diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 85b0557b1..a9e7c82b0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -437,25 +437,11 @@ void OMW::Engine::activate()
         return;
     }
 
-    MWScript::InterpreterContext interpreterContext (&ptr.getRefData().getLocals(), ptr);
-
     boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> action =
         MWWorld::Class::get (ptr).activate (ptr, MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getPlayer());
 
-    interpreterContext.activate (ptr, action);
-
-    std::string script = MWWorld::Class::get (ptr).getScript (ptr);
-
-    if (!script.empty())
-    {
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getLocalScripts().setIgnore (ptr);
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getScriptManager()->run (script, interpreterContext);
-    }
-
-    if (!interpreterContext.hasActivationBeenHandled())
-    {
-        interpreterContext.executeActivation();
-    }
+    // execute action and script
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->executeActionScript(ptr, action);
 }
 
 void OMW::Engine::screenshot()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.cpp
index f58eac7ec..a107d9b21 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.cpp
@@ -148,4 +148,10 @@ namespace MWClass
 
         return ref->base->enchant;
     }
+
+    boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Book::use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const
+    {
+        return boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action>(new MWWorld::ActionRead(ptr));
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.hpp
index 6858bac7f..ee3aac8d8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/book.hpp
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ namespace MWClass
 
             virtual std::string getEnchantment (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
             ///< @return the enchantment ID if the object is enchanted, otherwise an empty string
+
+            virtual boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) const;
+            ///< Generate action for using via inventory menu
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.cpp
index 8de45984c..c6411175d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void BookWindow::open (MWWorld::Ptr book)
     clearPages();
     mCurrentPage = 0;
 
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (book, "book open", 1.0, 1.0);
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("book open", 1.0, 1.0);
 
     ESMS::LiveCellRef<ESM::Book, MWWorld::RefData> *ref =
         mBook.get<ESM::Book>();
@@ -77,18 +77,26 @@ void BookWindow::open (MWWorld::Ptr book)
     }
 
     updatePages();
+
+    setTakeButtonShow(true);
+}
+
+void BookWindow::setTakeButtonShow(bool show)
+{
+    mTakeButton->setVisible(show);
 }
 
 void BookWindow::onCloseButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
 {
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (mBook, "book close", 1.0, 1.0);
+    // no 3d sounds because the object could be in a container.
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("book close", 1.0, 1.0);
 
     MWBase::Environment::get().getInputManager()->setGuiMode(MWGui::GM_Game);
 }
 
 void BookWindow::onTakeButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
 {
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (mBook, "Item Book Up", 1.0, 1.0, MWSound::Play_NoTrack);
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("Item Book Up", 1.0, 1.0, MWSound::Play_NoTrack);
 
     MWWorld::ActionTake take(mBook);
     take.execute();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.hpp
index fcea1d11f..9ea011433 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/bookwindow.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ namespace MWGui
     {
         public:
             BookWindow(WindowManager& parWindowManager);
+
             void open(MWWorld::Ptr book);
+            void setTakeButtonShow(bool show);
 
         protected:
             void onNextPageButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
index bab0051b8..ff7bb889e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ void ContainerBase::onSelectedItemImpl(MyGUI::Widget* _sender, int count)
     mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget = mSelectedItem;
     static_cast<MyGUI::TextBox*>(mSelectedItem->getChildAt(0)->getChildAt(0))->setCaption(
         getCountString((*mDragAndDrop->mStore.begin()).getRefData().getCount()));
+
+    mDragAndDrop->mWasInInventory = isInventory();
+
     drawItems();
 
     MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->setDragDrop(true);
@@ -111,9 +114,7 @@ void ContainerBase::onContainerClicked(MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
         containerStore.add(*mDragAndDrop->mStore.begin());
         mDragAndDrop->mStore.clear();
         mDragAndDrop->mIsOnDragAndDrop = false;
-        mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget->detachFromWidget();
-        mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget->attachToWidget(mContainerWidget);
-        mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget = 0;
+        MyGUI::Gui::getInstance().destroyWidget(mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget);
         drawItems();
 
