see a large hill on your right with two trees on top, one of which is very tall. Just by the trees is a bed roll, and underneath a copy of "Cats of Skyrim" is the book you're looking for.

18. Mace Etiquette: In Volunruud, a ruin northeast of Silent Moons Camp (see "Light Armor Forging" for location). It's on the throne in the same room where you find the Ceremonial Axe for the "Silenced Tongues" quest. Looking at the map, it's the northwesternmost room of the area.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Orotheim, a cave southwest of Marthal and west of Ronnveig's Fast (see "Horror of Castle Xyr" for location). It's on a wooden box just at the top of the stairs in the first room of the dungeon. This cave is also the one you go to for the Companions quest "The Silver Hand".
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the fort area of the Uttering Hills Cave, west-southwest of Windhelm. It's in the east side room of the dining hall, on a bookshelf.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Sky Haven Temple, where you come during the main quest "Alduin's Wall". When you enter the large room that houses the wall, there will be a small room on the left (west), where you can find the Dragonbane sword and this book, both on the same table.

19. Night Falls On Sentinel: In the chest next to Kvenel's throne in the Volunruud Elder's Cairn area.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In a tent in a small unmarked bandit camp just south of the Guardian Stones, close to where you first emerge from the Helgen Keep tunnels. You can also find Treasure Map 1 on one of the bandits here.

Returning to Riverwood...

20. Warrior: Head up the road south of Riverwood, and find this book in a small unmarked bandit camp accessible through a series of winding slopes, to the left as the main road turns right.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the same room of Driftshade Refuge as a copy of "2920, Morning Star, v1" (see the guide to that book, and also "The Rear Guard", for location) on a smaller table over by the fireplace.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Captain's Quarters of Fort Kastav, on a nighstand by the bed next to the ladder leading out of the area. The fort can be found south of Winterhold.

21. 2920, Midyear, v6: Continuing your journey south, you will reach Helden, the village the game starts in. Pass through here and continue southwest, until you reach Bonechill Passage. Inside, in the first room, you will find a skeleton with this book next to it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Prison area of Fort Dunstad, directly south of Dawnstar. It's on the top floor, on a bookshelf next to a dead high elf on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Starting from the Great Lift at Alftand entrance into Blackreach, follow the road forward, then left down the slope. Turn left again at the Centurion station thing, the follow the road until it splits. Take a right, and you'll be outside the War Quarters. Just past the entrance there is a walled off little courtyard kinda area, where on of those spinny blade traps can be activated as well. Go in there, and go up the stairs on the right to find the book on a table.

22. Battle of Red Mountain: If you instead head east from Helgen, and then turn north, you can use your compass to navigate your way to South Skybound Watch, an underground passage guarded on this side by a powerful Wispmother. Kill her and enter the ruins. Inside, you'll fight a group of bandits, and then proceed through a door to find a Giant Frostbite Spider which you can dispose of at your leisure. In the next room, the book can be found on a shelf next to some fur armour.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Found during the daedric quest "The Break of Dawn", started at the Statue to Meridia, west of Solitude. After you've retrieved Meridia's beacon, you'll have to go through the Kilkreath ruins to find Malkoran. After going through the Balcony area, you'll enter another set of indoor ruins. On the upper level of the first big room you come to, in the northwest corner of the room, you'll find the book on a shelf in a small area hidden behind the wooden plank walls.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Dawnguard only. Found on a table in the ruined house at Redwater Den, which you visit as part of the main questline.

23. Jornibret's Last Dance: East of Bonechill Passage, you will find Fort Neugrad. Go there, fight through hordes of bandits, and enter the inside portion of the fort (not the jail, which is a separate area). Once inside, you will want to enter the locked door (the key can be found on the bandit chief on the second floor) at the far end of the food court type room. Inside and down the stairs, you will find a troublesome little mage, and the book on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On a box on top of the right tower of Autumnwatch Tower, south of Ivarstead. You'll have to run around the base of the tower to find the entrance.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the first room on the left in Soljund's Sinkhole, north of Old Hroldan (see "Battle of Sancre Tor" for location). It's on a table on the upper level of the room, so you'll have to go up the little slope to the left as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Found during the Civil War mission "The Jagged Crown". It's in the northernmost room, up some steps, on the floor next to an empty chest and a skeleton.

24. Purloined Shadows: Standing outside Bonechill Passage's northern entrance, follow the easily distinguishable path down the hill. When the path loops around to the left, you should be able to see a small unmarked cottage in front of you, near a waterfall. The book is inside, hidden underneath the bed.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the last room of Duskglow Crevice, a two-level room with a falmer, a chaurus, and a bandit. On a table on the upper level, overlooking the lower level, is the book. For me, it was curiously enough open and penetrated by an elven greatsword. Don't know what to make of that.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Nightingale Hall, accessed as a part of the Thieves Guild questline. When you get to the room with the waterfall and the little bridge, cross the bridge and go right to the haystack by the wall. The book is there on the ground next to it.

25. The Lunar Lorkhan: From where the last book was, follow the stream behind the house to the top of a waterfall. From up here, you should be able to see a small unmarked bandit camp to the left, at the bottom of the waterfall. Climb down around the side, dispose of the bandits, and pick up this book from inside the little tent.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Inside the Solitude Lighthouse, on the coast northeast of Solitude. It's on top of a shelf to the left of the door into the bedroom, right in front of you as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a table in the small ruined fort structure in the central chamber of the Cragwallow Slope cave, southeast of Windhelm.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Mzulft, a dwemer ruin you visit during the "Revealing The Unseen" quest, for the Mage's College. The book is in the second area of the dungeon , the Boilery, on a bed next to a skeleton in a small locked room just after you come back into the ruins themselves after going through some caves. The door, which has a Master lock on it, can either be picked or opened with a key which is lying on the table inside the room, but you'll need to use Telekinesis if you want to do it that way.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: At the top of the highest outdoors tower of the Faldar's Tooth fort, west-northwest of Riften. It's on a cupboard shelf next to a chest.

