Fallout: New Vegas: A Complete Guide to Permanent Skill Books

In the Mojave Desert, the Courier can discover a total of 52 skill books, with an additional 29 available in locations beyond, such as the DLCs. In the Honest Hearts DLC there’s a chance to find skill books in the four workbench crates scattered around Zion Valley. In the Old World Blues DLC the Courier gains the ability to craft an additional 13 skill books.When entering a location press CTRL + F and type the location to easily find any skill books near you.

DLC locations will be abbreviated as follows:

• Dead Money = DM
• Honest Hearts = HH
• Old World Blues = OWB
• Lonesome Road = LR

Upon reaching level 4 with an intelligence stat of at least 4, the Courier gains access to the Comprehension perk. This valuable perk provides an extra skill point for every skill book read, and it doubles the temporary skill points acquired from magazines. Unlocking this perk is highly recommended for those aiming to discover all skill books scattered throughout New Vegas.

You should still pick up skill books found before unlocking Comprehension, just not read them.

The Big Books of Science permanently increases the Couriers’ Science skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 8 skill books worth 24 (or 32 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Ashton Missile Silo (LR), beyond a Hard-locked safe, in the northern corner of the launch deck on level 3 of the silo wreckage
• Brewer’s Beer Bootlegging, on a table to the left of the chemistry set, in the back room of the cellar.
• Camp Forlorn Hope, on the desk in the southeast corner of the command center.
• Helios One (QUEST), a quest reward from Ignacio Rivas for the distribution of power to the entire grid during the quest “That Lucky Old Sun”.
• Nipton, on the desk in the office of Mayor Joseph B. Steyn, on the top floor of the Nipton Town Hall building.
• REPCONN Headquarters, on the ground floor, through the door adjacent to the radioactive barrel display, on a shelf beyond the Hard-locked door.
• Sierra Madre Casino (DM), in Vera’s room within the Executive Suites area of the Sierra Madre casino, placed on a bookshelf.
• Y-0 Research Center (OWB), in the southern canyon corner near the Y-0 building, between two Xander Root plants, by the hand of a skeleton.

The Chinese Army: Special Ops Training Manual permanently increases the Couriers’ Sneak skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 8 skill books worth 24 (or 32 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Camp Searchlight, in the basement of the East Church, on the floor at the bottom of the metal shelves by the eastern wall.
• Goodsprings, in Trudy and Sunny Smiles’ house east of the schoolhouse, on a bookshelf.
• NCR Sharecropper Farms, on some papers, adjacent to the corner desk inside the Sharecropper Barracks, near the four water towers in the northeast corner of the fenced-in area.
• Puesta del Sol switching station (DM), on the catwalk surrounding a large machine on the south side of the easternmost room within the switching station.
• Sunstone Tower Roof (LR), obtained by placing or throwing explosives onto the bookshelf beneath the filing cabinet, it is hidden from view on the southeast landing, one flight of stairs up from the ground floor interior entrance.
• Vault 3, on a shelf in the living quarters, accessed by descending the stairs from the recreation area through an Average-locked door.
• X-13 Research Facility (OWB), directly across from the door in the room where the chest plate for the Stealth Suit Mk II is discovered.
• X-13 Research Facility (OWB), rewarded upon completing all the stealth suit tests.

The D.C. Journal of Internal Medicine permanently increases the Couriers’ Medicine skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Cave of the Abaddon (LR), after leaving the Cave of the Abaddon, in the south corner under a nightstand in the room with the bed and the exit to The Divide (within the “Buried Building” beneath the RALPHIE poster).
• Followers Safehouse, on the bedside table shelf next to the right side of the bed in the second room. this location requires a key (Idolized by the Followers of the Apocalypse, then go to Julie Farkas).
• HELIOS One, upstairs in the main building, on a bed within the same room as the east terminal password.
• Hell’s Motel, inside the shack within the Mesquite Mountains Crater, beneath the globe with a hat, on the table alongside the radio and repair kit.
• Novac, within Ranger Andy’s bungalow, on the queen-sized bed.
• Villa Clinic (DM), in the basement of the Villa clinic, in a tool cabinet next to some fire extinguishers.

Dean’s Electronics permanently increases the Couriers’ Repair skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Abandoned Brotherhood of Steel Bunker (DM), on the metal sill, across the room from the reloading bench.
• Hopeville Missile Silo Bunker (LR), in the room with the first missile, to the left of the stairs among some rubble.
• Nellis Air Force Base, within Loyal’s house, on the long counter adjacent to the ruined terminal.
• Puesta del Sol switching station (DM), next to the terminal responsible for disabling power to the protected speakers, having Christine’s Signal Interference companion perk is recommended.
• Sloan, in the worker barracks, on the top shelf to the left as you enter.
• Southern Nevada Wind Farm, in the shack, on the table alongside the clipboard and scrap metal.