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->setDragDrop(false);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.hpp
index b90044ab5..8a1307967 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/container.hpp
@@ -36,10 +36,16 @@ namespace MWGui
     class DragAndDrop
     {
     public:
+        DragAndDrop() :
+            mWasInInventory(false)
+        {
+        }
+
         bool mIsOnDragAndDrop;
         MyGUI::Widget* mDraggedWidget;
         MyGUI::Widget* mDragAndDropWidget;
         MWWorld::ContainerStore mStore;
+        bool mWasInInventory; // was the item in inventory before it was dragged
     };
 
     class ContainerBase
@@ -81,6 +87,8 @@ namespace MWGui
 
         std::string getCountString(const int count);
 
+        virtual bool isInventory() { return false; }
+
         void drawItems();
     };
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
index 23e4949f7..e9c3af7d4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.cpp
@@ -1,23 +1,33 @@
 #include "inventorywindow.hpp"
-#include <iterator>
-#include <algorithm>
-#include "window_manager.hpp"
-#include "widgets.hpp"
 
-#include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
-#include "../mwworld/manualref.hpp"
 #include <cmath>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <iterator>
-
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <iostream>
+
+#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwclass/container.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/containerstore.hpp"
-#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>
 #include "../mwworld/class.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/world.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/player.hpp"
+#include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
+#include "../mwworld/manualref.hpp"
+
+#include "../mwscript/scriptmanager.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/compilercontext.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/interpretercontext.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/extensions.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/globalscripts.hpp"
+
+
+#include "window_manager.hpp"
+#include "widgets.hpp"
+#include "bookwindow.hpp"
+#include "scrollwindow.hpp"
+
 namespace MWGui
 {
 
@@ -38,6 +48,8 @@ namespace MWGui
         getWidget(mLeftPane, "LeftPane");
         getWidget(mRightPane, "RightPane");
 
+        mAvatar->eventMouseButtonClick += MyGUI::newDelegate(this, &InventoryWindow::onAvatarClicked);
+
         MyGUI::ScrollView* itemView;
         MyGUI::Widget* containerWidget;
         getWidget(containerWidget, "Items");
@@ -126,4 +138,38 @@ namespace MWGui
         mWindowManager.setWeaponVisibility(!mPinned);
     }
 
+    void InventoryWindow::onAvatarClicked(MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
+    {
+        if (mDragAndDrop->mIsOnDragAndDrop)
+        {
+            MWWorld::Ptr ptr = *mDragAndDrop->mStore.begin();
+
+            boost::shared_ptr<MWWorld::Action> action = MWWorld::Class::get(ptr).use(ptr);
+
+            // execute action and script
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->executeActionScript(ptr, action);
+
+            // this is necessary for books/scrolls: if they are already in the player's inventory,
+            // the "Take" button should not be visible.
+            // NOTE: the take button is "reset" when the window opens, so we can safely do the following
+            // without screwing up future book windows
+            if (mDragAndDrop->mWasInInventory)
+            {
+                mWindowManager.getBookWindow()->setTakeButtonShow(false);
+                mWindowManager.getScrollWindow()->setTakeButtonShow(false);
+            }
+
+            // put back in inventory
+            MWWorld::ContainerStore& containerStore = MWWorld::Class::get(mContainer).getContainerStore(mContainer);
+            containerStore.add(ptr);
+            drawItems();
+
+            mDragAndDrop->mStore.clear();
+            mDragAndDrop->mIsOnDragAndDrop = false;
+            MyGUI::Gui::getInstance().destroyWidget(mDragAndDrop->mDraggedWidget);
+
+            mWindowManager.setDragDrop(false);
+        }
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.hpp
index f16dcf433..b09ff8521 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/inventorywindow.hpp
@@ -47,7 +47,10 @@ namespace MWGui
 
             void onWindowResize(MyGUI::Window* _sender);
             void onFilterChanged(MyGUI::Widget* _sender);
+            void onAvatarClicked(MyGUI::Widget* _sender);
             void onPinToggled();
+
+            virtual bool isInventory() { return true; }
     };
 }
 #endif // Inventory_H
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.cpp
index 38e2f77c1..877864cfe 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ ScrollWindow::ScrollWindow (WindowManager& parWindowManager) :
 
 void ScrollWindow::open (MWWorld::Ptr scroll)
 {
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (scroll, "scroll", 1.0, 1.0);
+    // no 3d sounds because the object could be in a container.
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("scroll", 1.0, 1.0);
 
     mScroll = scroll;
 