26. The Red Kitchen Reader: Follow the path north of the bandit camp up the hill to Pinewatch (we're northwest of Bonechill Passage now) and make your way inside the house there. Go downstairs, and push the hidden button on the wall by the table with an Elven War Axe to open a secret passage. Go through the tunnels, and when you emerge in an open room, turn left to find two bookshelves. The left one has this book on the top shelf, and a bear trap on the middle one.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Frostmere Crypt, at the foot of the mountains southwest of Dawnstar, where the quest "The Pale Lady" also takes place. Inside, go forward to the end of the hallway, turn right, then left, go through the little caged-in path which runs above a larger room, then turn right at the next intersection, and the book is in a bookshelf on the right side of the hallway.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Found during the Thieves Guild quest "The Pursuit". It's on a table in the secret Riftweald Manor basement, right next to the quest objective.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Nightingale Hall, accessed as part of the Thieves Guild questline. After the little shrine thing where you get your Nightingale Armor, take a right into a room with beds to find this book on the floor.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: Dawnguard only. During the main storyline quest "Seeking Echoes, when you arrive in Valerica's laboratory, head forward past the portal circles, turn left and go to the bookshelves in the corner below the stairs. This book is on the one straight ahead.

27.Racial Phylogeny: Travel south from Pinewatch until you reach the town of Falkreath. Entering the town from the northeast, the second house on your right is called Corpselight Farm. Enter it, and look on the bookshelf to the right of the fireplace. The book is hidden among three other books on the top shelf, but it should be easy to find.
ALTERATE LOCATION: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.

28. Legend of Krately House: Leave Falkreath and head southwest for a bit until you run into Halldir's Cairn. From here, head straight north. You'll see a bear's den on your left, but ignore that. Halfway down a hill, on your right, will be a small deserted hunter's camp, and this book can be found on a wooden box next to the tent there.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Aboard the Red Wave, a ship docked by the East Empire Company Warehouse, just south of Solitude. Go down the stairs straight ahead as you enter the ship, turn left, then left again, and the book is on top of the bookshelf at the end of the hallway.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Inside the large chest in the throne room of Potema's Sanctum, the final area you visit during the "The Wolf Queen Awakened" quest in Solitude (see "Surfeit of Thieves" for more information).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the Nightgate Inn Cellar, on the table by the bed in Balagog's room. The inn is located northeast of Whiterun, and just east of Silverdrift Lair and the Shrouded Grove (see "Words and Philosophy" and "Ice and Chitin" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: On top of a dresser in the bedroom on the top floor of the Black-Briar-lodge, east of Riften.

29. Rislav the Righteous: From there, head west to Cracked Tusk Keep. Make your way inside, and down into the Vaults area (the key can be found on the bandit/hunter leader, and in his room). Once you're down there, enter the room on the left side of the corridor and the book is right there on a bench.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In a shelf thing in the remains of a ruined house just across the river from the Abandoned Prison, southwest of Windhelm. This is the same ruined house where you can find Treasure Map IX on the dead body of Lucky Lorenz, who is laying in the water underneath some stairs.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2 In a pile of books on top of the table inside the Riverside Shack, southwest of Windhelm.

30. Father of the Niben: Unmarked location, so listen up. Head northwest from Cracked Tusk Keep until you find Twilight Sepulcher. Just north of this location, on a hill, is the book. You'll have to navigate your way around the east side of the hill to climb it, but once you're there, you should see a bloody circle of mushrooms, with a skull, a staff and the book laying in the middle. The circle is about a third of the way between Twilight Sepulchure and Knifepoint Ridge, to the north. This is also where the bear guardian spawns during the "Kyne's Sacred Trials" quest.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the floor between the two bedrolls in the Hunter's Rest cabin, just north of Bannermist Tower (see "Advances In Lockpicking" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a wooden box next to a lantern and a skeleton, in the cargo hold of the Wreck of the Brinehammer, straight north of the pale Imperial Camp, which is west of Dawnstar.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: On the body of a hunter at Autumnshade Clearing, northeast of Riften.

31. Mannimarco, King of Worms: From the circle, go east to Evergreen Grove, and you'll find this book on a sunken altar thing in the middle of the pond, next to a dead necromancer. It may have fallen off the altar, so try rummaging around the bottom of the pond if you can't find it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Nightcaller Temple, on the small mountain just east of Dawnstar. You can only access the necessary area of the temple
during the "Walking Nightmare" daedric quest, so if you're not high-leveled enough for that quest, you need not bother with this one yet. To find the book, proceed normally with the quest until you're asked to find Vaermina's Torpor in the laboratory. As you enter the laboratory, turn left to find an Alchemy Lab. To the left of this lab, in the corner on a broken table, is the book. It might be a little dark and hard to see, but it's there.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Start out in Winterhold, and embark on the road southeast. Go off the road a bit and look out over the cliffs to east. Somewhere down there you should be able to make out a small circular structure, which is actually an altar sort of thing where you can find the book. The area is covered in frost runes, so you may wanna watch your step.


32. Advances In Lockpicking: Northwest of Evergreen Grove is Bannermist Tower. Head around the back of the tower, go up the stairs, and go to the second level. Cross the small wooden bridge thing, and the book is straight ahead of you on the table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the small, final room of Chillwind Depths, on a table that also has a Dragonscale helmet on it (yeah, seriously). It's the northernmost room of the cave as well. The location is south of Dragon Bridge, and a short journey east of Cliffside Retreat (see "The Marksmanship Lesson" for location).

33. Horror of Castle Xyr: Go northwest from Bannermist Tower, to Glenmoril Coven. This book is in the northwesternmost room of the cave, inside a little box on the floor of a tent. "A Tragedy In Black" can also be found in this cave.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the bottom floor of Ronnveig's Fast (north of Swindler's Den, south of Marthal. Next to an Alchemy Lab and Sild the Warlock's journal, on a table by largest of the cages.

34. Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments: Go southeast to the Roadside Ruins. It's a small, circular building, and in the center, leaning against a chest, is this book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the shaman's chamber in Darkwater Pass, east-northeast of Ivarstead. It's on an Arcane Enchanter in the room, which is next to the room where you can look down into the room where Derkeethus is being held captive.
ALTERNAT LOCATION 3: On a table at the end of the hallway on the upper floor of the Emperor's Tower in Castle Dour in Solitude, which you gain access to during the Dark Brotherhood questline.

35. Liminal Bridges: Head up northeast, and make your way to the nearby Falkreath Watchtower, which you can probably spot from quite a distance. At the top if this tower, in front of a tent, is the book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Broken Rock Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). It's on a table to the left of you as you enter the circular "boss room" at the top of the fort.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Shalidor's Maze, a part of the grand Labyrinthian ruin in the mountains southeast of Morthal. It's underneath a skeleton which you'll come across after a while after entering the labyrinth from the backside, where you have to cast an Illusion spell to pass through.

36. A Tragedy In Black: Continue north, swimming across the lake, past the Lady Stone, until you get to Ilinalta's Deep. Enter the fort through the trap door on top of one of the half-submerged towers and proceed through the dungeon until you reach a room with an Arcane Enchanter and an Alchemy Lab. The book is on the table to the left as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the northernmost room of Glenmoril Coven, on a table by an Arcane Enchanter. See "Horror of Castle Xyr" for the cave's location.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a hill behind (well, just to the east of) Eldergleam Sanctuary. The book is on top of a crate, along with some soul gems and a dagger. The cave is southeast of Gallows Rock (see "The Importance of Where" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the cave at Bruca's Leap Redoubt, southwest of Dragon Bridge and northwest of Broken Tower Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). It's on the shelf on the lower level, on the opposite side of the room from the table with the dead body on it.

37. The Gold Ribbon of Merit: This one is in a location called Angi's Camp, high up in the mountains south of Folkreath. To get there, go all the way back to the bandit camp where we found The Lunar Lorkhan, and take the little path south, up into the mountains. Follow the path until it seemingly ends by a little pile of rocks, in a snowy area. Here, you need to turn left and climb the hill for a bit to get back on track. If you find a friendly hunter in a small camp, you know you're in the right place. Once you've found your way back onto the path, follow it, and when it branches off in two, take the right path. By now, you should have the location on your compass, and you'll be able to follow the path the rest of the way. Once you've finally made your way there, you can find your precious book on Angi's nightstand, inside her cabin (the nightstand contains the fifth treasure map as well). You can also talk to Angi while you're here to take part in some free practice archery, which can give you a maximum of six quick skill increases, if you manage to beat all the challenges.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Fletcher (a shop) in Solitude, to the left as you enter, on a table. The store is located next door to the blacksmith place where you can find a copy of "The Refugees". See the guide to that book for exact location.

38. Incident At Nekrom: Remember that fork in the road where you took right to get to Angi's Camp? Well we're going left this time, and following the path to a fort called Bloodlet Throne (an awfully friendly-sounding name, no?). If all these paths are confusing you, the fort is south of Ancient's Ascent (where Bonechill Passage ends) and southeast of Angi's camp. Once you've managed to locate the fort, you need to go inside, fighting off a ton of vampires in the process, and enter the snowy cave part of this dungeon. After passing through a large, three-level room, you'll come to a smaller room with an Alchemy Lab. Just around the corner, on your right, is a cell-like room, where you'll find this book on a crate in the corner.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Travel to the Shrine to Peryite (see "The Buying Game" for details). From there, head southeast down the steep hill/mountain, and once you get to the bottom, turn around to face the shrine. There will be an alcove in the mountain just ahead of you, with a strange pillar, a dead wood elf, and the book in a chest to the left of the pillar. This place can also easily be found by going towards the shrine from Karthwasten, to the southeast.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On the table by the big cage in the bedroom of Pinemoon Cave, west of the big room with the Volkihar Master Vampire (that fight took me over an hour to beat on Master difficulty lol). The cave is located between Volskygge and Clearpine Pond. See "De Rerum Dirennis" for a better idea of where to go.

39. The Art of War Magic: Follow the path east from Bloodlet Throne (or just go south from Fort Neugrad) until you reach Southfringe Sanctum. This cave is a bit of a mess, so I won't give you precise directions, but the book is in the last room of the cave, in the hands of a Master Necromancer. I suppose you could technically pickpocket it from him if you want, but I find killing him is easier.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the table next to the boss chest in Ravenscar Hollow, just east of Ironback Hideout (see "Beggar" for location). The chest is in the smaller of the two rooms in this dungeon, in the back on the lower level, by the second set of cages.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the White Hall, the Jarl of Dawnstar's house. It's on a table on the east (left) side of the building, on the second floor.

40. Response to Bero's Speech: Travel back to Helgen, and embark on the road east. Follow it until you reach Haemar's Shrine (where you also go during the quest "A Daedra's Best Friend"), and enter the cave. Now, you'll want to go to the southwesternmost room of the cavern. It's a large, two-level room, and on the south end of the bottom level, you'll find the book on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Under the bed inside Moira's house in Witchmist Grove, a bit south of Windhelm.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On top of the right bookshelf begind the counter in the Thaumaturgist's Hut (the alchemy store) in Morthal.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.

41. Withershins: Now this one is quite something. It rests at the very top of the tower at the very top of the mountain at Arcwind Point, and the journey there can involve both dragons and a Draugr Death Overlord. To get to Arcwind Point, we'll keep following the road east from Haemar's Shrine, until we reach the Alchemist's Shack. Southeast of that location, about halfway between it and the nearby Imperial Camp, is a pathway up through the mountainside, clearly visible due to the large stone arches on it. Following this path, you'll eventually reach a large clearing with a lot of ruined structures in it. Move along, taking care of the enemies and (if you want) dragon here, and continue up the stairs at the opposite end from where you came. At the top of these stairs is a small building which may or may not contain a Draugr Death Overlord, so be very careful of that. Press on, and turn right at the other side of the building (or turn left to find a quicksilver ore vein) to face the tower at the top of the mountain. From here on, it's a simple matter of climbing a lot of stairs, with just a few enemies along the way, until you finally stand at the top of the tower. There, you will find a skeleton, and, on a podium, Withershins. It's a downright disgrace that this book is only worth 55 gold.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: For a much easier place to get this book, head to the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun, and look on the middle shelf on the small bookcase in the little sideroom.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On top of a barrel on the east side of the first area in Gloomreach, a cave west of Fort Sungard (see "Last Scabbard of Akrash" for location). The barrel is on the left side of the tunnel just before the path first splits.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Volthume, a ruin directly south of Old Hroldan (see "Battle of Sancre Tor" for location). It's on a table in a small room west of where you find the first vessel for the "Evil In Waiting" quest. Looking at the map, it's also just east of an exit into the Catacombs.

