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On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis
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.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
106 people are currently reading
1696 people want to read
About the author
Louis A. Markos
39 books123 followersDr. Markos earned his B.A. in English and History from Colgate University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from the University of Michigan. At the University of Michigan, he specialized in British Romantic Poetry, Literary Theory, and the Classics.
He has taught at Houston Baptist University since 1991, where he is Professor in English and holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities.
He has taught at Houston Baptist University since 1991, where he is Professor in English and holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 12, 2012
Having seen a lot of books on The Hobbit and Tolkien lately, I knew I would like this one when I read in the introduction of the author's belief in the importance of stories to communicate what is good and worth striving for and how to go about striving for it. Then he stressed the importance of parents discussing stories with their children, and proceeded to offer excellent material for discussion about The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and also Lewis' Narnia, not only considering the stories themselves but, more importantly, what they say about life.
He says, "Stories are meant to be shared, not read in isolation, and it is my hope that this book will initiate fruitful dialogue between parents and children and encourage them to enter as a family both into the adventures themselves and into the greater adventure of living, choosing, and yearning in a fallen world that is nevertheless filled with meaning, purpose, and beauty."
It is not a scholarly work as much as 'material for discussion', material which is meant to impact life rather than theorise about it. It is not so much a Christian interpretation of Tolkien's works, but a 'mining of his works for virtue'. He looks not at what is intended or meant by passages, but what we can learn from them.
The themes he explores in these texts include:
- The lure of the road: the inner restlessness we feel with life when we are not striving for anything, the faint question about whether there is more to life than our everyday preoccupations.
- Responding to the call: how obedience increases freedom, because freedom is increased and perfected by willingness to be part of a tale that is bigger and grander than oneself.
- The dangers and tests of the road, both physical and spiritual, which if faced with virtue only serve to strengthen resolve and courage.
- The end of the road: understanding death by valuing life, and learning that this world is not all there is. That instead of death being a shadow on this life, it is our world which is the shadow, and on the other side waits not night, but morning.
- The classical virtues: courage and endurance, temperance, wisdom and justice.
- The theological virtues: friendship and self-giving love, faith, hope and happy endings as both practical and realistic, and love that pities and forgives.
- Evil: forbidden fruit, perversion and corruption, darkness that cannot overcome light and the price of war.
Highly recommended. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
November 15, 2012
After having read The Lord of he Rings trilogy and the Hobbit more than a half dozen times and the Chronicles of Narnia 4+ times I wouldn't have thought I could appreciate them any more than I already do. Well, I was wrong. Lou Markos's books is an eye-opener. He delves into the values and virtues of these amazing stories with the mind of a scholar and the enthusiasm of a true appreciator of Tolkien's and Lewis's work. "On the Shoulders of Hobbits" is an exceptional work. It made me wish I could enroll in Markos's literature courses starting right now. It also spurred me to re-read those great stories again because there is so much there I hadn't seen before.
February 5, 2013
For More Book Reviews, please check out my blog.
Both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were godly men and their writing was informed by their faith. Although not always evident to everyone or plain in all of their stories, they crafted their characters and worlds to reveal the virtues of the Christian life. It is more obvious in the work of Lewis, whose fiction works clearly represent Biblical stories and virtues. Tolkien's work is more often praised for the depth of the fantasy world that he created. Unfortunately, many have chosen to obsess over the characters and the world itself and not examine the virtue, or lack thereof, built into his characters. In his book On the Shoulders of Hobbits, Louis Markos examines the virtues behind the stories and characters. He shows how the faith of Tolkien and Lewis undergird the stories of Middle-Earth and Narnia. Markos divides his book into four main sections with four chapters each. The four main sections are the Road, the Classical Virtues, the Theological Virtues, and Evil. In each chapter, he primarily discusses how The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia portray the particular virtue or, in the case of evil, the lack of virtue.
Markos begins with the Road. While itself is not a virtue, this is an appropriate place to start when discussing the virtues in the world of story. All good stories begin with a hero being swept up into some sort of journey. This is especially true of Tolkien's works (he even wrote a poem about the Road). The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings begin with a hobbit (or hobbits) leaving their shire on a journey. Markos rightly explains that all of us are called to take to the road and live out some sort of journey. Although our journey may not be as life threatening as those the Lewis and Tolkien write about, we all have to answer the call to live out the journey set before us.
The heart and meat of this book is found in parts two, three, and four. In sections two and three, Markos expounds how the seven virtues, four cardinal and three theological, are found in the work of Tolkien and Lewis. In the cardinal virtues, Markos does a fantastic job of revealing the characteristics of various characters in Middle-Earth and Narnia and the virtues that they portray. I particularly enjoy his exploration of wisdom and how wisdom and knowledge are not one in the same. Markos shows the differences between the wisdom and discernment of Gandalf and Saruman's quest for knowledge and power. He explains that Saruman's quest for power gives him great knowledge of evil and he gains great power, but Saruman's quest is ultimately folly because he quest for power blinds him to the fact that he is merely a pawn of Sauron. Gandalf, however, understands the wisdom of destroying the ring and not trying to better understand it and wield its power.
The next part focuses on the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Markos adds to this list friendship. This is, on one hand understandable, because of key role that friendship plays in Lord of the Rings and in many of the Narnia tales. On the other hand, it seems a bit odd that Markos seeks to add to the theological virtues. Looking at the table of contents, it appears that he was merely seeking for symmetry in his four sections to have four chapters. That being said, it is a well written chapter on the importance of friendship both in the lives of the authors and their works. Following friendship, he discusses faith, hope, and love. Compared to the section on the cardinal virtues, this is the weaker of the two discussions of the virtues. Primarily, I was disappointed with his section on faith. Instead of discussion the deep trust in faith that requires, primarily focuses on the meaning of the Greek word Kairos and how the council of Eldrond was a "Kairos" moment that called the characters to faith.
Finally, Markos finishes with a discussion of evil, which might seem a little out of place, but fits in perfectly to round off this discussion. Not surprisingly, Lewis and Tolkien show a similar understanding of the nature of evil in the world. Neither of them consider evil or any evil power capable of creating anything. They are merely twisting and warping that which is good into evil. Markos explains that the "opposites" of the virtues, are not really opposites. Evil only has the power to steal, kill, and destroy what is good, it has no creative power. This is important in the real world because we need to see that God is the source of life and is more powerful that evil. It takes what God has created and twists, warps, and destroys. What may seem powerful to us, ultimately has no power over the Creator. The vices are not the opposite of the virtues, but merely a twisting of them.
Normally, I don't write reviews this long, but I am very pleased with this book and enjoy talking about this subject. Even though I have offered a few critiques, I believe that this is a fantastic book and a must read for anyone wanting to delve deeper into the writings of Tolkien and Lewis. I wish that Markos would have ventured more into The Silmarillion and into some of Lewis's other fiction works (primarily the Space Trilogy), but that would likely make this a much larger book. As it is now, it is very approachable for anyone who appreciates Lewis and Tolkien. For someone like me who wants more, Markos includes a list of books about Tolkien and books about Lewis for further study. If you like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, which most people do, read this book. It will help you appreciate their books and understand them as not just fantasy books, but as works of devout Christian men expressing their faith.
