Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'

By: Corey Olsen

Narrated by: Corey Olsen

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The Hobbit is one of the most widely read and best-loved books of the 20th century. Now Corey Olsen takes listeners deep within the text to uncover its secrets and delights.

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Hobbit" is a fun, thoughtful, and insightful companion volume, designed to bring a thorough and original new reading of this great work to a general audience. Professor Olsen takes listeners on an in-depth journey through The Hobbit, chapter by chapter, revealing the stories within the story: the dark desires of dwarves and the sublime laughter of elves, the nature of evil and its hopelessness, the mystery of divine providence and human choice, and, most of all, the transformation within the life of Bilbo Baggins.

Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" is a book that will make The Hobbit come alive for you as never before.

©2012 Corey Olsen (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An admirable and thought-provoking consideration of the underlying themes of The Hobbit, following the there-and-back-again progress from its famous first line on through to Bilbo’s return home at the story's end." (Douglas A. Anderson, author of The Annotated Hobbit)

Interesting exposition but requires full attention

The author goes into great detail about Tolkien's work. This is a good book if you want to know how Tolkien wrote The Hobbit.

The book exposes the depth of the characters and story philosophy that can't be gleaned from just reading Tolkien's story.

My personal experience listening for the first time was not as captivating as I would have liked. If I could sit and listen without distraction I would have enjoyed it more. I find it requires the utmost attention at all times. Otherwise it doesn't flow like a story and you end up missing too much information.

Mostly obvious

Disappointing-- Most of what was written is obvious if one has read The Hobbit. There was some historical information that was quite interesting (about 15% to 20% of the book).

The Thickening of the Soup

Have you ever loved something so much that you find your self squeezing every last drop out of it.
Well, if you love the Hobbit as much as I do then "Exploring the Hobbit" is the juicer you need for this Tolkien classic. Olsen will take you in and out, of passages, and nooks in the story that you have never explored and then open up deeper meaning in each and everyone. Dive in and get a taste and when you have finished and love it, look up his Podcast the Tolkien Professor and get a whole more!

Fantastic!

What a fabulous study of the classic! The Hobbit is one of my all time favorite books, and Mr. Olsen does it much justice in his book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Interesting for Hobbit fans

I was expecting something more like a story as opposed to a literary breakdown of the Hobbit book but it was interesting to hear more details about one of my all time favorite stories.

Talks too fast.

I reduced speed as-far-as-possible. Still too fast to enjoy/concentrate on. A very poor reading job.

For Tolkien enthusiasts only

What did you love best about Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'?

This is a fantastic book for those very familiar with most Tolkien's main works. You should be familiar ( the books, not the movies ) not only with the Hobbit, but the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion in order to appreciate this book. Feel like digging deeper into Tolkien's style, meaning and method of writing - this book is for you.

Any additional comments?

Each chapter of the Hobbit is examined to bring out points that even after several readings may have been missed.

if you're a rabid Hobbit Fan you'll like it

Any additional comments?

I felt that you really had to know the Hobbit to make this worth the time.
I've read the Hobbit multiple times, that said I often thought the author was stretching what the intent of Tolkein was to make his own point.

Such a lovely tale.......

SUCH a lovely tale, to enjoy again and again....and again, especially with this little guide book if you will...read by the author himself. It is truly informative, Wimsical,.....explorative....we come with.

An ok book with an odd narration

The book is fine, neither overly insightful nor boring. The narrator seems to pronounce all Ls as U or W. it can be a little distracting when you notice it, but not overly so.