42. The Locked Room: Head back down the mountain and go northeast, past the Alchemist's Shack, to Honeystrand Cave. The cave only has one room, and this book can sometimes (it wasn't there the first time I came here, but when I went back, it was) be found on the dead bandit by the chest in the center.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: This one is a bit trickier, as it's in an unmarked location. If you've been to the Roadside Ruins, where a copy of "Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments" can be found, you know what to look for, as the ruin we're looking for, located northwest of Morthal, due east of the Apprentice Stone and south of Folgunthur, is identical to that one, albeit slightly sunken into the swamp. In the center of the ruin, on the ground in front of a chest, is the book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Pretty close to the last copy, in Highmoon Hall in Morthal. It's in Joric's room, the northern of the two upstairs rooms. It's on the left edge of the top shelf on his bookshelf.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Fittingly enough, in a locked room, the southeasternmost one in the Animonculary area of the great Alftand ruin southwest of Winterhold. It's on the floor next to a skeleton behind an expert locked gate.
ALTENATE LOCATION 4: In Cronvangr Cave, south-southwest of Windhelm. Go into the first room with spiders in it, and press the very obvious button on the back wall to open a passage into a large room full of vampires. On the upper level of the room is a small house, and inside, on a table covered in bloody bones, is the book.

43. Heavy Armor Forging: Continue north to Ivarstead, and then further north to Pinepeak Cavern, very close to the bridge leading to the path to High Hrothgar. Inside this one-room cave, you'll find the book on the ground next to a chest by a broken cart.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the first room of the Whistling Mine, southeast of Winterhold. It's on top of a barrel at the back of the room, next to one of those candle horn things.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a table in a small hut thing just outside the entrance to the Gloombound Mine, southeast of Windhelm and just south of Narzulbur.

Back to Riverwood again...

44. Thief: During the quest "The Golden Claw" and/or "Bleak Falls Barrow", in Bleak Falls Temple, there will be a room where you have to turn three pillars the right way to open a gate. In the small room after this, the book is on the table straight ahead as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On top of a bed roll in the northeasternmost room of Swindler's Den, just north of the Shrine of Stendarr (see "Twin Secrets" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Silverdrift Lair (see "Words and Philosophy" for location). Pretty early on in the dungeon, the will be a small corridor with two of the spike wall type traps in it. This book is in the room above this one, so keep an eye on the map. In one corner of the room, there's a big rock thing with a skull and a little fire on it, and two skeletal hands sticking out of the rock. The book is right there, between the hands.
In the Argonian Assemblage, accessed through a door at the docks in Windhelm. It's on top of a dresser on the left (west) side of the large room.

45. The Warrior's Charge: On a table next to an Arcane Enchanter and a Necromancer, in the middle of Brittleshin Pass, a cave which can be entered either from the north or south side of the mountain range west of Riverwood.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Jarl's room in Understone Keep in Markarth. It's the room you get to by turning left at the top of the stairs before the throne room, and then right at the intersection. The door is locked with an Adept lock, but you can pickpocket the key off of various people around the keep. The book is on the table by the foot of the Jarl's bed.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: If you cross the river by the cave where you can find a copy of Chimarvamidium (north of Ivarstead, the the book's guide for exact location) and continue on the small path north, you'll soon run into a deadly Wispmother close to a little stone ruin thing on the left side of the path (directly west of Lost Knife Hideout too). If you go around the back of the structure, you'll find the book on top of a basket in a little alcove.

46. 2920, Frostfall, v10: Go west from North Brittleshin Pass, past Bloated Man's Grotto, until you get to Sunderstone Gorge. Go through the dungeon normally, being careful of the large number of traps, and you'll eventually end up in a large two-level room with a few Fire Mages, and possibly a Flame Atronach. The book is somewhere in this room, but the Fire Mages may cause it to go flying with their explosive magic. I'm guessing it's supposed to be on the podium at the top of the stairs, but I found it on the bottom level floor, so look around and see for yourself.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Carried by Beem-Ja, the argonian who accompanies you and Salma through Ironbind Barrow, just north of the Nightgate Inn (see "Legend of Krately House" for location). You can kill Beem-Ja whenever you want during the mini-quest, but since you have to do it at the end of it anyway, you might as well wait.

47. The Wolf Queen, v1: Head northeast from Sunderstone Gorge to Broken Fang Cave. In the last room of this cave, along with a Vampire Master, you can find this book laying next to the Alchemy Lab.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Dawnstar Jail, accessible through the Guard Barracks, or through simply being sent to jail. Since it's in the actual locked jail cell, behind a pillar in the southwest corner of the room, the second option might be easier.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the same room of Duskglow Crevice as a copy of "Purloined Shadows". This one is also on the upper level, on a different table, next to a chest.

48. Mystery of Talara, Part 4: In the very same room as the last book, on a low shelf by the Arcane Enchanter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Nepos's house in Markarth. It's over near the beds in the right back room, by some candles.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Hag's End ruin, which you have to go through Deepwood Redoubt, and then pass through Deepwood Vale, to reach. The Redoubt is west of Mor Khazgur and south of Rimerock Burrow (see "The Armorer's Challenge" and "2920, Hearth Fire, v9" for locations). Follow the path of the dungeon normally until you reach a small room with a throne at the far end of it. The book is on a table/shelf thing to your left as you enter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the same room where you find Petra the Hagraven in Blind Cliff Bastion (see "2920, Rain's Hand, v4" for location). It's on the upper level, on the floor next to a fire thingy in an alcove in the southern wall of the room.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: In the small room you get to by taking the little path that branches off from the main stream inside Stony Creek Cave, southeast of Windhelm. It's on a table next to an Alchemy Lab.

49. 2920, Second Seed, v5: On a table in a small unmarked fort ruin just southeast of Gjukar's Monument, which can be reached by heading due northwest from Broken Fang Cave.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Near the end of the Shriekwind Bastion ruins, on a podium in a room with a Master Vampire. The dungeon is just east of Falkreath Watchtower (see "Liminal Bridges" for location).
ALTERNMATE LOCATION 2: Behind/under the counter at Sadri's Used Wares, in Windhelm's Gray Quarter.

50. Twin Secrets: Go back to Broken Fang Cave, and this time, head northeast. You're looking for the Shrine of Stendarr, an unmarked location with a few high pillars and some fires to locate it by. You'll find this book laying on the altar, next to a strongbox and a jewel. This location is also pretty much directly south of Swindler's Den.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Serpent's Bluff Redoubt ruins, just up the road southwest from Rorikstead. It's in the room on the right, on the Arcane Enchanter) once you pass through the gate which is only open as long as a nearby pressure plate is held down (place an item on it to solve this "puzzle").
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On the top floor inside the tower at Treva's Watch, east-southeast of Ivarstead. You can get in by entering through the "backdoor", a cave just east of the fort. The book is on a table by a chest and an Arcane Enchanter.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Calcelmo's Laboratory in the Dwemer Museum of Markarth, accessible through Understone Keep. It's on a table in the middle of the room where Aicantar is, and directly opposite an Arcane Enchanter. However, you can't get to this area of the laboratory until starting the Thieves Guild quest "Hard Answers".

