## Weekly Reading Update: 12/1 - 12/8

[DocoftheDarkArts\
\
Bob Stuntz\
\
• Dec 8 2025](https://docofthedarkarts.binderybooks.com/)

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## Description
Fantasy readers tend to assume that everyone who loves fantasy has read the Lord of the Rings, but you'd be surprised at how many people have either no Tolkien experience, or who have only ever experienced Tolkien through the movies. It can be intimidating to get into the Tolkien legendarium! I want to help more people discover Tolkien, so in this video I tell you about my Tolkien experience, talk about barriers to entry, and my suggestions in terms of reading order and what to do if LOTR leaves you wanting more Middle Earth!

* 0:00 - Intro
* 1:19 - My relationship with Middle Earth
* 7:00 - Barriers to entry in Tolkien's legendarium
* 9:40 - Where do you start?
* 10:12 - Start with The Hobbit?
* 12:38 - Jump right in to The Lord of the Rings?
* 13:40 - Don't start with The Silmarillion!
* 16:19 - Want more Tolkien? Read these next
* 18:32 - Conclusion

## Conclusion
I have been fortunate enough to have the chance to monetize some of the book content I make, and I would like to use that to support some good causes. So going forward, each month, I will total up whatever I get from any social media monetization (including Bindery memberships, Bindery book sales, my bookshop.org affiliate store, my bookshop.org and Amazon affiliate links, as well as future YouTube monetization), match it up to $100, and donate the total of that to the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. The New Sanctuary Movement is a local Pennsylvania group, connected to similar national nonprofits, whose goal is to "work to end injustices against immigrants regardless of immigration status, express radical welcome for all, and ensure that values of dignity, justice, and hospitality are lived out in practice and upheld in policy.”

Additionally, while I tend to focus on fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, I am going to start introducing some educational nonfiction content to my social platforms that I feel are important or relevant to well-informed people. Most of my content is going to stay the same, but I also feel that, as someone who has been fortunate to have some semblance of a platform, I want to do what I can with what I have.

Thank you all for being part of this wonderful community, and for your support!