Why people recommend it
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a beloved classic fantasy novel that chronicles the unexpected journey, trials, and personal transformation of Bilbo Baggins as he aids a group of dwarves in reclaiming their stolen homeland from the dragon Smaug. The book frequently inspires literary commentary and philosophical discussions across diverse podcasts. On How I Write, David Perell quoted a poignant passage about Bilbo facing his fears in the tunnel alone to illustrate the solitary moments of courage that precede heroic action. In the same podcast series, Adrian Tchaikovsky discussed Smaug as the ultimate embodiment of greed, noting how Tolkien drew directly from Anglo-Saxon myths like Fafnir. On The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, Jordan B. Peterson and Peter Kreeft referenced Bilbo and Frodo's adventures when exploring universal storytelling motifs, focusing on the spiritual themes of self-sacrifice, overcoming evil, and the transformative nature of returning home. Additionally, Robert Evans mentioned The Hobbit on Behind the Bastards while discussing Peter Thiel's high school yearbook quote, which was inspired by Tolkien's timeless verse. Across these discussions, speakers utilized Tolkien's masterpiece to explore enduring themes of heroism, moral duty, and mythic archetypes.
Who recommended it
- Henry Oliver Discussed
- David Perell Discussed
- Adrian Tchaikovsky Discussed
- Jordan B. Peterson Discussed
- Robert Evans Discussed
- Peter Kreeft Discussed
Henry Oliver — 1 mention
“OLIVER: Lord of the Rings plus The Hobbit, right?”
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.”
Jordan B. Peterson — 1 mention
“How do you return home like the Hobbit does at the end of the well the Hobbit and at the end of the Lord of the Rings, right?”
Robert Evans — 1 mention
“so one particularly baffling segment from the chafkin book involves Peter's senior yearbook quote which he credited to The Hobbit The Greatest Adventure is what lies ahead today and tomorrow are yet to be said now you know that seems like something a nerdy kid would do”
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
- The Lord of the Rings
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- All's Well That Ends Well
- Atlas Shrugged
Other mentions (8: 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,”
“I can't I can't like I'm thinking like that scene in The Hobbit of Thor going like I won't bart with one coin like like I can't I can't you know what I'm talking about, right?”
“Like it literally looks like like The Hobbit when like the different clans come together.”
“So So it's in fact J.R. Tolken based the hobbits on people he knew”
“and this is the beginning of a incredibly curious mystery curious and curiouser or as as they say in Lord of the Rings way or The Hobbit way leads on the way second breakfast second breakfast potato elies”
“or the story of Richard power's recent novel The over Story... I read The Hobbit and I read Lord of the Rings and and I was fascinated with trees obviously”
“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”
“I was like is this from The Hobbit a tiny bit older than The Hobbit in Plato's Republic”