51. Last Scabbard of Akrash: Return to Gjukar's Monument, and go southwest from there to Fort Sungard. If you want to, you can fight your way in, but it might be easier to sneak around the corner to the right of the main entrance, and enter the sewer grate hidden on the wall there. Either way, your goal is the Fort Sungard Muster area. The book is on the top floor there, on a table in a room at the end of a hallway full of beds.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Gallows Rock fort (you come here during the Companions quest "The Silver Hand"). It's on a table in the room right after the room where you can find a copy of "The Importance of Where". See the guide to that book for details.

52. Guide to Better Thieving: Make your way to the southern end of Fort Sungard, and enter the small round building called the Oubliette. Inside, you need to go down a set of stairs, and then jump into a pretty deep hole in the floor. Surviving the fall isn't too difficult if you're careful, and once you're safely down, the book is right there on the rubble by a dead bandit. If for some reason the fall is proving too hard for you, a secret entrance to this building, which leads directly to the book, can be found by climbing down the cliffs south of the Oubliette, and entering the cave there. It's close to a crossroads with a deadish tree and a roadsign, and the entrance is hidden behind some bushes.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Jarl's Longhouse in Falkreath. It's on the room on the right as you enter, in a display case with an expert lock.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Goldenglow Estate Sewer, which you visit early on in the Thieves Guild questline. It's next to a bedroll with a skeleton on it, in a small, locked room at the end of a side passage off of a tunnel where the floor is covered in flammable liquid.

Straying from the path now, heading up to explore the area around Markarth.

53. The Doors of Oblivion: In Reachcliff Cave, southeast of Markarth and west of Old Hroldan (see "Battle of Sancre Tor" for location). It's on the bottom shelf of a bookcase in the small room just south of the larger room where you can jump on some platforms up above to reach a chest.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Deluge area of Ilinalta's Keep (see "A Tragedy In Black" for location), which I'm fairly certain you can only access during the daedric quest "The Black Star", started at the Shrine of Azura, south of Winterhold. The book is in the first room you come to, on the table where two necromancers initially sit.

54. A Dance in Fire, v2: In Karthspire Camp, which is northeast from Reachcliff Cave, across the river. It's on top of a wooden box in the tent on the wooden platform which is slightly higher up than the other ones, presumably the leader's tent.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Fort Snowhawk, west of Morthal and east of Meeko's Shack (see "A Dance in Fire, v6" for location). It's inside the main fort area (as in, not the prisons), on the table on the upper level of the library kind of room with an Alchemy Lab in it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a cupboard shelf inside the house at Traitor's Post, east of Windhelm.

NOTE: There are two versions of this book. One is worth 20, and one is worth 70 gold. Only the 70 gold version is a skill book, so don't freak out if you read the 20 kind and don't get credited for it.
55. Chimarvamidium: In Reachwind Eyrie, a tower overlooking Reachcliff Cave (which we visited fror book 53), just to the west of it. When you enter the tower, it's just up the stairs on a table with some dwemer junk strewn about on it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Embark on the small road north of Ivarstead, starting at the bridge over to the path to High Hrothgar. Follow the path until you reach the shore of the river, at which point you might get attacked by a troll. It's in the small cave this troll emerges from (on your right as you face east, with the river to your left) that you will find the book, on one of the two dead Stormcloak soldiers within.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Calcelmo's Tower in Martkarth, which you'll visit during the Thieves Guild quest "Speaking With Silence". It's on the desk in the back room, over by the Arcane Enchanter and the Alchemy Lab.

56. Orsinium and the Orcs: Go southwest from the last book to the Dushnikh Yal orc camp. To get in, you'll have to either gain their trust by carrying out a task for them, or pretty much any other orc in the game, or just make your way inside by force. Enter the main building (Burguk's Longhouse) and then enter the cellar through the hatch to the right of the fire. Once there, walk down the stairs to your right and turn around to find the book on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the northwest corner of the Darkshade cave, on the ground next to a bedroll and a basket full of meat. The cave itself is just down the river east from Valtheim Towers (see "The Black Arrow, v2" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In Rockwallow Mine, located at Stonehill, east of Morthal. The book is just above you to your right as you enter, on a table at the top of some stairs, next to an iron ore vein.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the mines part of Fort Fellhammer, southeast of Dawnstar. It's on a table on the lower level, but to even get into
the mines, you need to first either pick the expert lock on the door or kill the Bandit Chief in the garrisons area for the key.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: In Lost Knife Hideout, the second area of Lost Knife Cave, northeast of Ivarstead. It's in the southwestern corner of the area, on a table next to a few bedrolls.

57. Cherim's Heart: Go straight west from Reachwind Eyrie to the Purewater Run cave. Inside, go forward, turn left, and dive into the water where the ceiling is too low to walk. Swim to the end of the tunnel and open the left of the two dwemer chests on the rock the giant metal dwemer head is resting on to find the book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Morvunskar, a fort southwest of Windhelm, where you go during the "A Night to Remember" quest. This book is in the forge room, to your left as you enter the fort, through the door at the end of the room. It's on the table by some ore and ingots.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Quicksilver Mine in Dawnstar, down by the docks. It it, along with two rolled up carpets, crammed into a small wooden box in the back (the southeast corner) of the only room of the mine, on the bottom level.

58. 2920, Sun's Dawn, v2: In the Chapel of Dibella in Markarth. Go down to the Inner Sanctum, and you'll find this book on the bottom shelf of the second bookcase on the left in the room before the room where the Statue of Dibella is.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Movarth's Lair, a cave just northeast of Morthal, where you go during the quest "Laid to Rest". The book is on a small table by a bed in the northwesternmost room, next to Movarth's Boots, and also a strange bookshelf stuffed wth different types of boots.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the second area (the burial chambers) of the Ansilvund ruin southeast of Windhelm. It's on a little podium in a small alcove on the bottom floor of a large room with caged in areas up above, and a fire trap on the bottom as well.