I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were godly men and their writing was informed by their faith. Although not always evident to everyone or plain in all of their stories, they crafted their characters and worlds to reveal the virtues of the Christian life. It is more obvious in the work of Lewis, whose fiction works clearly represent Biblical stories and virtues. Tolkien's work is more often praised for the depth of the fantasy world that he created. Unfortunately, many have chosen to obsess over the characters and the world itself and not examine the virtue, or lack thereof, built into his characters. In his book On the Shoulders of Hobbits, Louis Markos examines the virtues behind the stories and characters. He shows how the faith of Tolkien and Lewis undergird the stories of Middle-Earth and Narnia. Markos divides his book into four main sections with four chapters each. The four main sections are the Road, the Classical Virtues, the Theological Virtues, and Evil. In each chapter, he primarily discusses how The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Chronicles of Narnia portray the particular virtue or, in the case of evil, the lack of virtue.
Markos begins with the Road. While itself is not a virtue, this is an appropriate place to start when discussing the virtues in the world of story. All good stories begin with a hero being swept up into some sort of journey. This is especially true of Tolkien's works (he even wrote a poem about the Road). The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings begin with a hobbit (or hobbits) leaving their shire on a journey. Markos rightly explains that all of us are called to take to the road and live out some sort of journey. Although our journey may not be as life threatening as those the Lewis and Tolkien write about, we all have to answer the call to live out the journey set before us.
The heart and meat of this book is found in parts two, three, and four. In sections two and three, Markos expounds how the seven virtues, four cardinal and three theological, are found in the work of Tolkien and Lewis. In the cardinal virtues, Markos does a fantastic job of revealing the characteristics of various characters in Middle-Earth and Narnia and the virtues that they portray. I particularly enjoy his exploration of wisdom and how wisdom and knowledge are not one in the same. Markos shows the differences between the wisdom and discernment of Gandalf and Saruman's quest for knowledge and power. He explains that Saruman's quest for power gives him great knowledge of evil and he gains great power, but Saruman's quest is ultimately folly because he quest for power blinds him to the fact that he is merely a pawn of Sauron. Gandalf, however, understands the wisdom of destroying the ring and not trying to better understand it and wield its power.
The next part focuses on the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Markos adds to this list friendship. This is, on one hand understandable, because of key role that friendship plays in Lord of the Rings and in many of the Narnia tales. On the other hand, it seems a bit odd that Markos seeks to add to the theological virtues. Looking at the table of contents, it appears that he was merely seeking for symmetry in his four sections to have four chapters. That being said, it is a well written chapter on the importance of friendship both in the lives of the authors and their works. Following friendship, he discusses faith, hope, and love. Compared to the section on the cardinal virtues, this is the weaker of the two discussions of the virtues. Primarily, I was disappointed with his section on faith. Instead of discussion the deep trust in faith that requires, primarily focuses on the meaning of the Greek word Kairos and how the council of Eldrond was a "Kairos" moment that called the characters to faith.
Finally, Markos finishes with a discussion of evil, which might seem a little out of place, but fits in perfectly to round off this discussion. Not surprisingly, Lewis and Tolkien show a similar understanding of the nature of evil in the world. Neither of them consider evil or any evil power capable of creating anything. They are merely twisting and warping that which is good into evil. Markos explains that the "opposites" of the virtues, are not really opposites. Evil only has the power to steal, kill, and destroy what is good, it has no creative power. This is important in the real world because we need to see that God is the source of life and is more powerful that evil. It takes what God has created and twists, warps, and destroys. What may seem powerful to us, ultimately has no power over the Creator. The vices are not the opposite of the virtues, but merely a twisting of them.
Normally, I don't write reviews this long, but I am very pleased with this book and enjoy talking about this subject. Even though I have offered a few critiques, I believe that this is a fantastic book and a must read for anyone wanting to delve deeper into the writings of Tolkien and Lewis. I wish that Markos would have ventured more into The Silmarillion and into some of Lewis's other fiction works (primarily the Space Trilogy), but that would likely make this a much larger book. As it is now, it is very approachable for anyone who appreciates Lewis and Tolkien. For someone like me who wants more, Markos includes a list of books about Tolkien and books about Lewis for further study. If you like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, which most people do, read this book. It will help you appreciate their books and understand them as not just fantasy books, but as works of devout Christian men expressing their faith.
I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 23, 2016
Professor Louis Markos distills the moral wisdom of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia in his warmly-written, accessible nonfiction work, On the Shoulders of Hobbits.
Many readers - myself included - can sense a healthiness in the works of Tolkien and Lewis absent in other fantasies, but can't articulate the difference. This book can help! Markos ties the major events of the books in with passages from the Bible and the classics of Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.
Markos doesn't either ignore or overtly emphasize the Catholic worldview of Jack and Tollers, so fans from all Churches should feel comfortable reading. Unfortunately, non-religious fans might be scared off by the word "Virtue" in the title. I hope they won't be; the book is very good and may improve their opinion of Christians.
A worthy analysis from a writer who clearly loves the classics and sees Lewis' and Tolkien's works in their rightful place therein. If you want even more analysis, The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings might be your next stop from here. Kreeft, who wrote the preface to Shoulders, has a more academic style than Markos, and Philosophy is a less accessible book. Its focus is ostensibly Tolkien, but Lewis is an inescapable presence, not that one would wish to escape him anyway.
Both books are well worth the time of anyone who has walked in Narnia and Middle-earth.
Many readers - myself included - can sense a healthiness in the works of Tolkien and Lewis absent in other fantasies, but can't articulate the difference. This book can help! Markos ties the major events of the books in with passages from the Bible and the classics of Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.
Markos doesn't either ignore or overtly emphasize the Catholic worldview of Jack and Tollers, so fans from all Churches should feel comfortable reading. Unfortunately, non-religious fans might be scared off by the word "Virtue" in the title. I hope they won't be; the book is very good and may improve their opinion of Christians.
A worthy analysis from a writer who clearly loves the classics and sees Lewis' and Tolkien's works in their rightful place therein. If you want even more analysis, The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind the Lord of the Rings might be your next stop from here. Kreeft, who wrote the preface to Shoulders, has a more academic style than Markos, and Philosophy is a less accessible book. Its focus is ostensibly Tolkien, but Lewis is an inescapable presence, not that one would wish to escape him anyway.
Both books are well worth the time of anyone who has walked in Narnia and Middle-earth.
November 28, 2012
This is a quick and engaging read, an enjoyable Joseph-Campbellian delving into Tolkien's epic with the occasional side-trip into the Narnia books. Markos gives us an enthusiastic reading of the values, the spirituality, the mythological importance of these works and gives the reader a good excuse (as if one were needed!) to return once again to Middle-Earth and to Narnia.
The author does lose a star in my final rating (it would be half a star if we could rate in half-stars here) for the occasional gratuitous, overly-broad, unnecessarily snide shot at modern values he disagrees with. These are relatively few, but they do stand out as not quite in keeping with either the tone or the idealism of the rest of the book. It detracts from what is otherwise an enjoyable read.
But on the whole, it is a delight to read such a thorough analysis from someone who so obviously loves these books, and for many of the same reasons I do.
The author does lose a star in my final rating (it would be half a star if we could rate in half-stars here) for the occasional gratuitous, overly-broad, unnecessarily snide shot at modern values he disagrees with. These are relatively few, but they do stand out as not quite in keeping with either the tone or the idealism of the rest of the book. It detracts from what is otherwise an enjoyable read.
But on the whole, it is a delight to read such a thorough analysis from someone who so obviously loves these books, and for many of the same reasons I do.
September 25, 2021
2021: I’m glad I’ve read Narnia, the Hobbit, and Dante more times since 2013. Revisiting this book after several years proved enriching.
2013: Really enjoyed this one.
2013: Really enjoyed this one.
