Recommended Speed Reading Books?

[Kinma]

@thealchemist

I tried almost all speedreading programs out there including PhotoReading, Howard Berg’s program, etc. and gave them at least 6 months each of testing. But after a couple of years, I decided to quit.

Too bad that you quit. I tried all programs too (except PhotoReading) and they seem to work for me.

My reading speed went from 200 wpm to about 1000 wpm. Mind you, my reading speed depends on familiarity with the material, sleep and a lot of other things

@thealchemist

There’s a lot of factors when it comes to reading speed and comprehension, which makes it difficult for speedreading programs to work for a lot of people. Here are some factors:

1. Your knowledge base
2. Sleep
3. Focus
4. Eye control
5. Sentence construction
6. Having English as a Second Language - I even talked over the phone with Howard Berg and I explained how his program might not work with people who don’t have English as their native language. He said that it can be done through practice.
7. Slower construction of mental images that go along with the words
8. And many more.

English is my second language. Dutch is my native language. However, 95% of all texts I read are in English.
I read over one book of English text per week.

I agree with your list and I also agree with Howard Berg, who in your point 6 says that it can be done.
In any case I am living proof that it could be done.

@thealchemist

As for PhotoReading, I’m skeptical about the hypnosis part of it that gives you a little bit of overconfidence that you can read and retain the material quickly. Yes this program has a lot of expert testimonials, but it’s unknown whether it really works/ed for them. These experts are indeed successful, but correlation does not imply causation.

I am also skeptical about PhotoReading. I have the book here at home, but never had any success with it.
To be honest, I never gave it a serious try for lack of believe in the system.

@thealchemist

I might wait for a couple of years more and see if they will develop a scientific-based method that will increase our reading speed and comprehension. Also, I’m sticking to my normal reading speed after seeing a study on the internet wherein they say that your retention of a material increases if you read it with your eyes and hear it at the same time (subvocalization).

There is a way for everybody on this forum to reach a higher reading speed.
I recommend 2 websites with programs to help you reach a higher reading speed.
One is http://www.zapreader.com the other http://www.spreeder.com.

What I do is copy/paste a text I want to read into the box and read this at my highest reading speed and maximum chunk size (is amoutn of words to display at the same time).

Then, I double this speed and read the text again. Since I just read the text at my highest speed, I know what the text is about. So even though I miss a lot of words on reading with double speed, I still get the gist of the text.

Then, I triple my speed and read the text again. Now most of the text goes by too fast, but I still try to hang on as much as possible. this will get your brain accustomed to higher reading speeds.

Then I read the text again. Usually I find that my reading speed has improved.
With zapreader one can use the keyboard to move the speed up and down.
This is handy for seeing where one’s maximum speed is.
I guesstimate my highest speed and go up or down until I find a speed that gives me maximum comprehension.

Here is some basic background info if one wants to get into this:

How to Speed Read Like Theodore Roosevelt

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Eliminating-These-3-Habits-Can-Improve-Your-Reading-Speed&id=4348365