The Bible is the word of God. A gift from the Catholic Church. It should be read before any book written by man.
Often certain saints would ride into town with only a Bible and a Rosary to convert the people.
The bible needs to be explained by the saints, doctors, and time proven learned clergy, that is why the only bible I would recommend is the Haydock Douay-Rheims Bible, because it is, in some places, like 80% explanations and 20% bible. NOTE: I am not saying to buy just any Douay-Rheims bible, I am saying to only buy the Haydock D-R (Old and New Testament):
Also, one must have a Douay-Rheims Concordance to go along with the Haydock. I read the DR Concordance on a subject first, then I go to the Haydock.