Just the right level of information for the hobbist.
935575
I am very pleased with my purchase. The author has just the right level of information for the experienced or advanced hobbist.  Well worth the price.  I recommend it.
1317881
This has all of the Lord of the Rings books in one volume.  The illustrations are great and the book is easy to hold (in spite of its size) and read.
1866357
It is so nerdy and perfect for the Tolkien lover. It provides great info on all things Tolkien and Middle Earth.
3774660
It is a lovely book which offers a special and personal glimpse into the architect behind Middle Earth. Included are his reactions to some world events such as the Manhattan Project ("Babel builders") and WW2. It includes personal letters between Tolkein and his family members as well as humorous letters between Tolkein and his publishers regarding his issues with deadlines.

The book also provides information regarding Middle Earth that cannot be found in any other published volumes. For those looking for real insight regarding some little known trivia this is a real find.
4246296
This was possibly my 4th or 5th reading of The Hobbit -- separated by decades -- enjoy it every time! This issue seems true =- a few typos here and there, but seems to contain everything  I remembered including maps.
4518749
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Hobbit/dp/054792822X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Hobbit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Lord-of-the-Rings/dp/0618640150/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Lord of the Rings</a>&nbsp;have put generations under their spell and the spectacular movies and brought them to millions more. There has been volumes written about Tolkien's Middle-Earth and the detail and depth he imparted into it. Some of its most important meanings are its simplest. In Brown's short study, he looks at those lessons of friendship, greed and what is truly important in our lives. Simple sounding, yet critical and over-looked in our busy lives. A great intro book to studies of Tolkien's books, Hobbit Lesssons is directed at all ages, but I suspect it would especially be good for younger folk just new to the books or films. See also&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Hobbit-Journey-Discovering-the-Enchantment-of-J-R-R-Tolkien-s-Middle-earth/dp/1587433001/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Finding-God-in-The-Hobbit/dp/1414305966/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Finding God in The Hobbit</a>.
3480701
The book is an easy read. Each section is broken up into short subtopics that sums up the information in an easy comprehensive way.
2761911
This is just what I was looking for - written at the level I need, all the info I need.
50542
well done and useful with just the right amount of background
2271823
The information was very clearly presented and went into just enough detail.  I liked the way the writer referred to archaeological relics and locations that "could still be seen at the corner of X and Y" and, as example, "Ayfeshire, which is presently known as Ashire".  Also, she provided several examples of the origins of words and traditions.
942497
I just read the entire book and was impressed with the amount of detailed information, along with contacts, Web addresses, etc. The author breaks down the chapters into logical subject areas, and includes enough detail for the reader to decide if that approach to information publishing will be appropriate for them.
1076804
Easy to read, written to enjoy reading it, and helpful information.
1482513
Just the right amount of information to have in your hand when you're walking around the islands. Good for on-the-spot identification.
4232352
Great little book (as are all the Shire Books I own), it gives you a taste of the subject, has a comprehensive reference list for further reading and a fair number of "original" catalog pages which makes it a good reference book as well.
4247752
I was re-reading my worn copy of "The Hobbit" anyway, in anticipation of Peter Jackson's Hobbit movie[s] (recently announced as a trilogy, much to the delight of Tolkien and Jackson fans worldwide), but I wanted to delve more deeply into Tolkien's world-building.  So I ordered this companion book to get a deeper understanding of Tolkien's writing.

This book has a wonderful conversational style while still imparting important, interesting information about both the writing of the children's book, and its characters, plot and themes.  For instance, I did not know that Tolkien changed portions of "The Hobbit" (in later editions) concerning Gollum and the Ring once his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was published in order to comport with the magnitude of the Ring's evil powers.  In the original Hobbit story, the ring is not shown to have had the horrible impact on Smeagol/Gollum that it does after the re-write.  Originally, the ring is merely the prize in a riddle contest which Bilbo wins and Gollum loses.

I used this book as a reference while re-reading "The Hobbit," and I used it as a jumping-off point when doing more research afterwards.  The book is packed with information, but it may be considered too basic for some who are already steeped in Tolkien lore.  However, I really enjoyed it, and I consider myself pretty well acquainted with LOTR in both the books and the movies.

I recommend this volume for all LOTR fans, and for those wishing deeper insights into this fascinating author and his literary creations.
3651755
This book has pages of pull out, lots of beautiful pictures and detailed information. If you have a Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter fan this book is perfect with subtle references to both wizards.
2380688
The completeness of this summary is surprising considering its brevity.  It is a very handy reference for LOTR lovers.