Xmen required reading suggestions?

[Panic]

Yes, but it looks great if you like black and white art. Here's a sample of Dave Cockrum's art from Essential X-Men volume 1:

That's Byrne, not Cockrum!

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to hand in your fanboy card.

[Vegan Daddy]

That's Byrne, not Cockrum!

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to hand in your fanboy card.

What have I done?!

[Goddess]

I'm new to Marvel and have never read an X-men comic. I've got the first 2 X-Men Masterworks vol. What would you suggest are required X-men runs? Thanks for any and all suggestions!

Grant Morrison's run.
Claremont's original run ONLY.
The original New Mutants.
Whedon's Astonishing if only because it was extremely popular (I didn't fancy it).
Gillen's Uncanny and his AvX:Consequences. Short run. Very good run.
I love Rogue and Psylocke more than any other characters so I tend to flock wherever they go.
Bunn's Uncanny X-Men was also pretty good.
Avoid Bendis' X-Men. That run was running in circles and pretty much made a mockery of any continuity.

[acnblj]

Grant Morrison's run.
Claremont's original run ONLY.
The original New Mutants.
Whedon's Astonishing if only because it was extremely popular (I didn't fancy it).
Gillen's Uncanny and his AvX:Consequences. Short run. Very good run.
I love Rogue and Psylocke more than any other characters so I tend to flock wherever they go.
Bunn's Uncanny X-Men was also pretty good.
Avoid Bendis' X-Men. That run was running in circles and pretty much made a mockery of any continuity.

Thank you! Very helpful.