PC version.

When I read a book lying around, I get the option "Take" displayed with the key "E". However, I can't take the book by pressing "E", or any other key, for that matter.

How do you take a book that you are reading?

Should just be the action button. Press it once on a book to get the book up to the 'reading' position, and then it should say Take/Steal in the bottom right corner.

while you are reading the book you press "e" which is what you said you were doing ... it should work?

No, it doesn't. Tried all keys, for that matter. Mouse doesn't seem to be available, so I can't click on the "Take" action, either.

Found the solution:
When you change shortcuts, that change is not reflected in the shortcut hints that are displayed (i.e. it always says "Press E", not "Press Activate", even if I changed the shortcut for "activate"). But it expected the currently assigned shortcut to be pressed.