Disco Elysium has a wide selection of objects you can interact with, and one of the categories worth looking into is books. Reading every book will let you pass the time, but some of them have other benefits, from helping you get an achievement to unlocking more dialogue options.
Here are seven books you should keep an eye out for if you want to get the most out of your gameplay:
7. Sixteen Days in Coldest April
It even looks like a dense read
“Real art is dense and difficult,” – that’s what your Conceptualization tells you about this book. This dense and heart-breaking story filed under “psychological realism” will definitely do something to your mind.
What Makes Sixteen Days in Coldest April Great:
Wouldn’t you want to learn everything about the Yugo-Graad riots of ’27-’29? Thought so! As is the case with many Disco Elysium books, you can discover some very specific lore while reading.
Like other books, it can be read to pass the time, but this one has a fun little effect upon finishing. Real art is hard, so both your Health and your Morale will be damaged.
How to Get Sixteen Days in Coldest April:
Head to the Capeside apartments. The book is in the foreclosed apartment.
6. Hjelmdallermann: The Man from Hjelmdall AND The Man from Hjelmdall and the Devil Woman
Listen, it might not be the greatest piece of literature, but the cover design is pretty sick
I am recommending two books here because they are identical, save for the title and minor plot differences. The Man from Hjelmdall is a series about an unrealistically muscular man swinging his swords around in a fantasy setting. There really isn’t much else to it.
What Makes The Man from Hjelmdall Series Great:
If you happened to try and punch Cuno during your interrogation, don’t worry: these books are a way to make peace with him. If you don’t antagonize him about liking books, you can give either of those texts to him and be able to get more information from Cuno.
How to Get Hjelmdallermann: The Man from Hjelmdall AND The Man from Hjelmdall and the Devil Woman:
You can purchase either of these books at the bookstore for 9 Reál each.
5. A Brief Look at Infra-Materialism
Looks like some sort of textbook that you might find abandoned around a college campus
Is it a philosophical treatise? A text on physics? Political theory? Fiction? Hard to tell on the first readthrough. It is a somewhat good source of Revachol lore, though, and you can detangle some historical facts from the… compelling discussions of extra-physical architecture.
What Makes A Brief Look at Infra-Materialism Great:
If you want to learn more about Revachol’s history, give A Brief Look a read. Beware: the historical facts reside among truly wild infra-materialism theories.
Reading this book is a requirement for completing the Get Yourself Organized Task; you don’t have to finish it, but you have to at least skim it. Communism isn’t going to build itself!
How to Get A Brief Look at Infra-Materialism:
Begin the Get Yourself Organized task. Find Steban, the Student Communist, at the communist meeting at the Capeside apartments after 22.00. He will give you the book.
4. The Greatest Innocence
Wow, looks like someone really engaged with the reading, judging by all the bookmarks they left
Time to learn some history! Innocence in Disco Elysium isn’t just a human state – it’s the most important political figure in Disco Elysium lore. It is a title for a very, very powerful person; so powerful, in fact, that they are the ruler of the whole world. The Greatest Innocence, as the title suggests, is a book discussing the history of Innocences and ultimately arguing for one of them being the greatest. It was written by a fascist, so take it with a few tablespoons of salt.
What Makes The Greatest Innocence Great:
The lore, the lore, the lore! Who is Innocence? What is their role? What are different Innocences known for? Which one is the greatest?!
Everybody loves pop quizzes! This is the only book in Disco Elysium that will test your understanding of it. Upon completing it, you would have to answer a set of questions on the book’s content. Worry not, not many get it on the first try, but once you answer all the questions correctly, you get the prize of a whopping 5XP.
How To Get The Greatest Innocence:
Pay 4.70 Reál at the bookstore, and it’s yours!
3. Dick Mullen and the Mistaken Identity
Doesn't this little guy on the cover look fun?
You’re a detective! Dick Mullen is a detective! You have so much in common, so why not give this thrilling mystery novel a read? Yes, you might think Mullen is a bad representation of cops, but hey, you can’t vent about all the inaccuracies if you haven’t even read a book about him.
What Makes Dick Mullen and the Mistaken Identity Great:
If you get Dick Mullen's Hat and Pinball Maker's Coat prior to reading the book, you can unlock the Modus: Mullen achievement and be just like everyone’s favorite fictional detective.
This book has no ending – you have to ask the bookstore keeper and her daughter for it. Even more reason to chat with some NPCs!
How To Get Dick Mullen and the Mistaken Identity:
The price of 7.99 Reál is a little steep, but paying it at the bookstore will get you this wonderful work of fiction.
2. From A to Zrieek! A Guide to Cockatoos
Cannot miss the stunning illustrations here
This book is a great source of information on cockatoo species and their behaviors. How is this relevant to your investigation? Well, perhaps you could find a reflection of your own self in those wonderful, colorful birds.
What Makes From A to Zrieek! A Guide to Cockatoos Great:
Unlock new dialogue options for Get Yourself Organized task. Cockatoos, communists… Eh, similar enough.
Have you ever wondered what your heraldic bird might be? Well, look no further than this book to complete the Find Your Heraldic Bird task. You even get to pick your spirit cockatoo!
How To Get From A to Zrieek! A Guide to Cockatoos:
Talk to the Working Class Woman outside the bookstore from day 2 onwards. Then, surprisingly, buy the book at the said bookstore for 3.99 Reál.
1. Medicinal Purposes of the Pale
The acorn on the cover really sells it
The pale is a type of tissue that separates pieces of landmass known as isolas from each other. Apparently, some people think it has medicinal purposes. Considering that the pale covers 72% of the world surface, this theory might be worth looking into.
What Makes Medicinal Purposes of the Pale Great:
Learn about the pale, whatever it might be. The book describes a peculiar ritual involving walking through the pale naked, which, unfortunately, doesn’t actually seem to be a real thing you could do in the game.
A hangover is a part of your daily cop life, and this book can teach you to make a hangover cure! You will have to fail several attempts before you can actually do that, but random cures created will give you 5XP.
How To Get Medicinal Purposes of the Pale:
You guessed it – the bookstore. 4.20 Reál should be enough.