59. Ice and Chitin: Close to the Temple of Dibella in Markarth, up some stairs next to the entrance to the Shrine of Talos, is the Guard Tower. This book is in the room on the right as you come down the stairs after entering, on a table in the northeastern corner of the room, partly obscured by a pillar.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Shrouded Grove Cave, close to the mountains nothwest of Whiterun. The cave only has one room, and the book in the back, to the left of the chest, inside an open coffin with a dead draugr in it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a table in a room under the bridge leading into Windhelm. You can access it by going down the stairs on either side of the bridge.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the second area of Snow Veil Sanctum, where you come during the Thieves Guild quest "Speaking With Silence". It's almost straight ahead of you, on an altar, as you enter the room with the shout wall in it, just past the doors where Mercer warns you you might be walking into an ambush.

60. Proper Lock Design: Make your way down to the lowest level of Markarth, and enter Cidhna Mine. You may be threatened by the orc in charge, but she won't bother you as long as you don't do anything illegal. Make your way up the stair to the right, enter the tunnel to the east and then turn left into a smaller tunnel. Here, you'll have to either open the Adept lock door by picking the lock, or by pickpocketing the key off of one of the guards. Once you're inside, the book is on the bookshelf to the right.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: See "Mystery of Talara, v2 for location.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: See "The Lunar Lorkhan" for location. This is on a table next to a copy of that book, at Faldar's Tooth.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In the Twilight Sepulchure, a location unlocked during the Thieves Guild questline. It's on a table on the bottom floor of a room just south of the door to the Inner Sanctum.

61. Daughter of the Niben: Still in Markarth, make your way over to Understone Keep. enter, go forward through the tunnel, and up the stairs. Turn right, and the book is on the table on the left side, before the next intersection.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On top of the fireplace inside the small cabin at Brandy-Mug Farm, just east of the stables outside Windhelm.

62. 2920, Rain's Hand, v4: Enter Markarth's Hall of the Dead through Understone Keep (you can get the key by accepting Verulus' quest). Inside, go forward to the end of the hallway, then turn right and go all the way to the end and up the stairs to an altar of Arkay. The book is on the right (east) side of the room, on the shelf thing above the bed.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: At the top of the Widow's Watch Ruins tower, west of the Steed Stone, which is west of Ironback Hideout (see "Beggar" for location), under a glass shield on the floor, next to a chest with a table leaning against it. You'll have to jump around the back of the slanting tower a bit to get up to the top floor.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Carried by Petra the Hagraven in Blind Cliff Bastion. To get there, you'll have to first go through Blind Cliff Cave, which is west of Karthwasten and south of the Shrine to Peryite (see "The Buying Game" for location). Proceed through the cave normally, and you'll come out of it into a tower of sorts. Go up through it and over the bridge to find a door into the Bastion. Inside, locked in a cage, you'll meet Melka, a Hagraven. She'll ask for your help in reclaiming the tower from Petra, so do just that. Melka won't betray your trust, she'll even reward you with a unique staff for your help! Once you find and kill Petra, the book will be on her dead body for you to loot.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Falion's house in Morthal, on the table next to the bed straight ahead of you as you enter.

63. Mystery of Talara, v2: Leave Markarth and make your way northeast, into the mountains. Following your compass, you should be able to locate the ruin Ragnvald. Inside, you'll have to find two skull keys to open a sarcophagus. This book is in the Crypts area, on the bottom floor of the room before the room with the skull. It's straight ahead, on a table thing behind a chest, as you enter the room from the south.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Ustengrav, a ruin northwest of Marthal that you also visit early on in the main questline. The book is in one of the rooms filled with urns in the first area of the dungeon, in the northern part. It's in the room on the right, in a little alcove you'll see once you go in a clockwise circle through the room, around the bookshelf and urns.
ALTERNATE LOCAION 2: In Frostflow Lighthouse, close to the coast east of Dawnstar. It's in Romati's room (the room on the right in the back as you enter the lighthouse), on top of a dresser behind the door.

64. The Buying Game: Head east from Ragnvald until you get to the Shrine to Peryite, which is also northeast of the Lover Stone and northwest of Karthwasten. Once there, the book can be found on the table next to the cooking pot and Alchemy Lab.

65. The Mirror: Go on down to Karthwasten, and then continue east across the river to Broken Tower Redoubt (the quest "The Heart of Dibella" also takes you here). Inside the fort, go to the northwesternmost room, a circular one. In the southwest corner of this room is the book on a bookshelf.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Forsaken Cave, east of the Nightgate Inn (see "Legend of Krately House" for location). Soon after you you pass a chest with an obvious arrow-firing trap above it, the path splits, and you can go either forward or to the left. Turn left, and you'll see the book straight ahead of you on a table.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Jarl's (Ulfric) room in Windhelm, on the upper floor of the Palace of Kings. It's on a table on the right side of the room.

66. King: Go southeast from the last location, past Rebel's Cairn, to Bleakwind Bluff, a ruined tower on top of a little mountain thing which you can probably spot from quite far away. There is a small path with stairs on one side of it, so you won't have to climb the steep hill to get up. Kill the Forsworn and Hagraven that inhabit the tower, and you'll find the book inside, to the left of the chest, on the ground by a pile of rocks
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the deck of the Katariah, the ship where the last Dark Brotherhood quest takes place. It's next to the emperor's throne, on a little table.

67. Reality & Other Falsehoods: Found during the quest "The Only Cure" (started at the Peryite shrine we recently visited, see "The Buying Game" for location). It's in the possession of Orchendor, the boss of the Bthardamz dungeon where the quest leads you. Seeing as you have a quest marker to find this guy, I don't think a detailed guide should be necessary :)
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Inside a tent at the Forsworn camp on the mountain/hillside on the south side of the Sundered Towers, southwest of Broken Tower redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). This is also where you find Red Eagle's sword during the "Legend of Red Eagle" miscellaneous quest. The book is on a barrel at the foot of the bed in the tent with the Alchemy Lab in it. The tent is the westernmost one in the camp, on the edge of the cliff overlooking, among other things, Karthwasten.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the throne room of Yngvild, a ruin on a fairly large island east-northeast of Dawnstar. It's on a table next to the throne. Hard to miss, really.

