28 or so reasons to read the HoME series {and UT}

[Aiwendil]

One thing you can def do is skip the footnotes, intro's and commentary till you really care about a given section!

Blasphemy! The footnotes are the most important part!

Well, not really. But when I say that I read the History of Middle-earth from beginning to end (and recommend it to others), I mean all of it. Every word, in order, from the Introduction to Unfinished Tales to the little paragraph of commentary at the end of 'Tal-Elmar'. Yes, I'm a bit obsessed and no, I don't expect many others to read it that way. Nonetheless I recommend it.