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  • The Wisdom of the Shire

  • A Short Guide to a Long and Happy Life
  • Written by: Noble Smith
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)

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The Wisdom of the Shire

Written by: Noble Smith
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's Summary

In The Wisdom of the Shire, Noble Smith sheds light on the life-changing ideas tucked away inside the classic works of J. R. R. Tolkien and his most beloved creation—the stouthearted Hobbits.

Drawing on The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and other tales of Middle-earth, Smith shows how a snug hobbit-hole is actually just a state of mind and how even the smallest person can have the valor of a Rider of Rohan. He explores subjects dear to a halfling’s heart, such as beer, food, and friendship, as well as more serious concerns, such as courage, living in harmony with nature, and good versus evil.

How can simple pleasures such as gardening, taking long walks, and eating delicious meals with friends make you significantly happier? Why is the act of giving presents on your birthday instead of getting them such a revolutionary idea? And how can we carry the burden of our own "Ring of Power: without becoming devoured by it? The Wisdom of the Shire holds the answers to these and more of life’s essential questions.

Noble Smith is an award-winning playwright who has worked as a video game writer, documentary film producer, and media director of an international human-rights foundation.

©2012 Noble Smith. Foreword 2012 by Peter S. Beagle (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the critics say

"The Wisdom of the Shire is an idea whose time has unquestionably come…. I'd buy it like a shot, give copies away to deserving friends, and keep it by the bed for bad nights." (Peter S. Beagle, award-winning author of  The Last Unicorn)
"How to live long and prosper, Hobbit-style…. Tolkien fans breathlessly awaiting Peter Jackson’s upcoming three-part feature film will be pleasantly satiated with this self-help guide channeling the effervescent spirit and timeless morality of the much-loved Hobbit population,…The author's many comparisons between the ‘safe, warm, comfortable’ facets of Hobbit life and contemporary reality lived outside Middle-earth are creative and satisfyingly good-natured…. Interwoven throughout the text are factoids about Tolkien’s life….A life-affirming, must-have morsel for Tolkien's colossal fan base." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Delves into Middle-earth to show us how Tolkien can instruct us how to live a better life on Regular-earth." ( The Boston Globe)

What listeners say about The Wisdom of the Shire

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Loved every moment of it!

I loved every moment of this book, it took me back to Middle Earth and got me excited to bring it back to my life.

This book brings together some well written deep wisdom from the Toilken universe that translates well into our daily lives.

I was hooked from the beginning to the end and was a little sad that it was over, wish it was longer!

A must read for all LoTR and Hobbit fans! Trust me ;)

I hope you enjoy the long road to the wisdom of the Shire





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Great wisdom

Great little book with down to earth solutions for what ails most humans. Good intuition as to the message amidst the story.

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Good on hobbits but too much tiresome moralizing

I did not need the author's random thoughts about GMOs or politics. The book would have been better omitting explicit references to modern life which are just a thin use of Tolkien to justify the author's political views.

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