68. 2920, Hearth Fire, v9: To get the next one, you'll have to make quite a trek northeast from Bthardamz, past Mar Khazgur, almost to the edge of the map. There lies Rimerock Burrow, a small but important cave. If you have the quest "A Daedra's Best Friend", you'll have to go here eventually as well, so finding it shouldn't be TOO difficult. Inside the cave are only two enemies, and after you've disposed of them, you can go down the tunnel past where the Rueful Axe lies, into Sebastian Lort's private quarters. On the nightstand by his bed, you'll find the book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Under (behind) the counter in the Mortar and Pestle alchemy store in Dawnstar.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.

69. Surfeit of Thieves: Leave Rimerock Burrow and head southeast to Volskygge, which you may even have passed on the way to the last book. Inside, follow the tunnels until you get to the first intersection. Turn left, and you'll get to a room with a bookcase straight ahead as you enter, and a lever in a cage to the left, which opens a secret door. The book is right there on the shelf, though, not very hidden at all for a book about thieves. ;)
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On top of a wooden box in the middle of the last cellar room of the Pelagius Wing in the Blue Palace in Solitude. You'll have to finish Sheogorath's quest ("The Mind of Madness) to get to it, which is started by talking to Dervenin, who can usually be found near the Bard's College.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Also in Solitude, this one is in Potema's Catacombs, the sublevel of the Temple of the Divines. To get in there, you first need to complete the quest "The Man Who Cried Wolf", given to you by Falk Firebeard in the Blue Palace of Solitude. After that, you'll soon be approached by a courier with a letter from Falk asking you for further assistance. Go talk to him and he will give you the "The Wolf Queen Awakened" quest. Now go talk to Skyrr, the priest of Arkay, to get the key to the catacombs. Once inside, the book can be found in a room quite early on in the Catacombs, where you encounter a fearsome Volkihar vampire. It's on the lower level of the room, on a table with a torn piece of cloth or paper on it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: On a wooden crate on the lower deck of the west half of the crashed Winter War ship, on the coast northeast of Windhelm.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 4: On a nightstand in the main bedroom of the Jarl's Chambers at Mistveil Keep in Riften.

70. 2920, Morning Star, v1: When you've finished up your business ar Volskygge (where there's also a dragon/word/shout wall and a dragon priest), go due northeast to Lost Echo Cave. Navigating through the cave, you'll soon find yourself in a large, dimly lit room with an altar in the back, with armor, urns and two books on it. This book is one of them.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In an unmarked location almost directly east of Broken Tower Redoubt (see "The Mirror" for location). It's basically just a few pillars on a hillside on the west shore of the big river, and there are some sabre cats there too. In the center of the pillars is a big rock, and in front of it, on the ground, are a few dead bodies. There might be several dead hunters there (I counted two), but only one of them carries a copy of this book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the last room of Driftshade Refuge (see "The Rear Guard" for location), the one on the other side of the barred door, after you come out of the cellar. It's on a table on the upper level of the room, next to an iron helmet and a mudcrab chitin.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Dawnguard only. Enter Fort Dawnguard, turn right, then right again, up the spiral stairs and through the door outside. The book is by the bedroll straight ahead.

71. Mystery of Talara, v3: Head up the road north, past a small watchtower ruin containing a copy of "Proper Lock Design", and you'll soon reach Steepfall Burrow. Inside, you'll have to cross a great big pit, and go through some tunnels, but it should all be fairly easy. In the last room, which also has a chest in it, you'll find the book laying next to a comfortable-looking skeleton.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Morvunskar (see "Cherim's Heart" for location). It's on a bookshelf in the room where Noris the Wicked tortures his victims, near the end of the dungeon, down a set of stairs behind a Novice locked door.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On top of a dresser on the upper floor of Birna's Oddments, a store in Winterhold.

72. De Rerum Dirennis: Go back to Lost Echo Cave and then go southeast to Pinemoon Cave. Keeping on heading east for a bit, you'll soon arrive at Clearpine Pond. In the middle of the pond is an island inhabited by several spriggans, and sitting against a fallen log is a dead alchemist, carrying this book.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the table next to an Arcane Enchanter in Sinderion's Field Laboratory in Blackreach, which is just outside the Alftand Cathedral entrance.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On the Alchemy Lab in The Midden Dark, in the small hallway next to the room full of bones, in the northernmost part of the area. The Middens Dark can be entered through The Middens, which can be accessed through a hatch by the stairs in the Hall of Countenance at the Mage's College in Winterhold.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: Dawnguard only. During the main storyline quest "Seeking Echoes, when you arrive in Valerica's laboratory, turn left and go to the bookshelves in the corner. This book is in the second one on the left.

73. Beggar: Go east from the last book to the Statue to Meridia, then north for a bit to Ironback Hideout, very close to the Steed Stone. At the top of the hideout, in the broken house, you'll find the book on a table next to the fireplace.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On top of a dresser in the northeast corner of the second floor of Haelga's Bunkhouse in Riften.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a table in the Ratways of Riften, in the room just before The Ragged Flagon.

74. The Refugees: Enter the city of Solitude, and go up the stairs to the right of the stone dragon head on the wall next to where Jaree-Ra likes to stand, straight forward as you come through the gates. Up there, find the door to the Solitude Blacksmith. Inside, go forward to the end of the hallway, turn left to proceed up the stairs, and enter the room ahead of you. The book is on a shelf on the wall on the right side of the room, next to a skull and some Void Salts.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the altar/summoning thingy at the top of the tower in Wolfskull Ruins, the second area of Wolfskull Cave, where you're sent during the quest "The Man Who Cried Wolf", started in the Blue Palace is Solitude. The cave is just southwest of Ironback Hideout (see "Beggar" for location).
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In a small unmarked bandit camp housed in a little cave just north of Bonechill Passage (see "2920, Midyear, v6" for location), and south of the Guardian Stones.

75. A Dance in Fire, v6: On a table inside the first mate's room (the last room of the "dungeon") aboard the Dainty Sload, a ship docked just southwest of Solitude Lighthouse, a bit northeast of the actual city of Solitude.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In Meeko's Shack, south of Solitude, past the swampy area. It's on tp of the barrel just inside the shack, hard to miss.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Start from the Stonehills location, east of Morthal, and embark on the snowy road east. Soon, you'll come across a carriage at the side of the road, and you might see its owners, a few Conjurers, duking it out with a group of bandits. Even if you miss them, the book can still be found in the little wooden crate at the back of the carriage. I suppose it's also technically possible for one of the Conjurers to accidentally send the book flying somewhere with a fire spell, in which case it could end up just about anywhere, but that's unlikely to happen.

