Tell Me about reading faster

[WhiteWolf]

Hi everyone, I' am a big fan of books but I'am a slow reader. It takes me about 3 weeks to finish a 400+ page book. So I wanted to ask is there anyone here who is a fast reader (and of course understands the content and doesn't just read fast for the sake of reading fast) or someone who was a slow reader and developed techniques and strategies to become a faster reader. Thanks, Whitewolf

[Puffin]

I used something called spreeder to help increase my reading and text comprehension speed. It might help. If not, that's all I can really offer.

[Philosopher8659]

Well, I think you look at the whole thing a bit too simply. The content associated with a word is derived from individual experience. The ability to relate ideas is an individual ability. When you increase content and association, you slow down. Reading is simply getting the word, so, it is not a matter of how fast one gets them, it is what they do with them. And understanding, is greatly effected by mental maturity. You don't learn comprehension, you learn the environment and the associations--this is comprehension. So, you cannot learn comprehension by reading--that is a self-referential fallacy. The person who gets the most out of the work, is not the one who finishes first. It is like sex. When you are advanced enough to see the levels of reading comprehension in history, histories of ideas, you come to the sad realization that you are studying a history of premature ejaculation. In many cases, and most important ones, ancient scholars were conceptually far advanced of these idiots today. It is as if man is getting dumber. There was a time when, while working, I was reading a book a day. Mostly anthologies. However, it was wasted time compared to the study of the Platonic dialogs, which I have read several times and am still learning from. Reading a thing, and studing are vastly different.

[darknightedlady]

Sometimes, I'll skim long descriptions. I just look for key words in a paragraph to know if I want to delve into it further. If I am really 'into' a book, I will do that a lot. I want to get to the parts that I am interested in, the parts that get the story moving along. But, I don't want to miss subtle key elements, either (so, I just skim). By that, I mean I let my eyes lose a little focus, and go down the page that way...until I find where I want to be. When I was a kid I bought books on how to be a speed reader...I don't think it did too much for me...but, it helped me understand the concept of skimming.

[Alric]

Sounds more like a motivation thing that being a slow reader. If it takes you 3 weeks to read the book, you likely are not reading it every day, and likely only reading it for a short time when you do. I honestly can't finish a book, that takes 3 weeks to read. If a book is good, I read straight through it within a day or two, or at worst a few days, and I have sat and read for like 6 hours straight before.

[Replicon]

If you have to "sound out" the words as you read, that will severely limit your speed. You have to learn to read only visually (without needing the "voice" to catch up).

[WhiteWolf]

Nice comments everyone thanks! @Alric: Ya it is kinda true to what your saying. @Replicon: Your idea makes sense also. @Philosopher8659: Thanks but I don't fully understand your point for the two last paragraphs.