June 23, 2025
This book explores the classical virtues and vices through the lens of Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia. Although they may be fantasy, these stories guide us to live a life of virtue. As the characters in fiction represent virtues such as courage and faith, we can be inspired to follow in their footsteps in our own life stories. They teach us to fight for justice, to cling to hope, and live with temperance.
This book does include spoilers for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and all of the Chronicles of Narnia, so you have to have read those books before diving into this study.
The first section of this book talks about the "lure of the road" and how each of us begins our own adventures. Just as Frodo has to choose to take the Ring to Mordor, we must choose how we want to live and what sort of moral compass we will follow. We might be tempted to follow some other dark road, but we must continually choose to stay on the path of righteousness even when things look grim. The characters in fantasy quests are willing to let go of all that is familiar and strike out into the unknown, and that is where their transformation begins as they mature and grow into the best version of themselves.
The second section of the book deals with the classical virtues from Greco-Roman traditions: courage, temperance, wisdom, justice.
Courage is not just the bravery to get the job done in the face of danger, but also the fortitude to endure day after day of boring responsibilities, just as the hobbits in Lord of the Rings had to endure miles and miles of boring hiking and then also have the courage to stand in battle. Courage is when you are overwhelmed with the strain of your duties, but you continue to do them anyway.
Temperance is not just self-control, but also finding a balance in all things. People sometimes think of temperance as not being allowed to enjoy anything for fear of overindulgence. Temperance is not about denying yourself any pleasures, but about not letting pleasures control you. You need temperance to balance all the facets of life. If courage is too rash and reckless, that is just an unbalanced as having no courage at all. Proper courage is temperate and wise. All the virtues work together in a well-balanced personality.
Wisdom is all about discernment and using knowledge properly to make good decisions. All the villains in Lord of the Rings are very smart, but they make poor decisions because they don't apply their knowledge correctly. They become fools because they can't discern the value of the people in the world around them. When Frodo looks into Galadriel's mirror, she tells him that she thinks he will have the wisdom to interpret what he sees. Just having the knowledge is not enough; you must also correctly judge between what is right and wrong.
Justice is not about perfect equality or even fairness, but about what is right and harmonious. True justice brings people and things into their proper relationships with the world around them. A balanced society will have a harmony of justice that mirrors the justice and mercy of God, just as Aragorn's reign at the end of Lord of the Rings brings both healing and rightful punishment.
The next section explores the theological virtues: Friendship, Faith, Hope, and Love.
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien considered friendship to be the purest form of love, and their books certainly reflect that. We see the unlikely friendship between Gimli the dwarf and Legolas the elf, whose peoples have been at war for hundreds of years. Despite their differences, they find healing and devotion in their friendship. Merry and Pippin and Sam refuse to be left behind when Frodo goes on his quest, because their loyalty compels them to support their friend.
Faith and hope work very closely together to fill a heart with trusting confidence in a higher purpose and a higher power that is working for their good. Those who are faithful in their calling have hope that no matter how dark the road may seem, there is light and reward at the end of that journey. However, Boromir lost his faith in Frodo's quest, and his fear made him grasp to get the Ring for himself. But Sam kept his hope alive, even in the darkness of Mordor. Sam knows that he himself may never live to see the stars again, but the fact that the starlight still remains gives him hope for the world beyond his own small experience. He has faith that there is a happy ending waiting for him, either in this world or the next.
Love is the epitome and crux of all the virtues together. In this section the author talks about how Frodo and Bilbo show pity to Gollum, who is not at all deserving of pity or kindness. The merciful love that they show to Gollum says more about their own hearts than it does about Gollum, who is utterly unlovable. The author says that "Love is the movement out of narcissism." The reason that Frodo and Bilbo can show compassion to Gollum is because they can vaguely imagine what it must be like to be him. They can imagine his misery and his slavery to the magic of the Ring, and so they show sympathy for him as they move out of their own experience and imagine the experience of another. That demonstration of love changes the entire story and drives the fates of every character.
The last section deals with the lack of virtue and what consequences we might see in our own lives if we fail to cultivate the virtues. The author explores the temptation of forbidden fruit and how modern society has romanticized the Byronic hero who succumbs to temptation in defiance of all moral codes. Their lust for power and autonomy makes them cast out all that is good and embrace evil, just as Boromir and Saruman and other fallen heroes do in Lord of the Rings. But the true heroes choose humble obedience and set aside their own desires to do what is righteous and embrace what is best.
Evil does not exist in a vacuum. It cannot create anything original; it can only corrupt and poison things that were good, twisting them for its own deviant purposes. So we see that Sauron cannot understand anything that is good; he cannot imagine that anyone would want to destroy the Ring, so he is blinded to the true nature of Frodo's quest. Just as the White Witch hates Aslan's beautiful song of creation in The Magician's Nephew, evil cannot abide the light and chooses to turn away blind rather than allow the light to expose and cleanse the corruption within.
I really loved that this book brought in many Christian examples and Bible verses to further explore each virtue in its purest form in the person of Christ. It brought so much depth to each subject and really solidified the eternal meaning of living a life of virtue.
The writing is compelling and inspiring! I loved how the different subjects are organized and how each chapter builds on the previous ideas until you have a comprehensive picture of how all the virtues work together and how the stories of Lewis and Tolkien are saturated with Christian imagery and beliefs.
It was especially interesting to see the comparisons between Greco-Roman moral traditions and the morality of the Bible, and then see how those moral codes are further explored and demonstrated in Lewis and Tolkien's fantasy stories.
I found this so inspiring that I looked up the author on Youtube and found several interviews and lectures to listen to, and I really want to read some of his other books!
This book does include spoilers for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and all of the Chronicles of Narnia, so you have to have read those books before diving into this study.
The first section of this book talks about the "lure of the road" and how each of us begins our own adventures. Just as Frodo has to choose to take the Ring to Mordor, we must choose how we want to live and what sort of moral compass we will follow. We might be tempted to follow some other dark road, but we must continually choose to stay on the path of righteousness even when things look grim. The characters in fantasy quests are willing to let go of all that is familiar and strike out into the unknown, and that is where their transformation begins as they mature and grow into the best version of themselves.
The second section of the book deals with the classical virtues from Greco-Roman traditions: courage, temperance, wisdom, justice.
Courage is not just the bravery to get the job done in the face of danger, but also the fortitude to endure day after day of boring responsibilities, just as the hobbits in Lord of the Rings had to endure miles and miles of boring hiking and then also have the courage to stand in battle. Courage is when you are overwhelmed with the strain of your duties, but you continue to do them anyway.
Temperance is not just self-control, but also finding a balance in all things. People sometimes think of temperance as not being allowed to enjoy anything for fear of overindulgence. Temperance is not about denying yourself any pleasures, but about not letting pleasures control you. You need temperance to balance all the facets of life. If courage is too rash and reckless, that is just an unbalanced as having no courage at all. Proper courage is temperate and wise. All the virtues work together in a well-balanced personality.
Wisdom is all about discernment and using knowledge properly to make good decisions. All the villains in Lord of the Rings are very smart, but they make poor decisions because they don't apply their knowledge correctly. They become fools because they can't discern the value of the people in the world around them. When Frodo looks into Galadriel's mirror, she tells him that she thinks he will have the wisdom to interpret what he sees. Just having the knowledge is not enough; you must also correctly judge between what is right and wrong.
Justice is not about perfect equality or even fairness, but about what is right and harmonious. True justice brings people and things into their proper relationships with the world around them. A balanced society will have a harmony of justice that mirrors the justice and mercy of God, just as Aragorn's reign at the end of Lord of the Rings brings both healing and rightful punishment.
The next section explores the theological virtues: Friendship, Faith, Hope, and Love.