Duck and Cover! permanently increases the Couriers’ Explosives skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Collapsed overpass tunnel (LR), south of the exit to The High Road, behind some sandbags, inside a crate underneath a teddy bear.
• Mojave Outpost, within the Mojave Outpost Barracks, below the bar counter, in the middle of the bottom shelf.
• Nellis Air Force Base, among the books on the shelf, above the grenade rifle, inside Pearl’s barracks.
• Ranger Station Foxtrot, next to Comm Officer Lenk, on a table.
• Residential District (DM), underneath the bed in the room where Dean Domino is first encountered. To obtain it, you’ll need to use explosives to unstuck the book.
• Sloan, inside the worker barracks, on the back left shelf beneath a first aid box.

Grognak the Barbarian permanently increases the Couriers’ Melee Weapons skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Cannibal Johnson’s Cave, near the campfire on the mattress near the radio.
• Cottonwood Cove, in Aurelius of Phoenix’s office on the upper floor of the HQ, inside the nightstand next to the bed.
• Hidden Supply Cave, on one of the large metal crates inside the cave. Access the cave through an Average-locked door (sometimes the book falls behind the crates).
• Hopeville women’s barracks (LR), at the back of the barracks, on a small table under a ruined book.
• Jacobstown, in the first bungalow to the north, on the oven.
• Villa Police Station (DM), in the police station basement, on the floor of the room in the northwest corner, right in front of the filing cabinets.

Guns and Bullets permanently increases the Couriers’ Guns skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Gomorrah, In Big Sal’s office, beyond a Hard-locked door in the upper Brimstone, on the first low bookshelf on the left.
• Hopeville Armory (LR), underneath the desk in the northeast corner, in a room with a bed that can be slept on.
• Nevada Highway Patrol Station, on the desk without the computer in the entrance office room, closest to the door leading to the cells.
• Raul’s Shack, inside the shack, in the wooden crate next to the door.
• Sierra Madre Casino (DM), on the floor behind the cashier’s desk, accessible by the ceiling beams.
• Vault 34, on the small metal table between the sofas by the pool table, in the armory common room.

Lying, Congressional Style permanently increases the Couriers’ Speech skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

There are a total of 6 skill books worth 18 (or 24 with Comprehension).

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Brooks Tumbleweed Ranch, on an open locker shelf in the upstairs room with the chessboard.
• Cerulean Robotics, on the floor among the office desks.
• Lucky Jim Mine, inside the Lucky Jim Mine house, on the bottom shelf below a Varmint Rifle
• NCR Correctional Facility, on the second floor of the NCR CF administration building, on a desk.
• The Tampico (DM), on a shelf, opposite the holotape projector.
• Third Street Municipal Building (LR), in the easternmost corner, underneath a physician’s desk (it might fall off the building after detonating a warhead).

Nikola Tesla and You permanently increases the Couriers’ Energy Weapons skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Hidden Valley, in Schuler’s office on the first floor of the Hidden Valley Bunker, west of the central hub corridor junction, in the white plastic bin by the desk.
• Hopeville Missile Base Headquarters (LR), in the first room, on the wooden shelf to the right as you enter. It’s hidden beneath a burned book.
• Old Nuclear Test Site, in the Nuclear Test Shack, on the small table opposite the exit.
• REPCONN Headquarters (1/2), on the first floor, beyond the Very Hard locked door atop the safe. The key is on the third floor, beside a skeleton in a suitcase. Alternatively, access the room through a hole in the floor in the western room on the second floor, beyond a Hard locked door.
• REPCONN Headquarters (2/2), another copy can be located on the second floor. Enter the first door on the left, on the desk with the Very Easy locked terminal.
• Sierra Madre Vault (DM), in the pipes below the vault, in a duffle bag.

Pugilism Illustrated permanently increases the Couriers’ Unarmed skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Fisherman’s Pride Shack, on the bedside table inside the shack.
• Nipton Road Restop, inside the store, on the left wooden shelf near the counter.
• The Tops, in the presidential suite, within the pool room, on the tiny table in the corner.
• Vault 11, in the living quarters, within the first female dorm, by the fallen dresser near a small sign on the ceiling that says “ladies.”
• Villa (DM), behind the fountain at the Dead Money DLC entrance.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant (LR), in the northeast corner of the third room, behind tipped-over lockers.

Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor permanently increases the Couriers’ Barter skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Allied Technologies Offices, in the largest room on the west side of the building, on the floor in front of the Nuka-Cola machine.
• Cap Counterfeiting Shack, on the suitcase by the bed, in the small back cellar room.
• Marked Men Guard Outpost (LR), through a cellar door on the eastern wall of the building, downstairs on a table near some gore on the northwest wall.
• Primm, in the Bison Steve Hotel, on the floor of the gift shop behind the counter.
• Salida del Sol South (DM), in a building opposite the door to Salida del Sol house, on a bookshelf.
• Vault 22, in the lab room up the stairs from the elevator in pest control, on the table with the bubbling vials.

