Hi guys,
I would like to speed up my reading and thought about speed reading methods. I noticed a few weeks ago that I’m a very slow reader. If I can finish 3 books in a month its pretty much for me.
How do other people read 8 to 10 books a month? Do you use speed reading methods and if yes, where should I start?
by Bookaddicted1916
9 Comments
Is the mob threatening you or something? Why the desire to blast through as many books as possible? Reading is supposed to be fun, not a chore.
The mind can read faster than the eyes, move your finger across the page a little faster than what you can currently read and stop sub-vocalizing. Having said that, it depends what you’re reading. Fiction is easier to read than non-fiction, and even so, both have things you can read faster than other things in the same book. The solution is variable-speed reading. Check out Adler’s How To Read A Book for more info.
I never do on purpose, sometimes subconsciously. Speed reading can be useful for textbook reading, but I like to savor the language in a novel.
I read 10 books last month, but I have a lot of free time lol.
I can’t think of anything specific I do except maybe ADHD hyperfocus the shit out of most books.
I also read most books via the Kindle app on my phone right now, so I’m logging pages while waiting in line at the pharmacy or the grocery store instead of doomscrolling.
I read exceptionally slowly when I’m reading for pleasure. When I’m reading for work (papers from academic journals), I scan and then slow down when I get to something important.
I use speed reading and speed listening to get through boring bits of books. Some books have huge chunks of words that don’t advance the plot – just meandering stuff. I read/listen to 100+ books per year and I treasure the truly good and great ones. The others – they have bits of brilliance and that’s it.
I have always been an impatient reader, often because I was reading when I was supposed to be doing something else. But I’ve never consciously tried to speed up my reading. I just read a lot and it kind of happened.
I do think practice makes perfect. The more I read, the easier it is to fill in blanks while reading. That means I don’t have to worry about reading every word.
I suggest telling yourself you will read every book twice, and read the book as quickly as you can the first time. If you know you will read it again, perhaps you can relax and not worry about missing anything the first time through.
Just trust that (a) you will pick it up later in the book if it’s really important and (b) you will pick it up when you read the book the second time. Now, when you finish the first reading ask yourself if you really need to read it again.
Perhaps you will, but as you practice perhaps eventually you won’t. It’s all about getting accustomed to reading fast.
God forbid! I want to learn a new word and listen to the adventures taken place while reading. Reading is too cool for me to speed it up.
Honestly, I don’t know how to speed read lol. I’m kind of a slow reader, too, depending on the book. If it’s dense or information-heavy, it’s gonna take me a while to get through. Something that I really connect with, however, I can get through fairly quickly. I definitely don’t read as much as I have within the past few years, due to a decline in my mental health and various life stuff, and I’m okay with that. I would rather read books I enjoy and spend more time with them than rip through a dozen books in a month.
I think you need to readjust your expectations. There’s nothing wrong with being a slower reader. And I don’t think reading 20 books a month is particularly impressive or something to strive towards. Everyone comprehends information differently, and most of us have to work full-time jobs and take care of our families. You’ll get through your TBR eventually!