Potential energy is a stored form of energy, and it can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy. When you drop the book, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. The book falls to the ground, and its kinetic energy increases as it accelerates.
The amount of potential energy that an object has depends on its mass, its height, and the acceleration due to gravity. The heavier the object, the higher it is lifted, and the greater the acceleration due to gravity, the greater its potential energy.
In the case of the book, its mass, height, and the acceleration due to gravity are all constant. Therefore, its potential energy increases linearly as it is lifted higher into the air.