Today, I present my recommended Reading Order for all of JRR Tolkien's books on Middle-earth! My philosophy is to make it as easy a transition into the more difficult books (like The Silmarillion) as possible. In so doing, I've recommended a reading order that goes by difficulty and books that contain the most narrative content.

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My Recommended Order
Narrative Books:
The Hobbit (https://amzn.to/3qrlN5X)
The Lord of the Rings (https://amzn.to/341Mfvt)
The Children of Húrin (https://amzn.to/3mzQrJa)
The Silmarillion (https://amzn.to/3yYTWy1)

Slightly academic approach:
Unfinished Tales (https://amzn.to/3puTbtb)
Beren and Lúthien (https://amzn.to/3enUjZs)
The Fall of Gondolin (https://amzn.to/3FAHpmM)

Heavy academic approach:
The History of Middle-earth (https://amzn.to/3ErOCnL)
The Nature of Middle-earth (https://amzn.to/3sBCmyE)
The Letters of JRR Tolkien (https://amzn.to/3mAZKIW)
The History of The Hobbit (https://amzn.to/3mzXodw)

Biographical Books:
A Tolkien Biography - Humphrey Carpenter (https://amzn.to/3qv8UIb)
J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century - Tom Shippey (https://amzn.to/3etgwoM)
Tolkien and the Great War - John Garth (https://amzn.to/3mv3Br1)

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Gandalf and Thorin at Bree - Ted Nasmith
Bilbo - Raoul Vitale
Bilbo and the Eagles - Ted Nasmith
Bilbo at Rivendell - Brothers Hildebrandt
Riddles in the Dark - Lonesome Crow
Riddles in the Dark - Tim Kirk
Thus Came Aragorn - Ted Nasmith
Battle of the Black Gate - Ted Nasmith
Gandalf vs Balrog - Elbardo
The Balrogs of Morgoth - Thylacinee
Turin - Kenneth Sofia
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Turgon and Glorfindel - Ivana Lekseich
Morgoth and Fingolfin - Joel Kilpatrick
Glaurung - Amis Gaudi
Morgoth Punishes Hurin - Ted Nasmith
Turin Confronts Glaurung - Turner Mohan
Aure Entuluva - Jenny Dolfen
Nienor and Glaurung - John Howe
Turin and his Band are Led to Amon Rudh - Ted Nasmith
Beleriand Map - Lamaarcana
Turgon and Fingolfin's Cairn - Ted Nasmith
Music of the Gods - Kip Rasmussen
The Forging of the One - Ted Nasmith
Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin - Ted Nasmith
Alqualonde - Ted Nasmith
The Coming of Fingolfin - Jenny Dolfen
He Beheld a Vision of Gondolin Amid the Snow - Ted Nasmith
The Oath of Feanor - Jenny Dolfen
Hurin and Huor Approaching Gondolin - Donato Giancola
The Fall of Gondolin - Ralph Damiani
Gandalf and the Balrog Upon Celebdil - Ted Nasmith
Sting - Wes Talbott
Artanis and Feanor - Tolman Cotton
Galadriel's Gift to Gimli - Magianna
The Oath of Felagund - Antti Autio
Minas Tirith - Stefan Meisl
Beleg Approaches Amon Rudh - John Howe
Druedain in the Forest - John Howe
The Hunt for the Ring - John Howe
The Numenoreans Sail to Middle-earth - John Howe
The Battle of Dagorlad - John Howe
The Blue Wizards Journeying East - Ted Nasmith
Isildur's Last Counsellor - Anke Eissmann
The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl - Ted Nasmith
Galadriel and Celeborn - Ted Nasmith
Huan's Leap - Ted Nasmith
Huan vs Sauron - Soys Dav3y34
Beren and Luthien in the Court of Thingol and Melian - Donato Giancola
Luthien in the Court of Morgoth - Pete Amachree
Luthien, Huan, and Sauron - N Nowak
Of Beren and Luthien - Ulla Thynell
Beren and Luthien - Justin Gerard
The Fall of Gondolin - Ralph Damiani
Gondolin - spartank42
Glorfindel's Bane - Ted Nasmith
Tuor, Idril, and Earendil Flee Gondolin - Alice Beckstrom
Tuor Reaches the Hidden City of Gondolin - Ted Nasmith
Love and Loss - Sara M Morello
Tuor and Idril - Jenny Dolfen
Glorfindel and the Balrog - Alan Lee
Tuor strikes a note - Alan Lee
Ugluk - John Howe
Black Rider- John Howe
Elrond, Elros, Earendil, Elwing - Jenny Dolfen
Death of Feanor - Jenny Dolfen
Unexpected Party - John Howe
Visit to Bilbo - Alan Lee
Eowyn and Faramir - Ted Nasmith
Get thee gone - Jenny Dolfen
Then Fingon rose against him - Jenny Dolfen

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