Skill Books Taking Forever? Fast Tricks for Project Zomboid

Tired of spending in-game days reading skill books while zombies lurk outside? Good news – there are ways to speed up book reading in Project Zomboid. Whether you're grinding alone in single-player or surviving with friends in multiplayer, you don't have to sit there for ages watching that progress bar creep. From picking the right traits to tweaking server settings, and even installing a few mods, we've got you covered.

Configure Settings

Choose Traits

Install Mods

Time Management

Quick-Start: Faster Reading in a Nutshell

Short on time? Here's a rapid-fire cheat sheet to make reading skill books faster in Project Zomboid:

In Single-Player:

Use fast-forward time. Find a safe spot, start reading, and hit the >> button.
Avoid taking the Slow Reader trait — it makes reading 30% slower for only 2 points.
Consider the Fast Reader trait in Build 42 for 30% faster reading. Learn more about optimal character builds in our occupations and traits guide.

In Multiplayer:

Adjust the server setting Minutes Per Skill Book Page to a lower value (0.1 or 0.01).
If you're not the admin, ask them to modify this setting.
For direct server config, edit in servertest.ini:

MinutesPerPage=0.01  # super-fast reading

Mods for Even Faster Reading:

CC's Faster Reading - Choose speed multipliers up to 100×
Read Faster when Sitting - Get a small boost when seated
Cat's Faster Reading - Halve reading time and walk while reading

Note: Mods require enabling them for your save/server, so use them if you're comfortable modding. For help setting up mods, see our complete modding guide.

Real-Life Tip:

Read in shifts. Don't force yourself (or your character) to finish a book in one go:

Do a task (farm, build, fight)
Read until your character gets drowsy, bored, or until nighttime
Breaking it up keeps your survivor's boredom and fatigue in check

Why Reading Is Slow in Project Zomboid (B41 vs B42)

In Project Zomboid, skill books are lifesavers for leveling – but reading them takes serious in-game time. By design, reading a book simulates studying, meaning your character can spend hours (in-game) nose-deep in Carpentry Vol.1 while the zombie apocalypse rages on.

Base Reading Speed

In vanilla Build 41, the default reading speed is 2 in-game minutes per page. Most skill books are 220–380 pages long:

A beginner skill book (220 pages) takes about 7.3 game hours
Higher-level books (380 pages) can push 12.5 game hours or more
That's roughly 12.5 minutes of real-time per book at default speed

Slow Reader Trait

If you took this trait in Build 41 (worth +2 trait points):

You read 30% slower than normal
A 7-hour book becomes a ~9.5-hour slog
Many veterans call it "free points" in single-player (fast-forward)
But in multiplayer, it can really punish you!

Fast Reader Trait

In Build 41: Not available by default (some mods enabled it)
In Build 42: Available for -2 points
Lets you read books about 30% faster (70% of normal reading time)
If normal reading takes 10 hours, you finish in ~7 hours

Build 42's Big Changes

Reusable Books

In B42, skill books are not consumed when read. After reading, a book gets a "cooldown" before you can read it again for another XP boost.

Sandbox Reading Speed

B42 added an official sandbox option "Minutes Per Skill Book Page" to adjust reading speed directly without mods.

New Skills & Books

B42 expanded the skill list (Animal Husbandry, Glassworking, Masonry, etc.) with corresponding skill books. Even skills like Aiming now have their own books.

Solo Survival: Speed-Reading Tactics for Single Player

Playing solo or local co-op in Project Zomboid grants one huge luxury: time control. You can accelerate time at will, which is a game-changer for mitigating long activities like reading.

Fast-Forward is Your Friend (But Be Careful!)

In single-player, toggle fast-forward (the > and >> buttons) to speed through reading. At 3x speed, that 5-minute reading session shrinks to about 1.7 minutes.

Safety First!

Clear the vicinity: Before reading, check your perimeter for zombies
Lock doors and hang sheets: Secure your location like you would for sleeping
Consider a lookout: Read from a vantage point where you can see threats approaching
Don't fast-forward if injured or sick: Address medical issues before time-skipping

Timing is Everything: Read Before Life and Living

Life and Living TV broadcasts skill lectures at certain times in the first 9 days. If you're under the effect of a skill book multiplier while watching, you get multiplied XP!