Tumblers Today permanently increases the Couriers’ Lockpicking skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Bitter Springs Recreation Area, in the office shack to the west, on the desk in the smaller of the two rooms.
• Hopeville Missile Base (LR), in the Hopeville Men’s Barracks, in the toilets underneath an overturned box.
• Prospector’s Den, inside the caves, within the subterranean den structure, in the large barracks room, on the floor in the far right corner.
• Sierra Madre Casino (DM), in the casino floor area, in the southeast third-floor office, on top of the tool cabinet.
• Silver Peak Mine, inside the shack, behind the two small tables, on the ground in an open locker to the right of the entrance.
• Wolfhorn Ranch, inside the farmhouse, partially under the fridge without a door.

The Wasteland Survival Guide permanently increases the Couriers’ Survival skill by 3 (4 with Comprehension)

The skill books can be found in the following places:

• Lone Wolf Radio, inside the radio trailer, near the mattress.
• Matthews Animal Husbandry Farm, on the top balcony of the northern barn, close to the barrel crate.
• Mesquite Mountains Camp Site, inside the western tent, behind the bedding and toolbox (can glitch inside the ground).
• Scavenger Platform, among the books under the fallen metal bookshelf, on the northern platform section.
• Waste Disposal Station (LR), amid the fallen radioactive barrels, behind a skeleton laid over one of the barrels, between two lead-lined metal boxes.

In Zion Canyon (HH), fixed spawn skill books are replaced by workbench crates that contain random loot drawn from a general loot table.[fallout.wiki]

Entering any cave with a workbench crate permanently sets its loot. If you’re looking to farm magazines, it’s advisable to save before entering any of the locations mentioned below.

Workbench crates can be found in the following places:

• Angel Cave (HH), on the right side of Joshua Graham.
• Cueva Guarache (HH), in the Survivalist’s room.
• Fallen Rock Cave (HH), in the same room as the Compliance Regulator.
• Stone Bones Cave (HH), in the same room as the Desert Ranger combat armor.

Skill Book Recipes are one-time crafting ingredients exclusive to the Big MT (OWB) used to craft skill books.
Combining a skill book recipe with 25 blank books, 2 wonderglues, at a workbench will craft a skill book, consuming the skill book recipe. To craft all available skill books, you’ll need a total of 325 blank books and 26 Wonderglues.
Blank Book locations[fallout.wiki]
Wonderglue location[fallout.wiki]

There are 13 skill book recipes, providing a total of 39 skill points (52 with Comprehension).

The skill book recipes can be found in the following places:

• Big MT West Tunnel (OWB) – Unarmed, inside, behind an Easy locked door , to the right upon entering.
• Higgs Village (OWB) (1/4) – Medicine, in House #103, upstairs in a bedroom, on the shelf by the desk.
• Higgs Village (OWB) (2/4) – Repair, in House #00, upstairs opposite the table with the toolbox, between the lowest two items of equipment.
• Higgs Village (OWB) (3/4) – Science, in House #102, upstairs in the back room, on top of a black box.
• Higgs Village (OWB) (4/4) – Speech, in House #104, upstairs on top of a radio.
• Little Yangtze (OWB) – Survival, in the northeastern tent, the first to the right when entering from the fast travel point, under the closest bed to the right after entering the tent.
• Signal Hills Transmitter (OWB) – Barter, on the ground to the right upon entering, underneath the bottom of the shelves, next to a piece of Scrap Electronics.
• X-7a “Left Field” Artillery Launch (OWB) – Explosives, in the Artillery Command Center, on the lip of the main console.
• X-7b “Boom Town” Target Zone (OWB) – Guns, inside a footlocker found in one of the small craters, head forward through the fence from the fast travel location, in the third crater on the left, near the northwest corner of the area after firing the artillery cannon at X-7a “Left Field” Artillery Launch. Note that you must fire the fixed gun located at X-7a “Left Field” first.
• X-13 Research Facility (OWB) (1/2) – Lockpick, hidden inside the SW vent in the Reception Observation Area of the X-13 stealth testing lab. To reach it, go across the center bridge with the wall-mounted monitor, toolbox, and footlocker at the end. Once there, look to the left to find a rectangular vent. Jump over the railings onto a small ledge on the wall, then access the vent or activate it in mid-air. Inside the vent, you’ll find the recipe along with some random loot.
• X-13 Research Facility (OWB) (2/2) – Sneak, inside the Testing Area, on the floor of the kitchen area, between the two fridges.
• Y-0 Research Facility (OWB) – Melee Weapons, outside on the roof, near a dufflebag and a skeleton.
• Z-38 Lightwave Dynamics Research (OWB) – Energy Weapons, inside, on the very top catwalk, under the screen of a microfilm reader in the little piece of catwalk that juts out to the left.