My first introduction to the concept of speed-reading was from the book Breakthrough Rapid Reading. I’ve since moved away from a few of the concepts taught in the book, but the core ideas were transformative. In only a few weeks, my average reading speed went from roughly 450 words per minute, to over 900! The seven lessons below helped me to double my reading rate, allowed me to consume over seventy books in a year, and made me a smarter reader.
1. Use a Pointer
Your eyes don’t actually stay fixed in one spot. They’re frequently making brief twitches away from your center of focus to gather more information. These movements are called saccades, and they represent the first tool novice readers can use to read faster.
Normally, when your eye twitches away, it must relocate in its previous position. Unfortunately, when you read, this position is constantly moving. Saccades (and just general distractions) cause you to slow down as you must search for your current reading position. The solution is to use a pointer.
The easiest pointer is just the tip of your finger. Simply place your index finger below a line of text and move it as you read. Initially, using a pointer will be slower than regular reading. But after you’re used to the motion, you can read more effectively.
2. Speed Reading Is About Control, Not Speed
I dislike the way speed-reading is often presented because it makes the skill seem to be only about increasing your top speed. As a result, many people are quick to jump to the conclusion that people can’t physically process more information, or they say that comprehension goes down while speed-reading.
To me, these arguments miss the point. Speed-reading is about controlling your reading rate, not just going faster. If you’re in a racecar, top speed is important, but even more important is the driver’s skill at adjusting speeds to make careful turns. The ability to control your speed will make you a much more efficient reader than just blazing through text.
A pointer helps with control because instead of just using your eyes, you can physically move your hand to adjust your reading speed. If you move your hand faster, you’ll be forced to read faster. Also, if you slow your pointer down, your reading will slow. This kind of control allows you to carefully read confusing or important sections of text and go faster through obvious text or pieces of fluff.
3. Read Without Subvocalizing
When most people first learned to read, they spoke the words aloud. “Jill goes up the hill,” each word being pronounced earnestly by the young student. Eventually, you graduate from speaking aloud because it slows your reading speed. However, most people still vocalize the words inside their head, “Jill goes up the hill,” silently repeated in our minds.