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien considered friendship to be the purest form of love, and their books certainly reflect that. We see the unlikely friendship between Gimli the dwarf and Legolas the elf, whose peoples have been at war for hundreds of years. Despite their differences, they find healing and devotion in their friendship. Merry and Pippin and Sam refuse to be left behind when Frodo goes on his quest, because their loyalty compels them to support their friend.
Faith and hope work very closely together to fill a heart with trusting confidence in a higher purpose and a higher power that is working for their good. Those who are faithful in their calling have hope that no matter how dark the road may seem, there is light and reward at the end of that journey. However, Boromir lost his faith in Frodo's quest, and his fear made him grasp to get the Ring for himself. But Sam kept his hope alive, even in the darkness of Mordor. Sam knows that he himself may never live to see the stars again, but the fact that the starlight still remains gives him hope for the world beyond his own small experience. He has faith that there is a happy ending waiting for him, either in this world or the next.
Love is the epitome and crux of all the virtues together. In this section the author talks about how Frodo and Bilbo show pity to Gollum, who is not at all deserving of pity or kindness. The merciful love that they show to Gollum says more about their own hearts than it does about Gollum, who is utterly unlovable. The author says that "Love is the movement out of narcissism." The reason that Frodo and Bilbo can show compassion to Gollum is because they can vaguely imagine what it must be like to be him. They can imagine his misery and his slavery to the magic of the Ring, and so they show sympathy for him as they move out of their own experience and imagine the experience of another. That demonstration of love changes the entire story and drives the fates of every character.
The last section deals with the lack of virtue and what consequences we might see in our own lives if we fail to cultivate the virtues. The author explores the temptation of forbidden fruit and how modern society has romanticized the Byronic hero who succumbs to temptation in defiance of all moral codes. Their lust for power and autonomy makes them cast out all that is good and embrace evil, just as Boromir and Saruman and other fallen heroes do in Lord of the Rings. But the true heroes choose humble obedience and set aside their own desires to do what is righteous and embrace what is best.
Evil does not exist in a vacuum. It cannot create anything original; it can only corrupt and poison things that were good, twisting them for its own deviant purposes. So we see that Sauron cannot understand anything that is good; he cannot imagine that anyone would want to destroy the Ring, so he is blinded to the true nature of Frodo's quest. Just as the White Witch hates Aslan's beautiful song of creation in The Magician's Nephew, evil cannot abide the light and chooses to turn away blind rather than allow the light to expose and cleanse the corruption within.
I really loved that this book brought in many Christian examples and Bible verses to further explore each virtue in its purest form in the person of Christ. It brought so much depth to each subject and really solidified the eternal meaning of living a life of virtue.
The writing is compelling and inspiring! I loved how the different subjects are organized and how each chapter builds on the previous ideas until you have a comprehensive picture of how all the virtues work together and how the stories of Lewis and Tolkien are saturated with Christian imagery and beliefs.
It was especially interesting to see the comparisons between Greco-Roman moral traditions and the morality of the Bible, and then see how those moral codes are further explored and demonstrated in Lewis and Tolkien's fantasy stories.
I found this so inspiring that I looked up the author on Youtube and found several interviews and lectures to listen to, and I really want to read some of his other books!
March 13, 2024
Compelling, short, and easy to read. As a fan of Lewis and Tolkien, I truly wondered why their stories and worlds somehow stood apart from all others. Reading this book helped me understand partly the reason why. They were able to inculcate the four classical virtues and three Christian virtues into their stories.
June 8, 2025
“Love is the movement out of narcissism. The true foe of love is not hate but egocentrism, for hate can often be rechanneled back into love, but egocentrism prevents us from ever moving out of ourselves toward the other. Love is extinguished more quickly by apathy and indifference than it is by either jealousy or wrath.”
March 15, 2017
We need the truth, but we also need to know how to live in and through and by that truth.Louis Markos begins with the idea that in the past stories weren't only told for children's entertainment and instruction, but for that of adults as well. We've lost not only that idea but a lot of the time-honored values that we used to teach and cherish in such stories. The author "mines" two of the most honored stories in modern times, the Lord of the Rings and, to a lesser extent, The Chronicles of Narnia, to show how they can help us return to classic virtues these days.
What we need, in short, are stories.
Ancient literature, modern culture, and scripture are all woven into Markos' book. The main emphasis is on Tolkien and Lewis, but the depth of material means that it hits you where you live. Before delving into the virtues, Markos begins with the idea of the hero's journey and the road. These are the heart of good story telling, after all, and so are themes that are returned to repeatedly throughout the book.
In the greater tales, the ones that matter—the ones that change both us and our world—the heroes do not so much choose the Road, as the Road chooses them. For our part, we must be ready, prepared in season and out, to answer the call, whenever and however it comes. And we must be prepared to press on, trusting to an end that we often do not, perhaps cannot, see. It is easy to claim that we would have done what Abraham did, but that is only because we stand outside the story. We see the good end, the fulfillment that Abraham could not see from within the story.Markos is not detached with his subject at arm's length. He loves these stories and the themes they embrace and his enthusiasm comes through to make a warm, lively reading experience.
I've read several other books looking deeper into The Lord of the Rings, in particular, and this book still managed to provide new ideas for reflection. Markos really does a fantastic job of revealing the characteristics of various characters in Middle-Earth and Narnia and the virtues we can see in them. This is a thoughtful and thought provoking book which I can't recommend highly enough.
I'll be looking for more of Markos' books in the future.
NOTE
I received this review copy from Aquinas and More, the largest on-line Catholic bookstore. They've got a lot more than books. Check them out for all your Catholic needs ... rosaries, communion gifts, and so forth.
I originally wrote this review of On the Shoulders of Hobbits for the free Catholic Book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods. I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.
March 23, 2013
I'm a huge fan of Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and CS Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) so I was intrigued by this book. The author discusses I1) the journey of the hero (Joseph Campbell), (2) several virtues, plus friendship, and (3) types of evil. He shows how these themes are exemplified by the LOTR and the Chronicles. For example, he discusses how the friendships of Sam and Frodo and the other characters in the Fellowship of the Ring drive the story and are important and uses Gollum as one type of evil.
Markos says evil isn't inherent but that people become evil. I need to think about this more. Actually, I found a lot to think about as I read the book.
Some of Markos' examples are stretched a little in the Chronicles, but for the most part, the examples work in both writers' works.
Markos does base his views in a Christian/Catholic context (Tolkien and Lewis were both Catholic), but even if you aren't Catholic, you'll enjoy reading about the characters in these tales. It helps if you have already read the stories.
He mixes in information about both Tolkien and Lewis, most of which I knew, but which those who don't know these authors well would find very interesting.
I believe fiction has a lot to tell us - well-done, high-quality fiction, that is - and these two stories are, in my opinion, the highest quality fiction of the 20th century. Even if you are not a fan of fiction, you may find your views changing after reading this book. If you haven't read LOTR and the Chronicles (which, by the way, are not just for children), it might inspire you to read them. I'm going to do some re-reading...soon.
Markos says evil isn't inherent but that people become evil. I need to think about this more. Actually, I found a lot to think about as I read the book.
Some of Markos' examples are stretched a little in the Chronicles, but for the most part, the examples work in both writers' works.
Markos does base his views in a Christian/Catholic context (Tolkien and Lewis were both Catholic), but even if you aren't Catholic, you'll enjoy reading about the characters in these tales. It helps if you have already read the stories.
He mixes in information about both Tolkien and Lewis, most of which I knew, but which those who don't know these authors well would find very interesting.
