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Reading and Books
March 31, 2026 at 02:21 PM
Initial version
Reading is a core activity in inZOI that serves multiple purposes, from building skills and completing homework assignments to simply relaxing at home with a good book. Zois can read physical books from bookshelves and stacks of books placed in their homes, visit public libraries in the city, or use tablets to access e-books on the go. Several skills in the game can be improved by reading the right type of book, and higher levels of the Critical Thinking skill even allow Zois to write and publish their own manuscripts for profit.
Whether your Zoi is a student trying to finish a school assignment, an aspiring author working toward a published novel, or just someone who enjoys curling up with a story, the reading system touches many parts of daily life in inZOI.
To read a book, select your Zoi and interact with a bookshelf or stack of books in their home. Choose the "Read Book" option from the interaction menu, then browse the available titles. A flyout menu appears listing the books you can read, organized by genre and topic. Select the title you want, and your Zoi will sit down and begin reading.
Reading fills a progress circle that tracks how far your Zoi has gotten through the book. For casual reading, you can stop and resume at any time. However, for school homework that requires reading a specific book, the Zoi must read the book to completion for the task to count as finished. Simply starting the book is not enough.
Be careful when selecting books from the menu, as some titles have similar names. If you are working on a homework assignment, double-check that the book you select matches the exact title listed in your assignment. Picking the wrong book means wasted time.
To read at home, your Zoi needs access to reading furniture. There are two main options available through Build Mode:
Furniture Item | Where to Find | Details |
|---|---|---|
Bookshelf | Build Mode > Furniture tab | The primary reading furniture. Multiple sizes are available. Larger bookshelves provide access to more book titles, including academic texts needed for homework. Search "Bookshelf" in the Build Mode search bar to see all options. |
Stack of Books | Build Mode > Furniture tab | A smaller, cheaper alternative at roughly 14 Meow. Provides access to a selection of books and works for many school assignments, though some specialized titles may only be available on larger bookshelves or at the public library. |
Tablet | Build Mode > Home Office > Computers tab | A portable device that provides access to e-books. Place it on any accessible surface in the home. Certain reading options, such as investment books, are exclusive to tablets and cannot be found on physical bookshelves. |
You do not need to own a bookshelf to read. All book-related tasks can be completed by visiting a public library or by finding bookshelves at community lots around the city. However, owning reading furniture at home saves travel time and lets your Zoi read whenever they want.
One of the most practical reasons to read in inZOI is skill development. Several of the game's 13 skills can be improved by reading books on related topics. Reading is generally a slower method of skill growth compared to hands-on practice, but it offers a reliable alternative when other methods are not available, such as when a computer breaks down or your Zoi is stuck at home.
Skill | Book Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Various subjects | Reading different subjects builds cognitive ability. Critical Thinking is the skill most closely tied to books, as it also unlocks the ability to write and publish your own manuscripts at higher levels. | |
Tech and coding books | Titles like "Complete Guide To Beginner Programming" improve programming knowledge. Slower than practicing at a computer, but useful when a PC is unavailable. | |
Leadership and communication books | Books such as "Power of Persuasion That Changes the World" build rhetoric over time. Improves the odds of your Zoi holding stronger professional conversations. | |
Performing arts books | An affordable, low-risk way to improve performance skill without putting your Zoi in an uncomfortable social situation. Books can be read repeatedly for continued gains. | |
Romance and relationship books | Reading romance-themed books and titles about likeability contributes to Charm growth alongside flirting and romantic conversations. | |
Fitness and health books | Reading about fitness supplements hands-on exercise. Best used alongside gym workouts, yoga, and treadmill sessions for well-rounded skill development. |
Not every skill has associated books. Skills like Cooking, Gardening, Art, and Coffee Crafting are improved primarily through hands-on practice rather than reading.
Tablets provide an alternative reading experience through the "Read an e-Book" option. After purchasing a tablet from Build Mode (found under Home Office in the Computers tab), place it on an accessible surface like a desk or table. Your Zoi can then interact with it to browse digital titles.
Some content is exclusive to tablets. Investment books, for example, can only be read through the tablet's e-book menu and are not available on physical bookshelves. Reading an investment book is often triggered as an urge for Zois who have traits and ambitions related to financial success. Tablets also support other functions beyond reading, including playing games and performing skill-related actions like creating mind mazes.
