Question: What class is this yer takin' that requires you 2 read the Bible?...
Notwithstanding time pressures, there really is NO substitute for reading the actual Bible yourself. Not all Bibles are "King James English", mind you, with all the archaic language (thees & thous & such) thereof. There are several versions available that are in pretty modern language, and far easier to read/understand than the King James. The most widely read of these is probably the "New International Version" ("NIV"), which came out somewhere in the '80s, I believe (my fave, of the different versions I've read). A newer version that I recently acquired is called "The Message" by Eugene Peterson. It's not actually a translation, per se, it's a paraphrase. A "translation" (what most folks mean when they speak of a particular "version" of the Bible) is a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, is more accurate to the text of the original, and is the only real choice for serious/in-depth study of the Bible; a "paraphrase" is more a thought-for- thought rendering, which is more suitable for the casual reader, or the serious reader looking for a change of pace. The Message also reads more like a narrative account (think "novel"), without verse numberings for every single verse.
You can get an NIV paperback version for anywhere from $5 and up (depending on where you look), and The Message is somewhat more 'spensive, since it's a newer version. However, this one I picked up I got for only $20 on sale ($25 normally). It's called "The Message: Remix", and is a small hardcover that is quite handy to have. I'd recommend you get *both* Bibles, though for your purposes, if you could only get one, mebbe "The Message" would be a place to start.
That said, it sounds like you're looking for what's called a Bible commentary. Many/most are lengthy, since they are aimed at folks who are looking to mine the deeper riches of God's word. They go book by book thru all 66 books of the Bible, and can run into several volumes. However, there are some that are shorter, and are meant to give more of an overview (such may or may not go by the name "Commentary"). I have a specific suggestion for you RE: the latter:
"The MacArthur Quick Reference Guide to The Bible" (Student Edition). This paperback dealie is over 300 pages, but the font is not as small as most 300 pg books (like novels) that are out there, so it's not as long as it may sound. The author, John MacArthur, is a well-known Bible teacher and pastor out in the L.A. area, and he's a good, solid down to earth expositor of the Word. He has a radio program '"Grace To You" heard nationwide - check yer local listings to find a station near you that carries it.
Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes, and Godspeed to ye, lad.
(I thought the same about Billy Graham when I saw a picture of him a few days ago)