Do you have a bookshelf full of books that you’ve never read because you don’t have the time?
Do you want to learn how to read faster and more efficiently?
In this blog post, we’ll show you the best speed reading techniques that can help you read all those books on your bookshelf faster than you ever thought possible.
Step 1: Read the Table of Contents, Reviews, and Chapter Summaries
The first key to reading faster is to read the table of contents, reviews, and chapter summaries.
These are often the most important things that the author wants you to get from their text, so by reading these, your brain will be aware and looking for them as you read.
This will help you to read faster and retain more information.
Step 2: Do Not Subvocalize
The next step is to not subvocalize, in other words, don’t say the words yourself.
Even if you’re saying them very softly to yourself, the act of saying them is going to slow your reading speed down.
Some people even chew gum to keep themselves from saying the words as they read because there’s no other way that they can fight that.
Studies also show that if you listen to music, especially classical music when you read, it’s going to improve your reading speed.
Step 3: Use Your Finger or Pen to Move Across the Page
This next step of forcing your eye to move across the page by using your finger or a pen is the most important part of speed reading.
Whenever you see a sentence and the sentence says “the boy ran to the store,” most people will read that sentence this way:
- The
- The boy
- The boy ran
- The boy ran to
- The boy ran to the
- The boy ran to the store
In other words, it’s called visual regression.
Your eye is going back, and it’s reading all the words that you’ve read before, and it’s doing it so fast that you don’t even realize that you’re doing it, and that is the biggest thing that slows you down when reading.
So instead, take your finger or take a pen or a pencil or a marker or highlighter and read with that, and force your finger or force that pen across the page.
That forcing your finger across the page and then force your eye to follow your finger should double your reading speed because your eye is not bouncing all around.
Step 4: Learn to See Groups of Words
The next key to speed reading is learning to see groups of words.
For example, if you see the three words “Statue of Liberty,” you’ve seen it so many times, and you know it goes together.
Your eye is trained to see that phrase as a group. You’re not reading “Statue of Liberty” as individual words.
If you can learn to do that and learn to see in groups of words as you read, it is going to speed up your reading speed.
Step 5: Read the First and Last Sentences of Each Paragraph
The next step to speed reading is to read the first sentence of each paragraph and read the last sentence of each paragraph, but kind of zoom through the middle.
The first sentence of each paragraph often tells you what it’s going to be about, and then the last sentence of each paragraph sums it up.
If you read those two and then just kind of zoom through the middle, you will probably get the gist of that paragraph.
Step 6: Go Faster Than You Think Is Possible
The final step to speed reading is to push yourself to go faster than you think is possible.
When using your finger or marker to move across the page, try to increase the speed at which you read.
You’ll be amazed at how much you can remember and retain even when reading at faster speeds.
It’s important to challenge yourself and push your limits to achieve faster reading speeds.
So, don’t hold back and try to read faster than you thought was possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, speed reading can be a game-changer when it comes to consuming information quickly and efficiently.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can drastically improve your reading speed and comprehension.
The key is to practice regularly and be persistent in pushing yourself to go faster.
Remember, speed reading is not about sacrificing comprehension for speed; it’s about training your brain to process information more efficiently.
Top resources that can help you learn speed reading techniques:
- Spreeder – a free online app that trains your eyes to read faster.
- AccelaReader – a free speed reading service that allows you to adjust the speed and font of text.
- Outread – an iOS app that helps you speed read by flashing words on the screen.
- Blinkist – an app that provides book summaries that can be read in just 15 minutes.
- Rev It Up Reading – an online course that teaches you various speed reading techniques.
- 7 Speed Reading – a software that claims to triple your reading speed with exercises and activities.
- ReadQuick – an iOS app that allows you to adjust the speed of text and practice speed reading.
- Zap Reader – a free online speed reading app that helps you read more efficiently.
- Iris Reading – an online course that teaches you various speed reading techniques and strategies.
- The Evelyn Wood Seven-Day Speed Reading and Learning Program – a classic speed reading book that has helped many people improve their reading speed.
FAQs
Q: Is speed reading suitable for all types of reading materials?
A: Speed reading can be used for most types of reading materials, including textbooks, novels, and articles.
However, it’s important to note that some materials may require a slower, more careful read, such as legal documents or complex scientific papers.
Q: Will speed reading reduce my comprehension of the material?
A: When done correctly, speed reading should not reduce your comprehension of the material.
In fact, many speed reading techniques aim to improve comprehension by training your brain to focus on the most important information.
Q: Can anyone learn to speed read?
A: Yes, anyone can learn to speed read with practice and persistence. However, it’s important to note that the amount of improvement may vary from person to person.
Q: Is speed reading a replacement for traditional reading?
A: Speed reading is not a replacement for traditional reading, but rather a complementary skill.
There will always be times when a slower, more careful read is necessary, and it’s important to recognize those moments and adjust your reading speed accordingly.
Q: How long does it take to see improvements in reading speed?
A: The amount of time it takes to see improvements in reading speed varies from person to person.
With regular practice and persistence, many people start seeing improvements within a few weeks to a few months.
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