Hi pile2222,
there a lot good books outside, but english is not my native tongue (- so sorry, sometimes my writing sounds a little bit wrong). If you wan't some input to think about structures: Orwells 1984, I love the book. For understanding how evil they lie to you: Johnssons book about the gentile times. And CoC.
Which bible is hard to say, mainly it depends on what you like and where you live (language, translation). Main options: take an older translation if you like hard to read but very accurat text. If you like a happy and easy to read option, take a newer and free translation. Or buy some cheap used - and look which you like. There also a lot of apps out there, some with a lot of translation also some interlinear bibles for free. Maybe it helps, to start with the new testament. And yes, I think the NWT is poison. A bad and biased translation.
If you like to start your day with novels, do it. Take happy once ;)
There also some websites in different language, for believers they be or been JW and like to follow him without preassure.
What means hard to you? Maybe you read the words with a JW-point-of-view. Follow Christ under attacks from JW? Live undercover?...? Rise a child as christ and not as a JW? This all is hard, but not in the way you learn it as JW. There'll no scoring, you not get judget by your preaching time or something like this.
I often try to leave this point of view beyond me, it don't work always. Im a born-in, baptised at 14 more then 15 years ago, also have to be active, so it's not easy for CFL all the day. Hope to fade some day. But one think, maybe helps you. Do your research step by step. If you a beliver, don't look at everything at the first time, e. g. what the GB does, first check, if the appointed to make decissions.