Important to read – but not, necessarily, all of it – for understanding Western culture. Not a very good book for understanding where the world or humans came from. Gives some people relief when they struggle with depression, angst, loneliness, imprisonment, disease, old age, death, and so on.

• Genesis – for its cultural relevance
• Job – why do good people suffer hardships?
• Ecclesiastes – pessimism, impermanence
• Psalms– lengthy, but one of the most celebrated texts
• John – the gospel in a nutshell; the last gospel; snappy style
• Revelation – weird as hell

• The Jefferson Bible. Slimmed-down reading of the Gospels (story of Jesus) without the magic and miracles.
  • Split into chapters (HTML)
  • Ebook download (PDF/EPUB/MOBI)