[quote=@Pirouette]
<Snipped quote by Zapdos>

I'm fine with spoilers because I'm probably not going to watch or read the series. It is just a lot...

Edit: but I will read up on stuff so I know what is going on. Any particular topics I should be familiar with?
[/quote]
Like Muffinator said, you don't need to read the series. But if you want to, I have a few suggestions:

Maybe read from the beginning up until the end of the Arlong arc to get introduced to a few characters and the general mood of the series, but that's 95 chapters, so only if you want to. Chapters 490 to 597 (the Summit War Saga, which is basically a huge prison escape and war) is probably my favorite part of the series, so I'd recommend that after the beginning (which I only recommend to get introduced to a lot of the characters).

Again, it's a lot of reading, so only do it if you want to. I just wanted to give my two cents.