Despite having owned a copy for a decade, I’ve never read it. I asked Kagi to give me the gist:

• It describes the history and events of Middle-earth from its creation by Iluvatar up until the defeat of Sauron and the downfall of Numenor.
• It introduces many important characters including elves like Feanor, Melian, Thingol, Luthien and Beren as well as men like Turin and Earendil.
• It covers the awakening of elves, their journey to Valinor, the rebellion of Feanor and the exile of the Noldor back to Middle-earth.
• It details events like the slaying of the Two Trees by Ungoliant, the oath of Feanor and the kinslaying at Alqualonde.
• It discusses the rise of powers like Morgoth and Sauron and their corruption and domination over parts of Middle-earth.
• It mentions realms like Doriath, Nargothrond and Gondolin and their eventual downfalls.
• It covers the fate of the silmarils and Beren and Luthien’s quest to retrieve a silmaril from Morgoth’s crown.
• It describes the rise and fall of the great island kingdom of Numenor and its destruction by Iluvatar.
• It discusses the Last Alliance of Elves and Men that defeats Sauron but leaves Middle-earth diminished after the war.
• Overall it provides important background and context for the events in The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien.

Check back in 2034 to see if I finally read it, and to compare.