I believe fiction has a lot to tell us - well-done, high-quality fiction, that is - and these two stories are, in my opinion, the highest quality fiction of the 20th century. Even if you are not a fan of fiction, you may find your views changing after reading this book. If you haven't read LOTR and the Chronicles (which, by the way, are not just for children), it might inspire you to read them. I'm going to do some re-reading...soon.
October 29, 2012
This book offers an in depth look at the concept of the Road in both Lewis' and Tolkien's works. Markos is a well known Lewis scholar and he uses his vast experience to help make these two authors understandable to a post-modern audience. He shows the connections to classical literature, and how these friends portrayed their Christian beliefs in their fantasy writings. He focuses on The Chronicles of Narnia and LotR, the Hobbit, and the Silmarillion.
Markos shows the themes of friendship, love, trust and valour. Each chapter focuses on one topic with a lengthy example from Tolkien's works and a shorter similar example from Lewis' writings. The books four sections are titled: The Road, the Classical Virtues, the Theological Virtues, and Evil. He doesn't use footnotes, but provides two bibliographic essays at the end which highlight both his sources and other relevant books which the curious reader may wish to read for added depth on the lives of the Inklings.
Markos shows the themes of friendship, love, trust and valour. Each chapter focuses on one topic with a lengthy example from Tolkien's works and a shorter similar example from Lewis' writings. The books four sections are titled: The Road, the Classical Virtues, the Theological Virtues, and Evil. He doesn't use footnotes, but provides two bibliographic essays at the end which highlight both his sources and other relevant books which the curious reader may wish to read for added depth on the lives of the Inklings.
March 13, 2021
If you skipped over the introduction, you may initially mistake Louis Markos’ On the Shoulders of Hobbits for an academic treatise on the virtues—a cold handling of Lewis and Tolkien’s well-known and well-worn works. After all, the title nods back to the Renaissance philosopher John of Salisbury: ��...[W]e see more and farther than our predecessors, not because we have keener vision or greater height, but because we are lifted up and borne aloft on their gigantic stature." You would be mistaken to take this text as purely academic, and find out very early on Markos really intends to lift you onto the shoulders of Hobbits—an intimate and jocular endeavor. Let us see a little further from the humbling heights of the hobbits’ weak shoulders. Maybe the Lord will grant us a “glimpse, no matter how fleeting, of the part [we] have been called to play in the divine drama” (34).
June 18, 2021
Moved me to tears on more than one occasion. Insightful and profound.
October 29, 2022
Initially, I had wanted to read Louis Markos' From Plato to Christ, but a copy is unavailable in my library system. So, I settled on one of Markos' books that was available - On the Shoulders of Hobbits, which proved to be a wise decision! Being a Hobbit/LOTR fan, I am quite glad to have stumbled across this book. I have also read Narnia and while I enjoy that series, it does not hold my same level of affection for LOTR. Still, there is lots to be learned and analyzed in both well-written fantasies. I cannot recommend this book enough to fans and anyone who appreciates good literature. Markos delves into the details of LOTR and Narnia and examines them in a way I never have and never would have had I not read this book. After reading, my mind has expanded with edifying, meaningful content that I will ponder for some time.
My only griefs are Markos' claim that Tolkien lacked appreciation for and understanding of the film medium and how generous Markos is with his review of the LOTR films. Cinematographically, they are wonderful as so is the music and most of the acting, but the script? Weak and fraught with 21st century drivel. And contrary to Markos' opinion, I think it was absolutely unecessary for the films to expand on Aragorn and Arwen's relationship when those wasted scenes could have been events from the actual book (after almost twenty-one years, it still makes me cranky that they replaced Glorfindel with Arwen at the ford). Okay, I'm pushing away the soapbox. Let me refocus on the gist of the review - if you have a chance, read On the Shoulders of Hobbits...you won't regret it!
My only griefs are Markos' claim that Tolkien lacked appreciation for and understanding of the film medium and how generous Markos is with his review of the LOTR films. Cinematographically, they are wonderful as so is the music and most of the acting, but the script? Weak and fraught with 21st century drivel. And contrary to Markos' opinion, I think it was absolutely unecessary for the films to expand on Aragorn and Arwen's relationship when those wasted scenes could have been events from the actual book (after almost twenty-one years, it still makes me cranky that they replaced Glorfindel with Arwen at the ford). Okay, I'm pushing away the soapbox. Let me refocus on the gist of the review - if you have a chance, read On the Shoulders of Hobbits...you won't regret it!
October 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Most books I can breeze through pretty quickly, but this one caused me to repeatedly pause and reflect. The highest praise I can give it, though, is that it stirred up a strong desire to read Tolkien and Lewis again.
December 22, 2016
The words that show up when you hover over the second star describe what I thought of this book pretty well. "It was okay."
It had good moments (I'll talk about this moment in the next paragraph), and bad moments. This line in particular sticks out in my memory as a good example of 'bad.' Quote: "Even though the actual eucatastrophe does not come until the next chapter, the turn begins here with Sam's hopeful vision - which is also a vision of hope" (p 129). Actually, now that I read it again, I take it back. Without that line, I would never have realized that a "hopeful vision" is also a "vision of hope".
I'll talk about the good bit first. Before reading this book, I had heard the term "Byronic Hero," but didn't really know what it was. In the chapter "The Love that Pities and Forgives," Louis Markos defines this term, and explains that we should pity Gollum. However, anyone who's ever read The Lord of the Rings will already get that Gollum should be pitied. Gandalf explains that notion pretty well. He also points out that Gollum is one of the aforementioned "Byronic Heroes," which ended up being just about the only thing I hadn't noticed before reading this book.
Now for the bad. The book is repetitive. Louis Markos likes to define simple terms three or four times in the same sentence. Maybe he does to seem smarter. It certainly makes his writing a lot less interesting to read, but I suspect that he's just unaware that the general reading public is smart enough to figure out what he's talking about without a helpful, redundant, explanation. To demonstrate this truth, I refer you to the previously quoted sentence.
Second, he doesn't really have anything to say. The book defines itself as a "Christian Theology" book, so it's not a stretch to say that most readers will be Christian, yes? Markos must not have realized that. He dedicates entire chapters to basic Christian ideals like "Faith is good" or "Hope is good." Maybe it's just me, but this seemed pointless. Kind of like he was just filling up pages so he could show his students how intelligent he is. He must be smart because he can write a book and fill it with words.
Maybe this book would be interesting to people who've read little to none of the Lord of the Rings, but I'm not one of those people, so I found it redundant and boring. He didn't bring up any new ideas, or defend/attack anything that needed a good defense/attack. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything better. The dude wrote a book to tell the world that Tolkien and Lewis were Christians. Oh well.
It had good moments (I'll talk about this moment in the next paragraph), and bad moments. This line in particular sticks out in my memory as a good example of 'bad.' Quote: "Even though the actual eucatastrophe does not come until the next chapter, the turn begins here with Sam's hopeful vision - which is also a vision of hope" (p 129). Actually, now that I read it again, I take it back. Without that line, I would never have realized that a "hopeful vision" is also a "vision of hope".
I'll talk about the good bit first. Before reading this book, I had heard the term "Byronic Hero," but didn't really know what it was. In the chapter "The Love that Pities and Forgives," Louis Markos defines this term, and explains that we should pity Gollum. However, anyone who's ever read The Lord of the Rings will already get that Gollum should be pitied. Gandalf explains that notion pretty well. He also points out that Gollum is one of the aforementioned "Byronic Heroes," which ended up being just about the only thing I hadn't noticed before reading this book.