Pro Strategy:

Check the TV schedule (e.g., Carpentry at 12:00)
Start reading the relevant skill book a few hours before the show
Even partial reading helps - 30% read gives 1.3× multiplier, 60% gives 1.6×
Watch the show with your multiplier active

Build 42 Note: TV shows won't raise skills beyond level 3 in B42. After that, you'll need books to progress. For comprehensive first-day strategies including TV scheduling, see our first day survival guide.

Multi-Task Your Reading

Rest While Reading

Sit on furniture before reading. While sitting and reading, your fatigue will decrease as if resting.

Eat/Drink During Breaks

Keep water and food on hand. You can consume while reading by queuing it up. Coffee can help fight drowsiness.

Healing Downtime

If recovering from injuries, reading is a productive way to spend healing time instead of just waiting.

Avoid Night Reading in the Dark

While the game doesn't penalize reading in poor light, it's safer to read during daylight when you can spot threats.

Multiplayer: Making Book Reading Bearable Together

In multiplayer (MP), the apocalypse doesn't pause. You can't speed up time unless every player sleeps at once (and even then, some servers disable that). This means if you want to read a book that takes 5 hours in-game, you are sitting there in real-time for minutes doing nothing.

Adjust Server Reading Speed (Admin/Host Tips)

The single best fix for multiplayer reading woes is in the server settings. Server hosts can tweak the Minutes Per Page setting.

Where to find it:

On the host (or server admin panel):

Go to Sandbox settings
Under the "Character" tab, look for "Minutes per Skill Book Page"
Set to a lower value (default is often 1.0)

Suggested values:

0.5 = half the reading time
0.1 = 10% of normal reading time
0.01 = ultra-fast reading (entire book in ~10 seconds)

Server Admin Tip: This doesn't break anything; it just reduces tedium. Most server admins consider it a quality-of-life improvement.

Coordinate and Share the Load

Assign a "Reader" Role - Have one player read skill books while others do productive tasks
Take Reading Breaks Together - Designate a "reading hour" where everyone reads at once
Use Voice/Chat to Multitask - Communicate when you're reading so others can watch your back
Share Books (B42 advantage) - In B42, books can be reused after cooldown. Create a base library for everyone.

Mods to the Rescue (MP Edition)

Most reading mods work in multiplayer if all players and the server have them enabled:

CC's Faster Reading - Configurable speeds up to 100×
Cat's Faster Reading - Allows walking while reading
M13's Reading Tweaks - Gives reading speed boost when sitting
Has Been Read - Marks books you've already read with a check mark

Reminder: All players need the mod and the server must enable it. Always backup your save! For detailed server setup instructions, check our server modding guide.

In-Game Time Management in MP

When you can't speed up time, you have to manage it:

Pick the Right Moment

Don't start reading a 5-hour book when your group plans a loot run soon. Communicate with your team. Often the best time to read is overnight.

Stay Safe While Reading

Always have a safe spot to read. Fortify a room as a library, or read in a vehicle (zombies can't get you unless they break windows).

5-Minute Rule

Announce "taking 5" to your team when reading. It sets expectations that you won't be responsive and reminds you to check in periodically.

Advanced Tips: Alternatives and Optimizations

We've focused on speeding up reading itself – but before concluding, it's worth noting ways to reduce the need for reading or maximize the benefit from the reading you do. After all, the fastest page to read is the one you didn't have to read at all!

Utilize VHS Tapes and TV

Skill VHS tapes - Give XP similar to Life and Living shows without reading
Entertainment tapes - Reduce boredom so you can read more effectively
Build 42 change - TV skill gain now stops at level 3 cap in B42

For a complete list of available VHS tapes and their locations, check out our VHS and CD guide.

