[Nukapei]

Hmmm, tough question. I guess you really have to define what you mean by "better".

It has definitely improved me in the linguistic / vocab department. I'm no Elvish scholar (I got as far as plurals and threw my hands up in defeat), but the archaic language of LotR and The Silmarillion (I haven't read anything else) have helped me to understand my own language a little better. And it makes Shakespere (sp?) a cinch!

It also has given me a broader outlook on life. It's almost become a game to me, to wonder if 'they' would do a certain thing the same in Middle-earth! I see things now that I wouldn't have before, and am able to look at something and say, 'that makes sense' or 'that's just a cultural thing'. I also (to a much lesser extent!) do what Nimrodel_9 does, say (subcontiously) to myself, '[insert character here] wouldn't approve of what I'm about to do'. But I've only done that once or twice!

It also has opened my eyes much more to mankind's blatant disregard to the Earth and nature. Especially the Elves' attitute toward nature, has made me look at our own and say, 'wow, this is wrong! We're really screwing ourselves up by doing that!' It's stupid, really, how we try to conquer nature instead of just working with it.

Other than that, it's just a good story. I'm not even going to touch on the whole 'I could've been a brilliant medical doctor' issue that Child of the 7th Age raised, but I've experienced no epiphony while reading these books, they haven't inspired me to go out and take archery lessons or anything, and they certainly haven't affected me spiritually.