Book Review: On the Shoulders of Hobbits

The world of J. R. R. Tolkien is filled with strange creatures, elaborately crafted lore, ancient tongues, and magic that exists only in fantasy; yet the lessons taught by hobbits and wizards speak powerfully and practically to our real lives. Courage, valor, trust, pride, greed, and jealousy--these are not fictional virtues. This is the stuff of real life, the Christian life. Professor and author Louis Markos takes us on the road with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, with looks at selected classic works of literature as well, to show how great stories bring us so much more than entertainment. They inspire and convict, imparting truth in unforgettable ways.

Rediscover the virtue of great storytelling and the power of fantasy to transform our reality.

It's been a long time since I've read anything that has an intellectual basis. Don't get me wrong, I love fiction and getting lost in a story but it's a different brain experience than reading something that actually causes you to pause and think about what the author is saying. This is just that sort of book. More than once, I found myself holding my page with my finger while I considered and contemplated something that he had wrote within the pages. This is a book that helped to re-stretch my brain and one that I will go back and read again once my brain has been stretched again. If you're at all offended by biblical references, this won't be the book for you but if you're interested in how they compare with some of our favorite fantasy stories, don't hesitate to pick this one up.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. In fact, I received two copies, so if you'd like one, let me know and I just might send one on its way to you. All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

If you like what you've read here, please share it with others using these buttons: