Any tips on reading the bible for an atheist?

[Angrboda]

I haven't done more than dip into it, but Isaac Asimov's books on the bible present a clear and lucid overview of what's going on in each book. I would think it a useful companion to actually reading the bible.

The other thing I'd recommend is taking it seriously and joining a group that is focused on bible study. This will likely entail some awkwardness, as most participants will be believers, but the bible is a lot of material, so having a group to help you keep your nose to the grindstone would probably be helpful, and the companionship could make the dry parts more bearable.

Also, as with any other large project, invest in good materials. It'll pay off in the long run. This likely means several bibles, including a study bible, bible software, hooking up with online services and forums, and so on. It's a large project and attempting to piecemeal it will only make it harder. (For forums, I could recommend theologyweb.com; they're very Christ centered, but also accommodating to skeptics and people of other faiths. You might take the question you've asked here and ask them; they no doubt have a much larger base of experience with the task.)