No, this isn’t an April Fools’ Day ruse, my friends. This is real. I share reviews of all the other books I read – covering numerous topics, so after finishing a “Bible in 90 Days” reading plan through YouVersion‘s iPhone app, I figured this review is quite appropriate.

I’ve read the Holy Bible in its entirety before; it was even part of my required reading – along with other religious literary works – in public high school. This was the first time I’ve read it in 90 days, though. It was challenging but worth every moment. I both read and listened to the New International Version provided by Biblica via YouVersion. Max McLean narrates the audio version; he has a commanding voice, and soothing background music accompanies his monologue.

The Bible is actually a compilation of 66 books within the Old Testament (written before the birth of Jesus Christ) and the Old Testament (covering the birth, life, and events after Jesus’s birth). The books range in style from historical works and law to prophetic messages, words of wisdom, and heated romance and poetry. The Bible was written by over 40 authors across a span of 1600 years, has been translated into over 1200 languages, and remains the all-time best-seller and most read book in the world.

I typically read and listened to the Bible in the mornings, on my way to work, and daily readings covered approximately 18 chapters. I had maybe one or two days without any assigned reading. Yes, I did fall behind the plan a few times, but it was easy to catch up as I limited my other media consumption, which was perhaps an added bonus over the last three months. Finishing the reading plan on Easter Sunday held special significance for me. The Bible means a lot to me as a nurse; it guides my work and my life. Scriptures are posted all over my office as personal encouragement and reminders, and I’ve even used the Bible to open and focus meetings, as I work within a Catholic healthcare organization.

I really enjoyed the audio version for its convenience to listen to while commuting. Still, reading the words myself always proved faster and more enjoyable. YouVersion has special features in which readers can highlight, take notes, and even share scriptures in various formats. Throughout the 90 days, the app did crash and the audio version did snag. I found that I typically needed to update my iPhone app during those times. The latest update to the YouVersion app seems to run much faster and have fewer crashes. While I read the New International Version, or NIV, because I seem to understand it better, YouVersion has literally hundreds of versions and languages. And, I completed my reading/listening in 90 days, but again, YouVersion has numerous plans to choose from to cover your desired reading tempo or topical reading.

Needless to say, I’m starting a new “plan” today, and I highly recommend the Holy Bible for your own reading. Even if you’re not a Christian, I encourage you to pick it up and approach it from a purely literary perspective. It’s beautiful literature.

Have you ever read the Holy Bible? Are you reading it now? What are your thoughts about it?

Copyright jason2917, Flickr.com