With the Bookseller visiting Stardew Valley now, we can collect all sorts of books, including books called the Books of Power that grant special bonuses. Each can provide different abilities and boosts, so here’s how to get all Books of Power in Stardew Valley!
Stardew Valley Books of Power Guide – How to Get Them
Unlike the Skill Books that just increase your base skills, the Books of Power give special abilities like faster run speed, better defense, and even access to characters’ houses. Here’s a look at all the Book of Powers currently in the game, where you can get them, and what they can do for you:
| Title | Ability | How to Get | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Animal Catalogue | Access Marnie’s Shop without her there | Bought from Marnie for 5,000g |
 | Book of Mysteries | Increased chances to find Mystery Boxes | In Mystery Boxes & Golden Mystery Boxes |
 | Dwarvish Safety Manual | Bombs deal 25% less damage to you | Bought from the Dwarf in The Mines for 4,000g |
 | Friendship 101 | Gain friendship with people faster | Bought from Bookseller for 20,000g or caught in Lewis’ Prize Machine |
 | Horse: The Book | Horses go faster while riding | Bought from Bookseller for 25,000g |
 | Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Thick | Gain +1 Defense | Bought from Bookseller for 20,000g |
 | Jewels of the Sea | Treasure chests from fishing can have Roe | Bought from Bookseller for 20,000g or caught in a fishing treasure chest |
 | Mapping Cave Systems | 50% discount for Marlon’s Retrieval Service | In a box in the backroom of Adventurer’s Guild (Must slay 1,000 monsters) |
 | Monster Compendium | Monsters have a chance to drop double loot | Dropped by monsters when defeated |
 | Ol’ Slitherlegs | Run faster through crops and grass | Bought from Bookseller for 25,000g |
 | Queen of Sauce Cookbook | Learn all Queen of Sauce recipes | Bought from Bookseller for 50,000g |
 | The Alleyway Buffet | Greater chance to find items in trash cans | Found in the gold trash can between the Blacksmith and the JojaMart |
 | The Art O’ Crabbing | Crab Pots have 25% chance for double loot | Bought from Bookseller for 20,000g, or or as an Iridium Tier reward at the SquidFest |
 | The Diamond Hunter | All stones have a chance to yield a diamond | Bought from the Dwarf in the Volcano Dungeon for 10 Diamonds |
 | Treasure Appraisal Guide | Artifacts sell for more gold | Bought from Bookseller for 20,000g or found in Mystery Boxes and Artifact Troves |
 | Raccoon Journal | Weeds have a greater chance to give mixed seeds | Reward for completing the second raccoon item quest or traded from the Raccoon Wife’s Shop for 999 Fiber |
 | Way of the Wind Pt. 1 | Run speed is slightly faster | Bought from Bookseller for 15,000g |
 | Way of the Wind Pt. 2 | Run speed is even faster | Bought from Bookseller for 35,000g after buying Pt. 1 |
 | Woody’s Secret | Trees have a 5% more chance to give double wood | From chopping trees |
Where to Find Books of Power in Stardew Valley
The table above will give you the basic locations of where you can find each Book of Power, but here is a more in-depth look at particular spots where some of these books are hiding.
Bookseller Location
The Bookseller is one of the best places to go for books and one of the spots where most of the Books of Powers are sold. The Bookseller only comes around twice a season, and only on particular days, so to find him, you’ll want to check the calendar outside Pierre’s Shop.
The days that the Bookseller will be in town are the days with the blue hot balloon icon. To find the Bookseller, you’ll want to go into town on those days and follow the hot balloon signs pointing to his shop.
You’ll find him set up right above the JoJo Mart/Movie Theater and up the steps. The books he sells are randomized each time, so you may have to make a few different trips to see him to collect all the varied Books of Powers.
Golden Trash Can Location
Another book that requires you to head to a specific location is the Alleyway Buffet Book of Power. To find this book, you’ll need to find a secret gap in the fence on the outskirts of town.
The book is hidden inside a golden trash can in the fenced area on the eastern side of town, between the Blacksmith and Jojo Mart/Movie Theater. You can walk forward into the fence until you can get through. Then, you can walk upward, breaking through the log and rock to reach the trash can, slightly hidden behind a tree (I chopped it down to make it easier to see).
Adventurer’s Guild Backroom Location
The Mapping Cave Systems book is another book found only in a specific location, and that location happens to be in the Adventurer’s Guild. However, it’s locked up in their backroom.
Once you head to Adventurer’s Guild on the upper eastern side of the map, past the entrance to the Mines, look at the top left corner of the building, and you’ll spot the door to their backroom. After slaying 1,000 monsters, you can enter the backroom, and the book is inside the present box.
Lewis Prize Machine Location
Another place to get the Friendship101 Book of Power is in Lewis’ Prize Machine. The Prize Machine is located in his home, just down to the right of the Stardrop Saloon and directly next to the graveyard.
When you go inside, look in the top left corner, and you’ll spot the red machine. To get items out of the Prize Machine, you need to have Tickets. Tickets are won at events like the fair and other festivals. You’ll need at least 7 Tickets to reach the Friendship 101 book since the prizes can only be redeemed in order. Getting the book this way will save you a lot of gold, though, so save up your Tickets!
These are just a few ways you can track down these Books of Power. You’ll want to collect them all for their powerful abilities. Some of them you can purchase multiple times, so keep your eyes peeled for the Bookseller and Dwarf vendors.
Want some more special abilities? Check out our guide on How to Get Trinkets on our GameSkinny Stardew Valley hub, or read our thoughts on Best Gameplay Changes in Update 1.6!
