Books like The origins of Tolkien's middle-earth for dummies by Greg Harvey

Bilbo Baggins, a humble hobbit, embarks on an unexpected adventure with a dwarf company to recover dragon‑guarded treasure, facing trolls, goblins, elves, a giant spider, and the fearsome dragon Smaug.

An epic account of Middle‑earth’s ancient past, detailing its creation, the famed Silmarils, and the rise of Morgoth and Sauron.

An exhaustive cartographic guide to Tolkien’s Middle‑Earth, presenting updated maps, diagrams, and explanatory text that trace the world from its ancient origins through the Third Age.

Tom Shippey offers a scholarly exploration of Tolkien’s world, dissecting The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion through linguistic, cultural, and mythic lenses.

A 1969 celebration of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy by Lin Carter.

An academic exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Christian humanist perspective on creation, as reflected in the architecture of Middle‑Earth.

"The Road to Middle-earth, Tom Shippey's classic work, now revised and expanded in paperback explores J.R.R. Tolkien's creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien's professional background led him to write The Hobbit and create a timeless charm for millions of readers. He argues convincingly that the source of Tolkien's inspiration lay not just in his love of fable but in his love of language. While examining the foundations and literary structures of Tolkien's most popular work, The Lord of the Rings, in rich detail, Shippey also discusses the contribution of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales to Tolkien's great myth cycle, showing how the more "difficult" books can be fully appreciated. He goes on to examine the remarkable twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, written by Tolkien's son and literary heir Christopher Tolkien, which traces the creative and technical processes by which Middle-earth evolved."--Jacket.