Book · 1986 · Fiction
The Hobbit
The Enchanting Prelude to The Lord of the Rings
Why people recommend it
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a beloved fantasy adventure novel that follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins as he leaves his comfortable home to join a quest for stolen treasure. On the How I Write podcast, David Perell referenced the classic story to highlight the private, solitary moments of fear and terror that heroes experience before stepping forward into genuine action and danger. During a separate episode of the same show, Adrian Tchaikovsky discussed the book to illustrate how monsters in fantasy can embody human characteristics, noting specifically that Tolkien modeled the dragon Smaug's embodiment of greed directly after Fafnir from Anglo-Saxon myth. Furthermore, Peter Kreeft mentioned the fantasy novel on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast alongside The Lord of the Rings to examine profound themes of quests, adventures, and how protagonists ultimately overcome evil through acts of self-sacrifice. These varied podcast discussions demonstrate how the timeless narrative continues to resonate with writers and scholars alike, serving as a rich source of inspiration for analyzing character motivation, mythic archetypes, and the psychological weight of confronting immense challenges. The enduring appeal of Bilbo Baggins and his harrowing adventures through Middle-earth proves that Tolkien's masterwork remains an essential touchstone for understanding both the mechanics of epic fantasy storytelling and the universal nuances of personal bravery in the face of insurmountable odds.
Who recommended it
- David Perell Discussed
- Adrian Tchaikovsky Discussed
- Peter Kreeft Discussed
David Perell — 1 mention
“Listen to this from Tol. Okay. It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in weight.”
Adrian Tchaikovsky — 1 mention
“So, for example, you know, Smaug in The Hobbit is an embodiment of greed, and Tolkien is taking that directly from Fafnir in sort of Anglo-Saxon myth.”
Peter Kreeft — 1 mention
“and that Harry does undertake a track and a quest like like Frodo and Bilbo in the in The Lord of the Rings in The Hobbit and overcomes evil through self-sacrifice”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Blade runner 2049
- Braveheart
- Bullies and Mean Girls in Popular Culture
- Casablanca
- Chesterton's stories, essays and poems, by g.k. chesterton
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and it's very hard to know, it's like with "The Hobbit" or something, what to do with it, and I find myself truly overwhelmed with the multitasking,”
“So So it's in fact J.R. Tolken based the hobbits on people he knew”
“we talked about the one ring from you know The Hobbit and precious Lord of the Rings right like that is what it felt like”