The HobbitThe Hobbit
Score Classic
What it's about
Bilbo Baggins is a comfortable, respectable hobbit who wants nothing more than his armchair and his pantry. Then the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves turn up at his door and sweep him into a quest to win back their treasure from Smaug, a dragon living in the Lonely Mountain. On the way he meets trolls, goblins, giant spiders and elves, and plays a game of riddles in the dark with a creature named Gollum, winning a ring that will one day change the world.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling books ever written, about 100 million copies, and a pick on the BBC's Big Read. It's the book that started modern fantasy, and it's just as charming for adults as for children.
You'll love it if you liked
The Lord of the Rings
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Watership DownGood to know
It was written for children and is lighter in tone than The Lord of the Rings, which follows it. It's a great read-aloud.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller75 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #30 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #73 of the 762 classics we rank
- #236 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
The Children of HurinIf you like this, read next
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Magician
This Present Darkness
The Pilgrim's Progress
Seventh Son
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Quick answers
Is The Hobbit worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling books ever written, about 100 million copies, and a pick on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #236 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Hobbit about?
Bilbo Baggins is a comfortable, respectable hobbit who wants nothing more than his armchair and his pantry. Then the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves turn up at his door and sweep him into a quest to win back their treasure from Smaug, a dragon living in the Lonely Mountain. On the way he meets trolls, goblins, giant spiders and elves, and plays a game of riddles in the dark with a creature named Gollum, winning a ring that will one day change the world.
How long does it take to read The Hobbit?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Hobbit?
If you liked it, try The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis or Watership Down by Richard Adams.