A Bible designed to be read in 100 minutes by people who haven't the time or inclination to read the whole book was launched today at Canterbury.

The 100-Minute Bible is a modern version of the Bible designed for the era when speed of consumption counts for everything and few have time to spend an hour in church on Sundays any more, never mind read the Bible from cover to cover.

Written for people who want to know more about Christianity but who are unlikely ever to find time to read it in its entirety, it summarises the entire Bible from Creation to Revelation in a length that the average reader will be able to get through in an hour and 40 minutes.

The 39 chapters of the Old Testament and 27 of the New Testament are reduced to just a few pages, with large tracts deleted altogether in an attempt to make it more palatable.

The book was written by the Rev Michael Hinton, a former headteacher, who launched it at Canterbury Cathedral this morning. Mr Hinton said that it included all the best-known Bible stories, including Noah's Ark and the story of Jonah and the whale.

He added: "We have majored on Jesus, because he is the central figure in the Bible."

Publisher Leonard Budd, of the 100-Minute Press, believes that - like its progenitor - it will be a best-seller.

"This is a book for adults and has been written in a style to encourage readers to keep turning the pages, but without resorting to literary gimmicks," he said.

More than 11,000 copies of the book have been printed for distribution to church and schools.

It is also available online at www.the100-minutepress.com.

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