How does one start an independent bible study?

There are a couple of books we used it seminary that I think can be very helpful. One is How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth (http://amzn.to/gdNUEy), the other is How to Read the Bible Book by Book (http://amzn.to/eQRKgX). They are part of a series and work well together giving you the basis to do different kinds of Bible studies and the historical/cultural context of each book. I would recommend starting with John, and then reading Luke and Acts together (they are two parts of one book essentially), or reading Luke and Acts and the John. I would then move to James and then into Paul's letters. Though there are allusions to the OT in the NT for starting out I would dive into the life of Christ and the early church.

I highly recommend looking at the site http://youversion.com You Version provides several Bible reading plans, a large number of online Bibles and various online groups that you can join. It might allow you to take part in a Bible study that better fits your schedule.

I suggest these: A Biblical overview- http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20131001/ A Topical study- http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-teach/ http://www.jw.org/en/video-why-study-the-bible/

Bible is not a history in the general sense.   Any references to the  historical events and lives of people are happened only because they  played some active role in the actual message in Bible. Bible  is the history of salvation.   Understanding Bible in the right sense,  especially the Old Testament, require serious study of what is written  in the context.   It should be understood as a whole not in pieces. The  story of creation of the world is only answering a question "How God  created world" and it is answered as it may be explained to a child.   The message here is only God created the universe and everything in it.   And it simply says man disobeyed God and got punished for it.  What did  they did against the will of God?  May be they wanted to be like God.    I strongly suggest you to read Bible with the help of an authentic commentary on it. "Bible is the Word of God written in human words. Hence the need of interpretations: “the interpreter in order to see clearly what god wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words. To search out the  intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to “literary forms”. For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or of other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what  meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture. For correct understanding of what the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another.”     Not all the writings are to be interpreted as historical narratives.

Many people might consider the Bible a boring book, it's nice that you are taking an interest. This book that I received served as an aide to learning about the Bible. http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_00.htm If you wish you use nothing but the Bible, on your own, I suggest that you proceed in order(Genesis to Revelation). That is, if you don't find accounts of ancient Isreal and their adventures boring. If you can appreciate these stories though, it would let you see what kind of person God is. If you decide to pick up from somewhere in the middle of the Bible...That's a different story. A prophetic book like Daniel, Isaiah or Revelation would throw you into confusion without prior understanding. The gospels would often reference books in the Hebrew/Aramaic scriptures (Old Testament), so it would be nice to get an understanding. By the way there are even prophecies in Genesis, so the Bible is not a book that you can pick up and understand in a day. It takes references and research to really understand it's message. Matthew 7:7 says if you keep on asking the answer will be given you, so put forth the effort if you really want to learn what the Bible says.

You should be more specific. Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons will accommodate your schedule. Many evangelic churches and many web sites offer structured groups.  Amazon is filled with books... from conservative to liberal.... Catholic to dispensatiionalist.  You need to define the perspective you seek.

I recommend a great book by Marcus Borg called "Reading The Bible Again For The First Time."