LOTR...Yes or no?

So I'm thinking of reading the 3 over the next month or so...

Good idea? I've never seen the movies or anything and the references to LOTR are getting annoying. ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY WALK INTO MORDOR HURR and I have no idea what that shit is about.

Do I read them? Is it worth it? Also going to college next month, any books I MUST read before I leave?

Also, I'm gonna read Flowers for Algernon because I remember a loonnnng time ago (like at least 8-10 years ago)I read an excerpt/short story and I was really interested in it. I want to read the whole thing.

The Hobbit is a really fun read, and it would be smart to read it first to see if you are into Tolkien's world.  As for LOTR itself, it is a great series with an amazing story, BUT it can be a chore to read at times.  Tolkien describes like every 3rd tree they pass in several lines of detail.  He lists entire family ancestral lines like they do in The Iliad.  But if you can get through all the crap (most of which is in the first book which is the slowest moving) then you should really enjoy it. 

But reading the books won't really help you with the references.  All of those are quotes from teh movies with takes several liberties with the story.