The Books in Dead Rising 3 give you a slight boost while active, but you can only use one at a time for the majority of the game.
There are eleven books in all, with boosts for things like increased weapon durability, added damage with firearms, increased vehicle durability, etc.
My personal favorite is Lone Blade, which increases your weapon durability by quite a bit. Make sure to do the Signs of Safety survivor mission if you want it though, or else you won’t be able to retrieve it.
The best thing about the books is once you get to level 50, maxing out your Smarts stat allows you to use all of the books at once, which is absolutely amazing!
Eater’s World: Increases Life recovered by food – Inside of the western Safe Zone in South Almuda
Fortune Fighter: Increases the damage inflicted with firearms – Inside of the Illegals Hideaway in Sunset Hills, accessible during and after Chapter 3 (once you are allowed in by completing their story mission)
Four Wheel Fun: Increases vehicles damage resistance – Inside of the eastern Safe Zone in South Almuda
Leadership Losers: Increases the damage inflicted by survivors – Found in the Safe Zone in the northeastern corner of Central City
Lone Blade: Increases weapon durability – Found in the northern Safe Zone in Ingleton, unlocked only after completing the Signs of Safety side mission for the survivor Anna
Mechanical Trends: Increases the durability of vehicles – Found in the free Day One DLC on Xbox Live (anyone can download this)
Outbreak Survivors: Increases melee damage and survivor armor – Found in the free Day One DLC on Xbox Live (anyone can download this)
Stunt Devil: Increases damage inflicted with unarmed attacks – Found in the southern Safe Zone in Ingleton
Thrifty Trader: Increases the amount of PP gained – Inside of the Safe Zone in southeastern Central City
Top 10 Drink Mixes: – Increases the duration of Combo Food effects – Inside of the building directly to the west of the Garage in South Almuda, go to the second floor of the building north of this one and climb out through a window across a plank onto the roof, then drop down through a hole to access the building
Undead Solutions: Decreases zombie’s detection radius – Inside of the Safe Zone in the northwestern corner of Sunset Hills