"There is also this brief text from the book's Prologue:
Only the Elves still preserve any records of that vanished time, ... in which men appear seldom and Hobbits are not mentioned at all. It is clear that Hobbits had, in fact, lived quietly in Middle-earth for many long years before other folk became even aware of them, And the world being after all full of strange creatures beyond count, these little people seemed of very little importance."
Well, here is the whole voice-over film narration introducing the Shire and the hobbits' world.
BILBO:
Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years. Quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk -- Middle-earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count. Hobbits must seem of little importance, being neither renowned as great warriors, nor counted among the very wise... [knock on door]
... In fact, it has been remarked by some that the Hobbits' only real passion is for food. A rather unfair observation, as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales, and the smoking of pipe-weed. But where our hearts truly lie is in peace and quiet, and good tilled earth.
And yes, no doubt, to others our ways seem quaint.
But today, of all days, it is brought home to me, it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.
[More knocking on door].
So this summarizes (as would an abstract of an academic paper) the entire first three sections (10 pages) of the book's Prologue, which of course cannot be accorded any more screen time given the standards of film structure and composition, yet manages two direct quotes from the book text. In addition, this voice-over is accompanied by various camera shots of hobbits going about their usual daily activities, which visually illustrates some of what the book text details. The point of the voice-over being to set up what we need to know for subsequent events, not give us exhaustive sociological details. And for what it is worth, having a facsimile copy of the film version of the Red Book in which Bilbo writes this "Concerning Hobbits", I can assure you this voice-over prologue is there in full exactly as he speaks it.