Books vs. Just Doing the Task

Sometimes it's faster to just level by doing rather than reading books:

Skills like Foraging level relatively quickly by doing
For higher level skills, books give massive multipliers (up to 5× or more)
In MP without fast reading, sometimes actively playing is more engaging than sitting and waiting

Future Proofing: B42+ Outlook

Looking beyond the current builds, the developers have signaled interest in NPCs and perhaps teaching mechanics in future versions:

NPCs might be able to teach skills in future updates
Build 42 added skill decay over time, making rereading books more important
The cooldown system hints that knowledge might become something you maintain, not just gain once
Future mods might allow sharing reading tasks among team members

Conclusion: Knowledge is Power (But Speed-Reading is Survival)

Project Zomboid's slow reading is a feature, not a bug – it forces you to consider safety, priorities, and trade-offs in a survival scenario. But with the tips in this guide, you won't be stuck feeling like you're reading War and Peace by candlelight while the undead claw at your door. If you're tired of the grind entirely, you might want to check out our item spawning guide for a faster approach to getting skill books.

Key Takeaways:

In single-player, use fast-forward and smart trait choices to shrink reading sessions into a quick montage.
In multiplayer, adjust server settings (MinutesPerPage) or use mods to save everyone real-life hours.
In Build 41, books are consumed once read, making trait choices more important.
In Build 42, books are reusable with cooldowns, and there's a new sandbox option to directly control reading speed.
By speeding up the reading process, you free up more time for the fun stuff: building crazy bases, cooking feasts, and mowing down hordes.

Knowledge is power, and in Project Zomboid, it's XP power. Now you have the knowledge to gain that knowledge faster – pretty meta, right?

So go forth, tweak those settings or install that mod, grab a cup of (virtual) coffee, and blaze through "The Farming Almanac" like it's a comic book. The zombies won't know what hit 'em when you come out of your reading nook with level 7 Carpentry in a fraction of the time it used to take.

Stay safe, read fast, and don't forget to occasionally look up from the book to make sure a zombie isn't about to gnaw on your face. Happy surviving!

Reading Mechanics Patch Timeline

Date (Build)	Change Note	Impact on Reading
Nov 2019 (41.0)	Build 41 Released – Major overhaul with new traits system. Introduced Slow Reader trait.	Reading became a notable "downtime" activity. Many players took Slow Reader for free points, figuring they could endure slightly longer reads.
Aug 2021 (41.54)	VHS Tapes Added – Various VHS tapes (including skill tapes) spawn in the world.	Provided an alternative to reading: players who found skill VHS tapes could gain XP without any reading.
Dec 2021 (41.60)	Multiplayer Released – Reading books now occurs in real-time with other players active.	Reading speed emerged as a multiplayer pain point. Taking Slow Reader in MP was heavily discouraged.
Dec 2024 (42.0)	Build 42 Unstable Launch – Skill books reworked: not consumed on read, cooldown system added. Sandbox option added.	Books became rarer loot and more valuable. Reading speed became configurable via "Minutes Per Skill Book Page" setting.
Mar 2025 (42.6)	Life and Living TV XP cap introduced (capped to level 3). Minor fixes to book titles/bugs.	Early-game survivors can no longer rely on TV to carry them past level 3, making skill books important sooner.

Reading Time Comparison

Book Type	Normal Reader	Fast Reader	Slow Reader
Beginner (220pg)	7.3 hours	5.1 hours	9.5 hours
Intermediate (300pg)	10.0 hours	7.0 hours	13.0 hours
Advanced (350pg)	11.7 hours	8.2 hours	15.2 hours
Expert (380pg)	12.7 hours	8.9 hours	16.5 hours

Based on default 2 minutes per page. With server setting 0.1, divide all times by 20.

Common Questions

Can I speed up reading in multiplayer?

Yes! Server admins can change the MinutesPerPage setting, or players can use mods like CC's Faster Reading if enabled on the server.

Is Fast Reader trait in vanilla?

It is in Build 42, costing -2 points. In Build 41, it was not available by default (some mods enabled it).

What's the fastest reading setting?

Setting MinutesPerPage to 0.01 in server settings makes reading almost instant (about 10 seconds per book).

Do I need to read books in B42?

Yes, even more so. In B42, TV shows only help up to level 3, and with skill decay, you'll need to re-read books periodically to maintain skill multipliers.