Now for the bad. The book is repetitive. Louis Markos likes to define simple terms three or four times in the same sentence. Maybe he does to seem smarter. It certainly makes his writing a lot less interesting to read, but I suspect that he's just unaware that the general reading public is smart enough to figure out what he's talking about without a helpful, redundant, explanation. To demonstrate this truth, I refer you to the previously quoted sentence.
Second, he doesn't really have anything to say. The book defines itself as a "Christian Theology" book, so it's not a stretch to say that most readers will be Christian, yes? Markos must not have realized that. He dedicates entire chapters to basic Christian ideals like "Faith is good" or "Hope is good." Maybe it's just me, but this seemed pointless. Kind of like he was just filling up pages so he could show his students how intelligent he is. He must be smart because he can write a book and fill it with words.
Maybe this book would be interesting to people who've read little to none of the Lord of the Rings, but I'm not one of those people, so I found it redundant and boring. He didn't bring up any new ideas, or defend/attack anything that needed a good defense/attack. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything better. The dude wrote a book to tell the world that Tolkien and Lewis were Christians. Oh well.
November 14, 2012
Got to the fifth chapter and gave up. The author's theology is slightly different from mine, which is fine. The part that killed me were the constant, random potshots. Instead of being informed about themes in Lord of the Rings and Narnia, like I signed up for, I was occasionally informed about the author's views of modern-day college students (hedonistic and lazy), public schools (dens of cultural moral relativism to the point where all other virtues fade, and certainly not a place where stories are valued), and the greater part of the American public (not properly versed in the Greek philosophers). As I don't really give a flying fig about the author's opinions on any of that, I declined to spend more of my time finishing the book.
Readers should also be warned in advance that while the author claims in his forward that this book is not "preachy" and does not attempt to wed the virtues to a Christian viewpoint specifically, Christianity and the Greek philosophers are the only moral authorities cited (aside from one brief mention of the importance of the hajj in Islam). Shame the author closed himself in so tightly, a wider pool to draw from would have been fascinating.
Readers should also be warned in advance that while the author claims in his forward that this book is not "preachy" and does not attempt to wed the virtues to a Christian viewpoint specifically, Christianity and the Greek philosophers are the only moral authorities cited (aside from one brief mention of the importance of the hajj in Islam). Shame the author closed himself in so tightly, a wider pool to draw from would have been fascinating.
April 2, 2017
I'm not sure if this book adds much to just reading the books that this book discusses. But it is an interesting collection of important themes: the virtues, evil and the meaning of life.
It certainly inspires to pick up reading The Lord of the Rings again. And the The Chronicles of Narnia.
And a few other books that are mentioned, for example Paradise Lost, that I have not yet read.
It certainly inspires to pick up reading The Lord of the Rings again. And the The Chronicles of Narnia.
And a few other books that are mentioned, for example Paradise Lost, that I have not yet read.
March 8, 2017
This was a helpful reading to see parallels in the two writers and the importance of their works in our culture today. I do not share all of his viewpoints on the influence of the Greeks and Romans to Western civilization. There were more important influences emitting from the Reformation that shaped the thinking and the outpouring of artistic/scientific endeavours that occurred in the 16th and 17th century and thereafter that were foundational to what we saw as the growth of civilization. However, there was much to be gained by the reading of this book and I look forward to reading more of his works.
December 31, 2018
I enjoyed just about 3 chapters of the entire book.
A very conservative criticism of modern culture and an emphasis on Western culture being superior to others. I wish it would have dove deeper into the works of Tolkien and Lewis discussing the good, rather than simply showing the lack of some virtues in “modern day society.”
Topic has lots of room to make it an awesome read, and I think it failed miserably to live up to the works it discusses.
A very conservative criticism of modern culture and an emphasis on Western culture being superior to others. I wish it would have dove deeper into the works of Tolkien and Lewis discussing the good, rather than simply showing the lack of some virtues in “modern day society.”
Topic has lots of room to make it an awesome read, and I think it failed miserably to live up to the works it discusses.
November 25, 2017
Absolutely excellent. I love hearing Markos speak, and this book distilled much of his love and admiration for LOTR and Narnia that I have heard into a very readable and enjoyable book. I highly recommend it to anyone, particularly those with the taste of Narnian air on their tongues and the soil of ancient kings beneath their feet.
February 27, 2013
Although I haven't read all of either the LOTR or the Chronicles of Narnia, I found this book very helpful in seeing the themes of virtues that underly them both. I feel that this book prepared me to help my own children enjoy the novels more the first time that they read them.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
April 8, 2016
everything amazing about tolkien and lewis is in this book.
May 31, 2016
Anything by Louis Markos is worth our attention. In this book Markos lines up themes of virtue from episodes and characters from Tolkien and Lewis's fiction (Narnia and Lord of the Rings).
September 23, 2017
Fairy tales don't teach children that dragons exist; they know dragons exist. Fairy tales teach children that dragons can be defeated. GKC declared that, and Louis Markos would support it. Here he demonstrates that fairy tales have much to teach even adults. In On the Shoulders of Hobbits, Markos uses the Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings to guide readers through the Virtues -- four Classical, three Christian -- using the imagery of the Road (complete with obstacles and diversions) to guide the reader along.
Given his ‘on the road’ subtitle, it’s only appropriate that Markos begins by examining both the Narnian books and LOTR in the light of characters making a hero’s journey, confronted with obstacles and monsters, and eventually fulfilling their destiny. Some of these application of virtue will be obvious to any reader; main characters from both series frequently demonstrate courage in the face of adversity, for instance. Others are less expected, even by the author. Markos was raised in a tradition that barred alcohol and tobacco on the grounds of morality, and yet in the world of Tolkien he found characters gaily enjoying pipeweed and strong drink – from time to time. Their temperance was the temperance of the ancients, the practice of the golden mean. That mean, or balance, is a necessary component of the practice of the other virtues; for instance, courage is a balance between cowardice and recklessness. Without temperance, courage would not be itself. The exercise of other virtues distinguishes Tolkien and Lewis’ heroes from their opponents: for instance, Faramir practices a prudence about the One Ring that his brother Boromir, lacks -- though both are equally courageous. A smaller ending section examines other common lessons the Lewis and Tolkien books teach; the consequences of making a deal with the Devil, for instance, as illustrated by Narnian characters who view the White Witch as a useful ally, sometimes even as they admit she is tyrannical. (As a real world example, Markos points to the West’s alliance with Joseph Stalin, whose penchant for mass murder was even more thoroughly exercised than Hitler’s.)
Although On the Shoulders of Hobbits makes for easy reading, it's not superficial. Markos has penned several works on classical education, C.S. Lewis, and philosophy, and here he exhibits a familiarity with the ethical writings of philosophers and popes alike.
Given his ‘on the road’ subtitle, it’s only appropriate that Markos begins by examining both the Narnian books and LOTR in the light of characters making a hero’s journey, confronted with obstacles and monsters, and eventually fulfilling their destiny. Some of these application of virtue will be obvious to any reader; main characters from both series frequently demonstrate courage in the face of adversity, for instance. Others are less expected, even by the author. Markos was raised in a tradition that barred alcohol and tobacco on the grounds of morality, and yet in the world of Tolkien he found characters gaily enjoying pipeweed and strong drink – from time to time. Their temperance was the temperance of the ancients, the practice of the golden mean. That mean, or balance, is a necessary component of the practice of the other virtues; for instance, courage is a balance between cowardice and recklessness. Without temperance, courage would not be itself. The exercise of other virtues distinguishes Tolkien and Lewis’ heroes from their opponents: for instance, Faramir practices a prudence about the One Ring that his brother Boromir, lacks -- though both are equally courageous. A smaller ending section examines other common lessons the Lewis and Tolkien books teach; the consequences of making a deal with the Devil, for instance, as illustrated by Narnian characters who view the White Witch as a useful ally, sometimes even as they admit she is tyrannical. (As a real world example, Markos points to the West’s alliance with Joseph Stalin, whose penchant for mass murder was even more thoroughly exercised than Hitler’s.)
