So I was thinking about reading LotR again... but then I figured, why not get one of the other books to I guess know more about the world and stuff... would I be better off just getting The Hobbit and reading that? Or should I read something else? Should I maybe go back to the beginning and read em all in chronological order? If so, what order do they go in?

Try checking out Unfinished Tales or The Book of Lost tales, the latter being 3 books if I remember right.

The Silmarillion
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

I think you'd be better off reading what you are already familiar with (LOTR) = Tolkien takes a little getting used to, so you'd be better of with something that has a payoff for you.

OTOH, The Hobbit is fun and easy to get into - the others are tougher.

so TO START, I'd suggest either Hobbit or LOTR

Has anyone read the four or five part "History of the Ring"? I was looking at the back cover for the first one, something like "The Shadow Returns" and I know another one is called "War of Ring" but not sure about the others. Look like a very interesting history type take on LOTR.

The "History of the Ring" as you call it, is 4 books - "The Return of the Shadow", "The Treason of Isengard", "The War of the Ring", and "Sauron Defeated" and are what is known as the "History of the Lord of the Rings" collection, which is just parts 6-9 in the "History of Middle Earth" collection

The History of Middle Earth Series:
1. The Book of Lost Tales, Part 1
2. The Book of Lost Tales, Part 2
3. The Lays of Beleriand
4. Shaping of Middle-Earth: The Quenta, the Ambarkanta and the Annals
5. The Lost Road and Other Writings: Language and Legend Before the Lord of the Rings
6. The Return of the Shadow (History of LotR #1)
7. The Treason of Isengard (History of LotR #2)
8. The War of the Ring (History of LotR #3)
9. Sauron Defeated: The End of the Third Age (History of LotR #4)
10. Morgoth's Ring: The Later Silmarillion Part One: The Legends of Aman
11. The War of the Jewels: The Later Silmarillion Part Two: The Legends of Beleriand
12. The Peoples of Middle-Earth

I recommend the above to only the most compulsive Tolkien fan (which, if you are one, you have already read the above books). I am a huge Tolkein fan, purist, etc. I've read the Silmariillion many times, and am about to read it again, but for the most part the above 12 books are unreadable to me. Some parts are okay, but on the whole, I can't see myself ever reading that series cover to cover. They seem to be more critical analysis and character study than enojyable fiction/novels.

I am reading the History of LOTR right now, and it's quite fascinating to see how the story evolved.