The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful storytelling is unmatched, and The Lord of the Rings weaves together moral dilemmas and profound philosophical ideas seamlessly, encouraging me to contemplate the nature of power, the importance of preserving the natural world, and the significance of individual choices.

The book's themes of heroism, friendship, sacrifice, and the struggle between good and evil resonate deeply. In addition, each of his characters feels like an aspect of oneself; the introspection it inspires is brilliant!

The Lord of the Rings instills a sense of wonder, ignites the imagination, and imparts timeless wisdom, which heavily transformed my perspective on life,… show more.

Not so many young people read The Lord of the Rings these days, but it is so full of human wisdom and old-world beliefs that reading it is very worthwhile.

Together with The Hobbit, this trilogy has fed my life-long interest in Norse myths and legends. The basic story follows the terrifying coming-of-age experiences of a young Hobbit in a desperate situation. Accompanied by true friends he must brave the worst of horrors to save his own soul.

It is a timeless story my family has read numerous times, each re-reading offering a new joy or insight.

The Lord of the Rings is a deep dive into the expansive world of Middle-earth in unwavering great detail.

While it can be a challenge to read the entire volume all at once, it is well worth the effort as JRR Tolkien brings Frodo, the Shire, orcs, elves, dwarves, and the Fellowship vividly to life. It is one of the greatest epic tales of all time, both within the pages and on the screen.

For me, I was captured by the themes of friendship, sacrifice, love, loss, redemption, and the darkness of envy and power. As an author, it was… show more.

Founding text of the modern fantasy genre, expander of Homer's beautiful or horrific fantastic gallery; but unlike Odysseus or Christian, Tolkien's characters change, either to grow or become "better," or to spectacularly regress. This novel-type flux matches his unique gift, the modulation of style. Most good writers can find one "voice" and maintain it. But unlike the films, the books will show you Tolkien starting in a cozy-children's-story mode in the Shire, rising to the King James Bible or mythic level of Gandalf's resurrection story, or the Fields of Cormallen – and then drawing the whole vast arc of quest… show more.

I know that this is a three-book series, but it was written as one book and separated by the publishers in order to make more money. You can buy the series as one book as it was intended to be read, so that is the book I am promoting here. Now, most people will say that Tolkien really doesn’t tell you much about the magic of Middle Earth, and I would agree. That, however, is the beauty of Tolkien. He leaves things to mystery, including magic. He lived through the early 20th century, and he felt that the world… show more.

This is a foundational book for me. When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I would re-read it every year. But that’s not why I’m recommending this book. I’m recommending it for the same reason I’m recommending Hemmingway: how Tolkien uses language. While Hemmingway’s prose is very pared-down and simple, Tolkien’s is the opposite – it is almost (and frequently) poetic, and yet it is never overwrought. Just as it is important for writers to see how to use simple prose to its best effect, it is important to have an exemplar of how to use more… show more.

If you’ve never heard of this book… what hobbit-hole in the ground have you been living in? My first real foray into high fantasy, these novels have their reputation for a reason. Tolkien coined the phrase ‘inner consistency of reality,’ using it as a benchmark for good writing. You cannot be surprised, then, that Tolkien expends immense effort in his own world-building. I love these novels for their grand themes and their heroes’ journeys, but the loving attention to language, culture, and landscape has a magic all its own. These books taught me a lot about perseverance and hope. 

Why indeed, given the topic of this reading list, and that you have probably read it before? But you have not read it trying to understand alliances, collaboration, and power. Read this way, Lord of the Rings has everything. It contrasts the centrally controlled Mordor with the alliances facing it. It shows how old alliances and allegiances are maintained even under extreme stress. It shows the tensions from different ways of thinking and different priorities, and leaders who are able to resolve these for the common good. It shows how diverse capabilities turn the Middle Earth alliances into an opponent… show more.

When writing anything fantasy or fairy-tale-like, it’s hard to avoid the influence of Tolkien. He’s certainly an influence on me in world-building (as is Dune, Star Wars, and a host of others), but the main thing I think I’ve retained from multiple read-throughs of The Trilogy is the focus on maps. I loved looking at the maps that came with the books and imagined where the characters were in relation to everything else. They are integral to the story; even the film/TV adaptations rely heavily on them. As I’ve written more books, the map/geographical aspect of where the… show more.

Although these books total more than 1500 pages, I find myself re-reading them every few years. Several years ago they were made into movies (which I have thoroughly enjoyed many times), but the experience just isn’t the same. The books are mesmerizing.

The Lord of the Rings is the ultimate story of Good vs Evil, and of struggle, determination and hope in the face of seemingly impossible odds. It illustrates how the simplest act by the smallest person can make the difference between victory and defeat at a global scale. Its lessons are at least as relevant today as they… show more.