Although On the Shoulders of Hobbits makes for easy reading, it's not superficial. Markos has penned several works on classical education, C.S. Lewis, and philosophy, and here he exhibits a familiarity with the ethical writings of philosophers and popes alike.
April 25, 2017
On The Shoulders Of Hobbits – The Road To Virtue With Tolkien & Lewis by Louis Markos Ph.D. is a book that seeks to rediscover virtues, as they were known to be in older times. These virtues are exemplified through the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Peter Kreeft Ph.D., author of book gems such as Socratic Logic, Philosophy 101, etc. opens up the book with an apt foreword, which is followed by a salient introduction by the author Markos.
In the introduction Louis Markos outlines the fact that society needs a revived awareness regarding lost virtues which were inherent to individuals once upon a time. The author also covers why fantasy and stories, such as those by Tolkien and Lewis, are vital in showcasing these lost virtues. Along with that the author also gives us some background information on the subject, as well as what his approach will be in the breakdown of the messages and morals that he later tackles.
Although the book covers both Tolkien and Lewis’ work, a more sizeable portion will be of Tolkien’s work. In a rough guesstimate, the book is perhaps two thirds Tolkien to one third Lewis or so. This does in no way take away from the meaning of the book, but it’s something that the reader perhaps might want to know. At least for me, the book was still plenty valuable.
In addition, the reason the that the author has chosen to cover Tolkien and Lewis’ work is because “though Tolkien was not a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, the fact remains that the two men shared the same premodern Christian understanding of good and evil, virtue and vice, beauty and ugliness.”[1][15]
Since both authors have such similar philosophies, drawing from each authors’ books is in fact a no brainer.
At the nascent stage of each chapter the author begins with a particular message and/or moral that has been overlooked by modern society, and then that particular theme is then analytically coupled to information from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or The Silmarillion, with the information further complemented with a passage from The Chronicles Of Narnia that helps buttress the theme further.
One neat part about each of these chapters, and lessons woven and analyzed therein is that there is a variety of ways one can learn from these given the information provided. Given that the subjects of these books are so vital to healthy and robust human principles, having intriguing discussions regarding these themes should be something ruminated upon at length. Families or friends could discuss the information bouncing it back and forth in thought, or it could even be covered in homeschooling or group discussion perhaps. Heck, it would have been neat/awesome to have had a discussion about something like this in high school or college, instead other subjects that aren’t important to life.
In plain speak, what the author seeks to accomplish is help the individual learn why the works of Tolkien and Lewis are highly respected.
Each of the examples from the books of Lewis and Tolkien are quiet salient ones, and very meaningful. In fact, some of the examples provided could arguably be some of the sagest lines written by each author, at least for this book’s purposes.
For what it’s worth, the book is split up into three sections. In section one, the author’s main focus was the proverbial road – the individual journey – that each individually embarks upon which resonates with our deepest being. Markos does a very remarkable job in showing how the quest that the characters in each of respective novels follows a specific journey, and in much the same way mirrors what individual people might go through in life. Section two covers four classical virtues, while Section three breaks down three theological virtues, which contain also a fourth, which regard friendship, and was one of my favorite parts of the book. Those latter stages really exemplify those virtues in the authors’ work in a way that helps the reader realize what society has lost, and how to help reboot the road to virtue.
At its closing stages, the book finishes with a very robust and enlightening Bibliographical Essay [Appendix A] regarding J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle Earth, which features substantial additional information regarding all things Tolkien. A very notable addition for any serious fan, and will even prove useful for some casual fans that might not know where to start. As someone who’s beginning to study Tolkien more and more, this part is absolutely invaluable.
The second bibliographical essay [Appendix B] touches upon C.S. Lewis and Narnia. In similar fashion, the resources covering Lewis are discussed at length, and in rather salient fashion. Markos does an exemplary job of really going above in beyond with both essays in supplanting a veritable truckload of information for individuals – enough to keep you busy for years surely!
All things considered, this book really gives the incisive and inquisitive mind much to ruminate upon, and for me it’s undoubtedly a great book, and a worthy book to have in any personal library.
In fact, considering the topic at hand – regarding society’s lost virtues – one could even make the bold argument that it’s even a great piece of modern literature. Regarding that, perhaps Peter Kreeft said it best in the book’s foreword:
“That’s why reading great literature; next to meeting people is the single most effective way to learn not to flunk life. Life is a story, therefore moral education happens first and foremost powerfully through stories, e.g., through books.”[2]
This book in particular, not only is educational, but helps readers sensibly reconnect with virtues that seem to be going by the way side. And in an age where society’s values keep getting overlooked, a book like this is worth its weight in gold. That alone is worth the price of this book.
___________________________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] Louis Markos Ph.D., On The Shoulders Of Hobbits – The Road To Virtue With Tolkien & Lewis, p. 15.
[2] Ibid., Peter Kreeft, Foreword, On The Shoulders Of Hobbits, p. 8.
______________________________________________________________
Suggested Book Reviews and video:
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit by Corey Olsen Ph.D.
The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
How To Read J.R.R. Tolkien
Peter Kreeft Ph.D., author of book gems such as Socratic Logic, Philosophy 101, etc. opens up the book with an apt foreword, which is followed by a salient introduction by the author Markos.
In the introduction Louis Markos outlines the fact that society needs a revived awareness regarding lost virtues which were inherent to individuals once upon a time. The author also covers why fantasy and stories, such as those by Tolkien and Lewis, are vital in showcasing these lost virtues. Along with that the author also gives us some background information on the subject, as well as what his approach will be in the breakdown of the messages and morals that he later tackles.
Although the book covers both Tolkien and Lewis’ work, a more sizeable portion will be of Tolkien’s work. In a rough guesstimate, the book is perhaps two thirds Tolkien to one third Lewis or so. This does in no way take away from the meaning of the book, but it’s something that the reader perhaps might want to know. At least for me, the book was still plenty valuable.
In addition, the reason the that the author has chosen to cover Tolkien and Lewis’ work is because “though Tolkien was not a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, the fact remains that the two men shared the same premodern Christian understanding of good and evil, virtue and vice, beauty and ugliness.”[1][15]
Since both authors have such similar philosophies, drawing from each authors’ books is in fact a no brainer.
At the nascent stage of each chapter the author begins with a particular message and/or moral that has been overlooked by modern society, and then that particular theme is then analytically coupled to information from The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or The Silmarillion, with the information further complemented with a passage from The Chronicles Of Narnia that helps buttress the theme further.
One neat part about each of these chapters, and lessons woven and analyzed therein is that there is a variety of ways one can learn from these given the information provided. Given that the subjects of these books are so vital to healthy and robust human principles, having intriguing discussions regarding these themes should be something ruminated upon at length. Families or friends could discuss the information bouncing it back and forth in thought, or it could even be covered in homeschooling or group discussion perhaps. Heck, it would have been neat/awesome to have had a discussion about something like this in high school or college, instead other subjects that aren’t important to life.
In plain speak, what the author seeks to accomplish is help the individual learn why the works of Tolkien and Lewis are highly respected.
Each of the examples from the books of Lewis and Tolkien are quiet salient ones, and very meaningful. In fact, some of the examples provided could arguably be some of the sagest lines written by each author, at least for this book’s purposes.
