Do you have some .mobi files you’ve been trying to read on your Linux machine? FB Reader is an eBook reader program that allows you to read .mobi files (as well as other eBook formats) in Linux.

NOTE: Any eBook files you open in FB Reader have to be non-DRM eBooks.

We couldn’t find FB Reader in the Ubuntu Software Center, so we will show you where to download it, how to install it, and how to open .mobi files using it. Go to the following URL and download the appropriate version for your machine, 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (amd64). You must also download and install the libunibreak package, so click the appropriate link for your machine. Save these files to a location in your home directory.

01_downloading_fb_reader

First, we will install the libunibreak package. To do this, click the Files icon on the Unity bar to open Nautilus (the File Manager).

01a_opening_file_manager

Navigate to the folder in which you saved the .deb file for libunibreak and double-click the .deb file.

02_double_clicking_libunibreak_package

The Ubuntu Software Center opens displaying a page for libunibreak. Click Install.

03_clicking_install_for_libunibreak

Enter your password on the Authenticate dialog box that displays and click Authenticate.

04_authenticate_dialog

Once the installation is done, click the X button in the upper-left corner of the Ubuntu Software Center window to close it.

05_closing_software_center

To install FB Reader, double-click the .deb file for the program and follow the same steps as you did for libunibreak.

06_installing_fb_reader

Now that FB Reader is installed, navigate to a directory containing .mobi files for books you want to read and right-click on one of the .mobi files. Select Open With Other Application from the popup menu.

07_selecting_open_with_other_app

A dialog box displays saying no applications are available to open your eBook, which you know is actually not true. So, click Show Other Applications.

08_clicking_show_other_apps

Select FBReader from the list of applications that display on the dialog box and click Select.

09_selecting_fbreader

The eBook opens in FB Reader and you can use the controls to turn pages or jump to a specific page. To view all the books in your library. Click Show Library Tree on the toolbar.

10_open_book_in_fbreader

A list of authors and books displays allowing you to open other eBooks, remove eBooks, and view and edit information about the eBooks and authors. You can view the list different ways, such as by author, by title, etc.

11_removing_a_book

Once you have opened the first .mobi file to open it in FB Reader as described above, you can double-click any .mobi file to open it FB Reader without having to choose the application again.