The Book of Jonah is a short but powerful story found in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament. It's part of the collection called the Minor Prophets, not because it's less important, but because it's shorter than the books of the Major Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. Jonah's tale stands out because it's more narrative-driven, reading like a story rather than a series of prophecies.

Jonah, the son of Amittai, is called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. Instead of obeying, Jonah tries to flee from God's command by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish in the opposite direction. A violent storm threatens the ship, and Jonah, realizing the storm is divine punishment for his disobedience, instructs the sailors to throw him overboard. 

They do, and the storm ceases. Jonah is swallowed by a "great fish" (often referred to as a whale) and spends three days and nights in its belly. He prays to God, and the fish vomits him onto dry land. Jonah then goes to Nineveh, where his preaching leads the entire city to repent, averting God's judgment. The story ends with Jonah learning a lesson about God's compassion and mercy.