For Zois enrolled in school or attending university, reading is not optional. Homework assignments frequently require reading a specific book by title. These assignments appear in the Zoi's backpack through the action bar, and the computer interface includes a dedicated homework section for tracking progress.
Some examples of homework books include "Problem Solving Through Computational Thinking" for computer science courses and "How to Communicate with the World" for communication-related assignments. These titles must be read to completion for the homework to count as done.
If the required book is not available on your home bookshelf, you have a few options:
Visit the public library (the AR Library in Dowon or Bliss Bay) where a wider selection is available.
Purchase a larger bookshelf through Build Mode, which provides access to more academic titles.
Buy a Stack of Books (~14 Meow) as a budget option for many assignments.
Right-click your Zoi during homework time to access book options directly through the character menu.
Beyond homework, ambitions can also require your Zoi to read books from a particular genre in order to make progress toward their life goals.
Both of inZOI's main cities have a public library called the AR Library. These are community lots that any Zoi can visit for free to read, study, and access books that may not be available at home.
Library | City | Lot Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
AR Library | Public Property | Located in Dowon's cultural district. A public library where Zois can read books for homework, skill development, and leisure. Listed among Dowon's cultural and institutional lots. | |
AR Library | Community Lot | Located on the southern side of Bliss Bay. The in-game description invites visitors to "enjoy an exotic reading experience and expand their horizons." Provides a cozy, atmospheric space for reading. |
In addition to the AR Libraries, other locations around the city offer bookshelves for casual reading. For instance, Cafe Gaon in Dowon features bookshelves alongside its coffee and food service, letting your Zoi grab a drink and settle in with a book.
To travel to a library, open the map with the M key and select the AR Library as a destination. You can choose to walk ("Go Here") or drive ("Drive Here") to get there. Driving saves a significant amount of travel time.
Reading and writing are closely connected through the Critical Thinking skill. As your Zoi's Critical Thinking level increases, they unlock the ability to write books in progressively more genres. At higher levels, your Zoi can complete full manuscripts and sell them online for Meow, turning reading and writing into a source of income.
Critical Thinking Level | Writing Genre Unlocked |
|---|---|
Level 2 | Fantasy Novel, Science Fiction Novel |
Level 4 | History Novel, Adventure Novel |
Level 6 | Mystery Novel, Horror Novel |
Level 8 | Autobiography |
Level 10 | Self-Development Book |
Higher skill levels also improve the quality of written books, which means they sell for more when published. If your Zoi enjoys reading and has been building Critical Thinking through various study methods (watching debate programs, self-reflection, reading various subjects), writing becomes a natural next step and a viable way to earn money from home.
Zois who love reading can be created with the Bookworm characteristic, which was introduced in Update v0.4.0. This characteristic is available for Young Adults and older Zois. The in-game description reads: "Enjoys reading stories and books. Immersed in reading, they find peace within the print."
In addition to characteristics, the Self Help Books preference can be assigned during character creation. This preference indicates that a Zoi will enjoy activities involving self-help books and aligns well with the Life of Abundance, Life of Advancement, Life of Wisdom, and Life of Respectability desired lives. Zois can have up to 10 preferences at a time, and preferences may change over time based on in-game events and actions.
If you cannot find a homework book on your home bookshelf, try visiting the AR Library in Dowon or Bliss Bay. The public library carries a wider selection of academic titles.
Invest in a larger bookshelf if your household has school-age Zois. The biggest bookshelves grant access to all available book titles, reducing trips to the library.
Use reading as a fallback skill-building method. If your Zoi's computer breaks or the gym is too far away, pick up a book on the relevant subject instead.
Double-check homework book titles carefully before reading. Some books have very similar names, and reading the wrong one will not count toward the assignment.
Purchase a tablet for access to exclusive e-book content, including investment books that are not available on physical bookshelves.
Pair reading with the Bookworm characteristic during character creation if you want a Zoi who naturally gravitates toward books and finds peace in reading.
Build Critical Thinking through reading to unlock writing genres. Selling completed manuscripts is a solid way to earn Meow from home.
Keep your Zoi in a positive mood while reading. Happiness improves learning effectiveness, meaning skill gains from books will be slightly better when your Zoi is content.
