Sorry if this has been asked before, i couldnt find a thread like this after searching. So for non-fiction books in the game series, do we assume that they are all true, and that the authors have no ulterior motives whatsoever?

Just asking, because in the Wolf Queen series, the last book writes that Potema was the one responsible for the madness of Pelagius III with that soul gem necklace, which none of the other books i've read so far seem to have any knowledge about. They just mention that he was evidently mad.

Also, i've been reading most of the TES books on a free smartphone app, it supposedly has the books from daggerfall to skyrim: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tes.books

Perhaps this app could be mentioned in the 'how to become a lore buff' thread? I find it very useful for reading while travelling. When im on the computer im more likely to be playing the games anyway.

It's my approach to take all books found in the Elder Scrolls with a pinch of salt. Just as I try and be wary of the perspective/angle/politics that real-world writers write from. As George Orwell said, "No book is free of political bias.".

In order to get a feel for what kind of bias books in Elder Scrolls are written with, it's my rule of thumb to take note of the name of the author (are they Imperial, Aldmeri, Nord, Dunmer?) and any organisation they list themselves as associated with (College of Winterhold, Imperial Scholars, etc.). I think this typically gives you an idea of what the author's outlook might be. Sure, it'd be unfair to paint everyone from the same race or group as thinking the same way, but it's the easiest way to get an impression of the socio-political background they come from.

I think the contradictory accounts given of Tiber Septim's life (Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition by the Imperial Geographical Society and The Arcturian Heresy by The Underking, Ysmir Kingmaker) are a good example of clear political bias behind two or more different pieces of writing that all present themselves as factually true but offer incompatible narratives of historical events. I believe that the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of the two pieces of writing (probably closer to the Pocket Guide than the Heresy).

Like when consuming news media IRL, you just have to take the information given to you from as many sources as you can and then paint yourself a picture of what you feel seems to be the most likely version of things.