76. Catalogue of Armor Enchantments: Heading southeast from Solitude all the way to Morthal next. Once there, find Falion the wizard's house, down by the water. This book is on the bookshelf next to his Arcane Enchanter, underneath a copy of "Azura and the Box".
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On the shelf thing to the right of the chest inside the Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon, in the mountains east of Morthal. You can only enter the shrine after completing the daedric quest "Pieces of the Past", (started in Dawnstar once your level is high enough), since the Dremora Dagon summons at the end of that quest carry the only two keys to the shrine.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: In the Steamscorch Mine in Kynesgrove, south of Windhelm. It's on a table if you take the second turn right (the first turn just leading into a small alcove).

77. Aevar Stone-Singer: Leave Morthal heading southeast into the mountains, following whatever path you can find. After a while, you should stumble upon the Labyrinthian ruins, and just to the northeast of it, up some stairs, Lost Volskygg. Enter this place, and find the southernmost room, a prison cell. Inside, there's a skeleton hung up on the wall, and this book is on the floor next to it. As for the puzzle you'll encounter shortly after entering (the one involving bars in a doorway) I have no clue as to how you're actually meant to solve it, but placing items on the pressure plates in front of the urns seems to do the trick.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Sightless Pit, southwest of Winterhold, and southeast of Saarthal. Jump down into the terribly inviting black hole, and follow the tunnels until you get to a small camp. The book is just to your left, on a rock.

78. A Dance in Fire, v7: From the Labyrinthian, climb back down the mountains and head northeast until you get to Mzinchaleft, a dwarven ruin.
Inside, traverse the linear hallways until the path splits. Turn right, opening the locked door to Maluril's room (the nearby bandit thug carries the key if you need it) and you'll find this book in the back of the room, on a table by one of the beds.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On a table in a small camp just outside Angarvunde, a ruin in the mountains west of Riften.

79. A Hypothetical Treachery: Unmarked location, yay. This one isn't that hard to find, though. It's in a small bandit camp east of the Pale Imperial Camp and west of Dawnstar, almost perfectly inbetween the two locations on the map, just slightly closer to the Imperial Camp than to Dawnstar. The south side of the camp is situated against a large rock, so you may have a little bit of trouble spotting it if you're coming from Mzinchaleft, but otherwise it should be easy to find, since there will undoubtedly be bandits running from there to attack you. The book is laying on top of a few barrels behind some fish hanging on a pole, at the south side of the camp, close to the big rock.

80. The Rear Guard: Head east to Dawnstar, then southeast to Driftshade Refuge, a Silver Hand fort. Navigate through the dungeon until you get to the Cellars area, and then keep going until you reach a tunnel into an icy cave. In the room before the tunnel, you can walk up some steps to the east to find this book on a bookshelf.

81. Words and Philosophy: From Driftshade Refuge, go west and then loop east around the mountain range to the south until you get to Silverdrift Lair, a ruin at the foot of the large mountain range. Inside, head forward, turn left at the barred door, and then straight forward into the next big room to find the book in a little alcove by some candles and embalming tools.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: On an unmarked Shrine of Talos, which is directly east of Hob's Fall Cave and almost directly north of Alftand. Both locations are west of Winterhold.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: On a bookshelf in the same room as the boss chest in Geirmund's Hall (east of Ivarstead). It's the room after the one where Sigdis and his Gauldur amulet fragment are found.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 3: In Lost Knife Cave, northeast of Ivarstead. When you get to the big room with the pillar in the middle (you'll know it when you see it, trust me), the book is on a table up on the wooden structure on the central pillar, right in front of you as you come in.

82. The Exodus: Go back to Dawnstar, and then head east to Hob's Fall Cave, very close to the Frostflow Lighthouse. Go through the cave normally, and you'll soon have to cross a rickety bridge over a large room. This book is on a table at the bottom of the room, and you can either jump down there to get it, or go through tunnels up ahead. The choice is yours.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the second area (the crypts) of the Forelhost ruin on the mountain southeast of Riften. It's on a bookshelf in the room you arrive in after swimming down the well and going through a room full of skeevers.

83. The Black Arts On Trial: Given as a reward for finishing the "Hitting The Books" quest, which is part of the Mage's College questline.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Behind/under the counter at The White Phial alchemy shop in Windhelm.
ALTERNATE LOCATION 2: Start at Hillgrund's Tomb, a ruin just on the other side of the northern end of the mountains east of Whiterun. Go south, hugging the mountain wall on your right side, until you get to some waterfalls with a giant fallen log laying across the river. Just north of this log, some wooden splinter things stick out of the ground. On one side of these is a chest, an ebony bow, and laying on the ground in front of the chest, the book.

84. The Legendary Sancre Tor: During the last quest of the Companions questline, "Glory of the Dead", you'll make your way through Ysgramor's Tomb, which can only be accessed after starting the quest. At one point, you'll come to a larger room with a mammoth skull in the center. This book is on the left side of it, on the stone table.

85. Hallgerd's Tale: On a table at the top of the Rift Watchtower, east of Ivarstead.

86. Sithis: In the Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, just west of Falkreath. You can only enter once you've started the associated questline, though. The book is in a bookshelf in the room outside Astrid's room.

87. Sacred Witness: Still in the DB Sanctuary, this one is on a counter in a small room in the northeastern part of the area. There are some deathbell flowers just outside the door, so you'll know which room it is when you see it.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Twilight Sepulchure, a location unlocked during the Thieves Guild questline. It's on a table on the bottom floor of a room just south of the door to the Inner Sanctum.

88. Fire and Darkness: Found during the (main) quest "A Cornered Rat" in the Ratway Warrens in Riften. It's in a little wooden crate next to Esbern's bed.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: In the Dawnstar Sactuary, which you unlock as part of the Dark Brotherhood questline. When you enter, go left, through the hallway, across the bridge, down the stairs, and the book will be on the table in front of you, along with a copy of "The Marksmanship Lesson".

89. Three Thieves: Found in the Honningbrew Meadery basement during the Thieves Guild quest "Dampened Spirits". It's on top of a chest just by an Alchemy Lab and the skeever nest you'll have to poison.
ALTERNATE LOCATION: Again during the Thieves Guild questline, this one is found in the Snow Veil Catacombs, part of the "Speaking with Silence" quest. When you reach a hallway with a locked door at the end (which leads into a room overlooking a larger room), and another path to the left, this book is on a table thing in the back corner of the room on the left.

Credit to: Awoo