Quote Originally Posted by Sjakihata
Yes, I know you can learn skills in a gazillion ways - what I mean is, that in books only the expensive ones will learn you a new skill, so if you run over a bookshelf, you'll which to read to learn a skill, it sucks since you dont really know the books content just its price.
That's actually not the case any more. The prices seem random and you can learn from low price books too. I've had a skill increase from a book worth 5 septims.

On raising cash, apparently there are a few good caverns for loot. I've had some other good caves, but I didn't make a note of them. You'll want some feather or strength boosting items though to maximize your trips.

This is from the official forums:

"Well all loot is random, but two good places to look are kingcrest cavern and crayfish cave. At level 18 I found a night eye ring, and in bloody useful. crayfish cave is east of the imperial city, there is a river that branches out into two rivers at the south end, on the east branch you can find crayfish cave,Kingcrest cavern is NNW from cheydenhall, (look for the chests underwater.)"