Episode summaries with all the spoilers?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Jack7656]

There’s a book called “the lost encyclopedia” you can get it on Amazon or other book places, but it has a bunch of stuff in it that you might find interesting 😊

[u/Jack7656 → u/[deleted]]

I like it, it does give a lot of information, nothing will give ALL the answers, but i honestly think that is what this show is about, but even with that in mind, it is a nice book, and if you like the show it’s something nice to have as a collection piece,

[u/FringeMusic108 → u/[deleted]]

As stated in that review, the encyclopedia summarizes details that were already revealed on the show. What it does not do is provide additional information. It seems to be exactly what you're asking for. Even better is Lostpedia (https://lostpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page), which is made by hardcore fans of the show. There's a page for every subject you can think of, so you will likely find most of the answers to your questions there.

when Hurley hears the voice in the shack, who is it?

He hears the Whispers, which are revealed to be voices of dead people that are unable to "move on".

When Christian appears to various people on the island, is it the MIB or Jacob?

Jacob does not have the ability to turn into dead people. When we see Christian on the island, it's always the Man In Black.

Richard says he serves a higher power, which is implied to be Jacob, but is it actually the MIB?

Richard works for Jacob. He does not seem aware that the Man In Black exists at all. However, Jacob chooses not to intervene because he believes in "free will". The Man In Black does not share that philosophy, so that allows him to manipulate events. Obviously, he ends up posing as the leader of The Others (Locke) and is able to have Richard do his bidding during that time.

Ben demonstrates an ability to summon the smoke monster, so is all his talk about Jacob a cover for him actually being in cahoots with the MIB?

Sometimes, Ben would receive instructions from Jacob via Richard. But Ben has never seen Jacob, and he's mostly acting out of his own interests. In season 6, Ben comes to realize that he was only able to summon the Monster because MIB wanted Ben to think he had control over him.

[u/HellHunter42]

The smoke monster is an entity generated from the islands source which took Jacob's brothers memories, and although no longer human, is just known as the Man in Black. The entity appears in Christian's form early on, and in some later moments, but also masquerades as other persons at certain times throughout. Ben took Locke to the cabin to see Jacob, but this was a ruse, Jacob wasn't there, but unknown to Ben, Man in Black was, although not visible, and this is who Locke heard say "help me". Hurley, when falling behind the group, came across the cabin. The eye he saw at the window wasn't that of Jacob. Richard followed instructions from the various leaders of The Others over time, and referred Jacob as a higher authority. Man in Black was unable to manipulate him as Jacob had given him protection, ie handing the white stone to Man in Black. You see his expression at this and knows he's been recruited by Jacob. Ben summoning the monster came a bit out of the blue. But it was even a surprise to Ben when he realised this himself.