Persona 5 The Phantom X Books: Collectibles and Effects
Books in Persona 5: The Phantom X are a key collectible that boost your Social Stats and sometimes unlock new locations or increase part-time job wages. Reading costs Action Points (AP), so prioritizing the right books gives efficient, double-dipping gains for both stats and money.
How Books Work and Where to Read
Books are bought from city bookstores and then read as a City Life activity or at home on the couch.
- After buying a book, a “Reading” option appears in the activity list, or you can interact with the couch in Wonder’s living room to read.
- Each reading session spends 1 AP and progresses or completes a book, granting the listed Social Stat increase and any special bonus (new areas or job wage boosts).
Bookstores don’t restock the same titles; each book is a one-time collectible, so completionists will want to buy everything eventually.
Social Stat and Bonus Effects
Books primarily raise the five Social Stats, Knowledge, Guts, Charm, Kindness, Proficiency, and some also unlock areas or improve job pay.
Examples of book effects include:
- Stat-only books: “Queen of the Seas” (Guts), “Charisma 101” (Charm), “Dance of Vengeance” (Proficiency), “Apathy in the Modern Age” (Knowledge), “Rosina’s Engagement” (Kindness).
- Stat + location unlocks:
- Stat + job wage boosts:
This makes “dual-benefit” books extremely valuable early, since they accelerate both Social Stat growth and income.
Bookstore Locations and Notable Titles
Several bookstores across Tokyo sell different sets of books; each focuses on certain effects.
- Shibuya Central Street Bookstore: Early-game source for many starter books like “Top-Secret Sakura Spots,” “Smuggler on Horseback,” “Mirika the Witch,” “Comprehensive Yoga,” and other single-stat titles.
- Jinbocho Bookstore: Specializes in higher-end stat books such as “The Art of Kabuki” (Charm), “Starvation of the Mind” (Knowledge), and “Legend of the Ronin” (Guts).
- Shinjuku Red Light Bookstore: Sells many of the strongest dual-benefit books affecting wages and map unlocks, including “The World of Art,” “Science Savvy: Stars,” “Delectable Desserts!,” and part-time job boosters like “Fast Food Finesse” and “Convenience Store Clout.”
Some players also point out a slightly “hidden” bookstore location that only appears after certain progress, so checking newly unlocked districts regularly is recommended for completionists.
Optimal Reading Strategy
Because AP is limited, the most efficient strategy is to prioritize books that give both a Social Stat and a second benefit (location unlock or wage increase) before pure stat books.
- Focus first on job-boost books to increase income, then books that unlock hangout locations for Confidants, then finally the remaining single-stat books.
- Combine book reading with your Social Stat plan (for example, Charm- or Proficiency-focused runs) to avoid overcapping one stat too early while others lag behind.
Used this way, books are one of the most AP-efficient tools for rounding out stats, unlocking new areas, and maximizing long-term yen gains in Persona 5: The Phantom X.
