--- src/store.c.orig	2004-07-11 15:18:56.000000000 -0400
+++ src/store.c	2004-07-11 17:45:15.000000000 -0400
@@ -3303,6 +3303,7 @@
 {
 	int i;
 	int item;
+	bool browse;
 
 	object_type *o_ptr;
 
@@ -3359,11 +3360,21 @@
 	/* Describe */
 	msg_format("Examining %s...", o_name);
 
-	/* Describe it fully */
-	if (o_ptr->tval < TV_BOOK)
+	/* Should we read it like a spellbook or describe it normally? */
+	browse = FALSE;
+	if (o_ptr->tval == TV_INSTRUMENT || o_ptr->tval == TV_DAEMON_BOOK)
+	{
+		browse = get_check("Browse spells in this item? ");
+	}
+	else if (o_ptr->tval >= TV_BOOK)
+	{
+		browse = TRUE;
+	}
+
+	/* Describe it fully, or browse its spells, as specified above */
+	if (!browse)
 	{
 		if (!object_out_desc(o_ptr, NULL, FALSE, TRUE)) msg_print("You see nothing special.");
-		/* Books are read */
 	}
 	else
 	{