For what it’s worth, the book is split up into three sections. In section one, the author’s main focus was the proverbial road – the individual journey – that each individually embarks upon which resonates with our deepest being. Markos does a very remarkable job in showing how the quest that the characters in each of respective novels follows a specific journey, and in much the same way mirrors what individual people might go through in life. Section two covers four classical virtues, while Section three breaks down three theological virtues, which contain also a fourth, which regard friendship, and was one of my favorite parts of the book. Those latter stages really exemplify those virtues in the authors’ work in a way that helps the reader realize what society has lost, and how to help reboot the road to virtue.
At its closing stages, the book finishes with a very robust and enlightening Bibliographical Essay [Appendix A] regarding J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle Earth, which features substantial additional information regarding all things Tolkien. A very notable addition for any serious fan, and will even prove useful for some casual fans that might not know where to start. As someone who’s beginning to study Tolkien more and more, this part is absolutely invaluable.
The second bibliographical essay [Appendix B] touches upon C.S. Lewis and Narnia. In similar fashion, the resources covering Lewis are discussed at length, and in rather salient fashion. Markos does an exemplary job of really going above in beyond with both essays in supplanting a veritable truckload of information for individuals – enough to keep you busy for years surely!
All things considered, this book really gives the incisive and inquisitive mind much to ruminate upon, and for me it’s undoubtedly a great book, and a worthy book to have in any personal library.
In fact, considering the topic at hand – regarding society’s lost virtues – one could even make the bold argument that it’s even a great piece of modern literature. Regarding that, perhaps Peter Kreeft said it best in the book’s foreword:
“That’s why reading great literature; next to meeting people is the single most effective way to learn not to flunk life. Life is a story, therefore moral education happens first and foremost powerfully through stories, e.g., through books.”[2]
This book in particular, not only is educational, but helps readers sensibly reconnect with virtues that seem to be going by the way side. And in an age where society’s values keep getting overlooked, a book like this is worth its weight in gold. That alone is worth the price of this book.
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Footnotes:
[1] Louis Markos Ph.D., On The Shoulders Of Hobbits – The Road To Virtue With Tolkien & Lewis, p. 15.
[2] Ibid., Peter Kreeft, Foreword, On The Shoulders Of Hobbits, p. 8.
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How To Read J.R.R. Tolkien
November 29, 2020
3.5/5
Nothing gets me more excited than books centered around Tolkien and his The Lord of the Rings. I've read this guide (I call it a guide because it is just that--a guide to central themes and messages that many readers may overlook) twice now, and the second time was better than the first.
What I like the most is Markos's ability to write in a compelling way without losing the scholarly tone of a well-written essay. As he explains in the first chapter, this book was made for a family to better enjoy and understand rather than just the "higher-minded" adult. (That being said, I still don't think a child under a certain age would be able to get into this with a full comprehension or appreciation without falling asleep.)
Thanks for this, I definitely think a lot more people should read this, if only to better understand the genius of Tolkien and Lewis.
Nothing gets me more excited than books centered around Tolkien and his The Lord of the Rings. I've read this guide (I call it a guide because it is just that--a guide to central themes and messages that many readers may overlook) twice now, and the second time was better than the first.
What I like the most is Markos's ability to write in a compelling way without losing the scholarly tone of a well-written essay. As he explains in the first chapter, this book was made for a family to better enjoy and understand rather than just the "higher-minded" adult. (That being said, I still don't think a child under a certain age would be able to get into this with a full comprehension or appreciation without falling asleep.)
Thanks for this, I definitely think a lot more people should read this, if only to better understand the genius of Tolkien and Lewis.
January 16, 2018
For the most part, this book was quite enjoyable. Dr. Markos put into words things that I've thought or felt but have never been able to figure out how to say. He drew a lot from the Great Books, which was absolutely fascinating, although I imagine that a couple of the references and such would be confusing if you haven't read the books in question. I know there were a couple points where I had to stop and go "wait what?" before my brain made the connection.
Unfortunately (and the reason this book is a three-star and not a four-star), there was a lot of Boromir... for lack of a better word, bashing. He almost completely misunderstood Boromir's character (and I've checked with other people on this, so it's not just me) and (LOTR spoilers) . He also used him as an example of a lot of the bad virtues, ignoring the Ring's influence.
Still, despite that unpleasantness, it was quite a good book and I really enjoyed it. It also sparked me on a marathon of Tolkien's work, and that's always a good thing. *grins*
Oh! Also, at the end, there are two bibliographic essays with a lot of recommendations for books by and about Tolkien and Lewis, as well as documentaries and the various films made off of their work.
Unfortunately (and the reason this book is a three-star and not a four-star), there was a lot of Boromir... for lack of a better word, bashing. He almost completely misunderstood Boromir's character (and I've checked with other people on this, so it's not just me) and (LOTR spoilers) . He also used him as an example of a lot of the bad virtues, ignoring the Ring's influence.
Still, despite that unpleasantness, it was quite a good book and I really enjoyed it. It also sparked me on a marathon of Tolkien's work, and that's always a good thing. *grins*
Oh! Also, at the end, there are two bibliographic essays with a lot of recommendations for books by and about Tolkien and Lewis, as well as documentaries and the various films made off of their work.
June 18, 2025
I finally finished “On the Shoulders of Hobbits” by Louis Markos. It is definitely a book that should be savoured. I enjoyed reading just a chapter or section weekly to pull me in, and think about.
It’s divided into four sections. The first part being The Road. The second The Classical Virtues. Part three goes into the Theological Virtues. And part four talks about Evil. Markos also has some very helpful appendixes at the end with many resources.
“For the lesson that the journey is to teach us is not simply that it is good to go on pilgrimages, but that we are pilgrims.”
“For the true courage of the nine walkers consists *precisely* in their endurance, their ability to press on no matter the pain or adversity. They are all given numerous chances to turn back and abandon the quest. Instead, they slog on day after weary day, facing every obstacle with quiet determination.”
“Seeing is always perilous, but it is most powerless for those who look without wisdom.”
“Satan is not the yin to God’s yang; he is a creature (like us) who rebelled: an angel who went bad. The complete dependency of Satan on God, of evil on goodness, cannot be stressed enough. What evil does is take these fruits of the Spirit and corrupt them: a disease corrupts health or pollution corrupts the air and water…Whereas goodness shall one day preach perfection, evil can never succeed at being pure evil. Evil creates nothing; it only destroys or perverts what goodness has already made.”
Would recommend. 4.5
It’s divided into four sections. The first part being The Road. The second The Classical Virtues. Part three goes into the Theological Virtues. And part four talks about Evil. Markos also has some very helpful appendixes at the end with many resources.
“For the lesson that the journey is to teach us is not simply that it is good to go on pilgrimages, but that we are pilgrims.”
“For the true courage of the nine walkers consists *precisely* in their endurance, their ability to press on no matter the pain or adversity. They are all given numerous chances to turn back and abandon the quest. Instead, they slog on day after weary day, facing every obstacle with quiet determination.”
“Seeing is always perilous, but it is most powerless for those who look without wisdom.”
“Satan is not the yin to God’s yang; he is a creature (like us) who rebelled: an angel who went bad. The complete dependency of Satan on God, of evil on goodness, cannot be stressed enough. What evil does is take these fruits of the Spirit and corrupt them: a disease corrupts health or pollution corrupts the air and water…Whereas goodness shall one day preach perfection, evil can never succeed at being pure evil. Evil creates nothing; it only destroys or perverts what goodness has already made.”
Would recommend. 4.5
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