Save more time by reading faster

[psychicpaul]

I recently found this site while I was cruising around the net looking for information about time management:

Free Online Speed Reading Test

It occurred to me that I never really thought about how much time I spend every day reading and learning new information. If I could doubly my reading speed, I estimate that I could save myself a good hour or so every day.

Anyways, that site above has a test that shows you how fast you currently read. I scored a pitiful 250 WPM, which according to my research, is about the reading speed of a 5th grader .

Now I have a whole new project to start! Argggg!

[Kindred]

It's not taught in public school to stop subvocalizing (sounding out what you read in your head). I believe this is the barrier that keeps most people reading like elementary school kids.

I stopped subvocalizing while reading about two years ago in my senior year of highschool. My reading speed was around 300 WPM then. After a year of not subvocalizing I had a reading speed of 500 WPM with 70% comprehension. According to this test it's up to 700 WPM now, but there's no comprehension test, making it a somewhat useless measure.

Critics will argue there's no scientific-evidence that backs reading without subvocalization. However, I'm reading faster now and don't really care if there's proof backing that speed or not. I know a pink elephant when I see a pink elephant.

Steve made a recommendation for PhotoReading. I've never cared enough to shuffle out $300 to take my reading speed further, but you might be interested in checking it out.

[Chillax]

Kindred just nailed it, the key is to stop reading in your head, you should just look at the word and know what it is.

It takes a while to break from this habit but with practise it can be done. You can do some exercises like count to 5 while you're reading to make sure you aren't using your tongue.

To take this strategy one stop further, whenever I read something, I probably only read about 60-70% of the words (unless it's something technical). Again even these words, I look at w/o saying.

I also find that reading fast helps me stay focused and interested.

[akoma]

This is a great skill to have. I current read at a very low speed. I would greatly like to increase my reading skill by a great margin.

[Bleicke]

I got around 550 on each test and english isn't even my native language. I rule!

Ego aside, I don't think reading speed is a big problem. Sure, it'll save you the occasional minute. But there are lots of things that are more important to being effective: priority setting, knowing when to stop, being able to focus, discipline, etc.

Reading and typing speed are overrated in my opinion. Even 250 WPM will probably be enough. Just being 10% more focused is more important than doubling that reading speed. Or how about KNOWING WHAT TO DO with all the information? I read stuff all the time that I don't act upon or don't convert into usable knowledge. I'd rather work on that. Anyone know how?

[rocksupreme]

Reading faster is OK. You can get similar results by reading less.

[Eric Roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Bleicke

I got around 550 on each test and english isn't even my native language. I rule!

Ego aside, I don't think reading speed is a big problem. Sure, it'll save you the occasional minute. But there are lots of things that are more important to being effective: priority setting, knowing when to stop, being able to focus, discipline, etc.

For people who read a lot but at a slow pace, learning to read faster can be a rewarding goal. There's no contradiction between increasing reading speed and improving in the areas you mentioned.

Or how about KNOWING WHAT TO DO with all the information? I read stuff all the time that I don't act upon or don't convert into usable knowledge. I'd rather work on that. Anyone know how?

I can think of two answers to that. First, learn to simplify. Identifying what's important in a given set of information is a learnable skill.

And that brings me to my second answer: you'll know what to do with information once you have goals. If your goal is to pass a class, then you'll use the information for that. If your goal is entertainment, then you can just relax, enjoy yourself and not worry about what to do with the information. Goals help us identify what's important.

[Bradshaw]

I got 600 WPM without really trying to read very fast or anything on that test.

When trying to really comprehend something i slow down to 400 WPM though.

[psychicpaul]

Originally Posted by rocksupreme

Reading faster is OK. You can get similar results by reading less.

As a student, that's not always an option.

[rocksupreme]

Originally Posted by psychicpaul

As a student, that's not always an option.

It was for me. I didn't even purchase many of my "required" books in college. Reading less requires you to make decisions about what's important on the front end. Most people just read and then try and take notes and remember what they can - that takes a lot of time, and a lot of it is wasted if that information is unnecessary or wrong.

Be critical. Look at what you need and find out how little you can get away with reading to meet those needs.

[gerber]

I improved my reading speed a great deal after reading a book by Tony Buzan (probably called Speed Reading). That book also discusses mind mapping to improve comprehension and later on remembering what you learned from the text.

I also wrote an article a long time ago about doubling your reading speed. It can be found on my blog:

Double Your Reading Speed Now

Subvocalization was already covered, but focus is just as important. You won't be able to go through a certain text quickly if you're constantly drifting off. Another tip is not to worry about comprehension the first time you read a text. Better to read a certain text at a higher speed than once very slowly.

[ar81]

I make 435 WPM and english is not my native language.
This seems to be the limit of my understanding as I am now asleep.

Understanding means that for long statements you understand the message of the text. Understanding gets low when asleep.

I do believe that readers problem is more likely to be a problem of getting familiar with long statements with complex structure.