J.R.R. Tolkien’s influence reaches far and wide. Often called the father of modern fantasy, his writings in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings have inspired generations. But what about the man himself? From fellow writers like C.S. Lewis and to college friends, the personal influence of Tolkien is almost as great as his literary legacy. From modern writers to movie stars, to beloved fictional characters and superheroes, here are the 6 degrees of Tolkien.

Stories take us to far-off places, or they can make the familiar world seem strange and new. But while we are mentally journeying through those worlds, the act of reading them is improving our mental and physical wellbeing.

A good book takes us out of our daily lives and returns us to a childlike belief in magic and imagination. These fantasy authors of the past are a great place to find inspiration.