start from? Personally I would start from the beginning but most people when they start reading it will say it's stupid and the art is crap and so they never really get into it. So which part of the story you think it's so gripping that it'll tell them into a One Piece fan? Arlong Arc? Drum Island Arc? Arabasta arc? Enies Lobby Arc? I'd pick Skypier Arc because I really like how Oda tied like 4 or 5 stories together with the bell and it's really touching