@@ -41,18 +42,25 @@ void ScrollWindow::open (MWWorld::Ptr scroll)
         mTextView->setCanvasSize(410, mTextView->getSize().height);
 
     mTextView->setViewOffset(MyGUI::IntPoint(0,0));
+
+    setTakeButtonShow(true);
+}
+
+void ScrollWindow::setTakeButtonShow(bool show)
+{
+    mTakeButton->setVisible(show);
 }
 
 void ScrollWindow::onCloseButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
 {
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (mScroll, "scroll", 1.0, 1.0);
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("scroll", 1.0, 1.0);
 
     MWBase::Environment::get().getInputManager()->setGuiMode (GM_Game);
 }
 
 void ScrollWindow::onTakeButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
 {
-    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D (mScroll, "Item Book Up", 1.0, 1.0, MWSound::Play_NoTrack);
+    MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound ("Item Book Up", 1.0, 1.0, MWSound::Play_NoTrack);
 
     MWWorld::ActionTake take(mScroll);
     take.execute();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.hpp
index 918a3d3ef..d58596b4b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/scrollwindow.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ namespace MWGui
     {
         public:
             ScrollWindow (WindowManager& parWindowManager);
+
             void open (MWWorld::Ptr scroll);
+            void setTakeButtonShow(bool show);
 
         protected:
             void onCloseButtonClicked (MyGUI::Widget* _sender);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontake.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontake.cpp
index b1e2e1fc3..384cb3ffe 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontake.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actiontake.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         MWWorld::Class::get (player).getContainerStore (player).add (mObject);
 
-        // remove from world
-        MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->deleteObject (mObject);
+        // remove from world, if the item is currently in the world (it could also be in a container)
+        if (mObject.isInCell())
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->deleteObject (mObject);
     }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
index d6e485f41..4cf3e98da 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/ptr.hpp
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 return mCell;
             }
 
+            bool isInCell() const
+            {
+                return (mCell != 0);
+            }
+
             void setContainerStore (ContainerStore *store);
             ///< Must not be called on references that are in a cell.
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.cpp
index 973407b0c..ce7821280 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@
 
 #include "../mwgui/window_manager.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwscript/scriptmanager.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/compilercontext.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/interpretercontext.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/extensions.hpp"
+#include "../mwscript/globalscripts.hpp"
+
+
 #include "ptr.hpp"
 #include "class.hpp"
 #include "player.hpp"
@@ -1018,4 +1025,24 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         mWorldScene->insertObject(object, cell);
     }
+
+    void World::executeActionScript(MWWorld::Ptr ptr, boost::shared_ptr<Action> action)
+    {
+        MWScript::InterpreterContext interpreterContext (&ptr.getRefData().getLocals(), ptr);
+
+        action->execute();
+
+        // execute script
+        interpreterContext.activate (ptr, action);
+        std::string script = MWWorld::Class::get (ptr).getScript (ptr);
+        if (!script.empty())
+        {
+            getLocalScripts().setIgnore (ptr);
+            MWBase::Environment::get().getScriptManager()->run (script, interpreterContext);
+        }
+        if (!interpreterContext.hasActivationBeenHandled())
+        {
+            interpreterContext.executeActivation();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.hpp
index 1ed6a976e..c1d4ace20 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/world.hpp
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             bool canPlaceObject(float cursorX, float cursorY);
             ///< @return true if it is possible to place on object at specified cursor location
+
+            void executeActionScript(MWWorld::Ptr ptr, boost::shared_ptr<Action> action);
+            ///< execute the activation script of an object (when activating the object with space, or when activating it via the inventory)
     };
 }