# What is the best order to read the works of Tolkein?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 26, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930 "2002-12-26T04:25:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pythagras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@Pythagras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pythagras)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930/1 "2002-12-26T04:25:10Z")

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This is an IMHO/Cafe Society thread, I’ll let the mods decide where it should go.

So I’ve got X-mas money to spend and some time to enjoy:

If you wanted to get the best out of the works of Tolkein for your time and money, which works would you include and what order would you read them in?

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**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930/2 "2002-12-26T04:30:07Z")

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Generally, start with the Hobbit and then read Lord of the Rings. Only pick up the Similiralion and Unfinished Tales if you’re then interested in the ideas behind those books. He wrote other stuff too, of course, but I’ve only read The Father Christmas Letters from his fiction and none of his nonfiction (which would only be interesting if you were interested in old and middle English).

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**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930/3 "2002-12-26T04:32:56Z")

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I would do it as follows:

Hobbit—\>LotR (really interchangable though, it might actually be kind of cool to read the Hobbit _after_ the LotR.)

Next Unfinished Tales, and then The Silmarillion.

For the true geek there is also _Letters_ and some non middle earth writings in _The Tolkien Reader_ (although this may be called something else, mine is a cheap little paperback that has The Ballad of Tom Bombadil, Farmer Giles of Ham, and a few other short works.)

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**Author:** ![Volta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ce73a5/32.png) [@Volta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Volta)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-order-to-read-the-works-of-tolkein/144930/4 "2002-12-27T01:25:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Cisco \*  
> \*\*  
> Hobbit—\>LotR (really interchangable though, it might actually be kind of cool to read the Hobbit _after_ the LotR.)  
> \*\*

I read _The Hobbit_ after LotR. It’s no big deal. Reading _Hobbit_ first’ll help you understand some of the stuff in the first couple chapters of LotR, and you may also have a better picture of Rivendell. Then again, LotR may prepare your mind to really _see_ that Lonely Mountain and everything else for that matter.

In any case, definitely read _The Silmarillion_ sometime after reading LotR. It’s like hearing a fantastic legend then learning the probable (and dull) story behind it. Not that _Silmarillion_’s dull, but the idea is that first you have this sense of wonder at the vast unknown history alluded to in LotR. Then you learn it. Of course if you’re a history buff, you just might want to tackle this first.