Let's find out why many of us struggle with slow reading and what we can do to improve it. In this article, you'll discover practical techniques, tools, and insights to help you read faster while maintaining comprehension.
Why do we struggle with slow reading, and what can we do about it?
Have you ever found yourself struggling to get through a chapter of a textbook, only to realize that you barely remember what you just read? Or wish you could breeze through your reading assignments faster without losing comprehension? Perhaps you have found focusing a challenge while others seem to glide through a text effortlessly.
“How can I read faster and remember more?” — if you have ever asked such a question, you are not alone.
Whether you’re preparing for an exam, reading non-fiction books or classic English literature, tackling a stack of work reports, or finally dusting off those business books on your shelf, learning to read faster can make a huge difference in your personal and professional growth, even if you consider yourself a slow reader now.
Honestly, developing the habit of speed reading can be a challenge, especially in today’s digital era when our minds are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information flowing from social media, news, and videos.
In search of alternatives, many choose to listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or bloggers. Tim Ferriss, for example, talks about improving work and life habits. However, switching to audio will not solve the problem of reading regression if we do not do anything to develop our reading abilities.
Overflow of information can drain our mental energy and provoke our brains to resist extra effort, such as reading a book. Therefore, we need to learn how to speed read.
Two books are particularly noteworthy: ‘Speed Reading. Learn to read a 200+ page book in 1 hour’ by Kam Knight and ‘Microlearning Short and Sweet’ by Karl M. Kapp and Robyn A. Defelice. They offer excellent insights and practical tips to help you read faster and accomplish more in less time.
What is speed reading?
Speed reading is more than just reading faster. It is a method that enhances your ability to process and retain information quickly and efficiently. It is the technique of swiftly identifying and absorbing entire phrases or sentences rather than concentrating on single words.
The average reading pace is about 200-300 words per minute (wpm). However, speed readers can reach 700-1000 wpm while still maintaining a good level of comprehension!
What is your current reading rate (the number of words you can read per minute)?
This skill is particularly useful for those who need to process large volumes of text (students, scholars, journalists, or other professionals) such as articles, books, or business data.
Benefits of speed reading
Some people are skeptical about fast reading, so let us first see its practical benefits for studying, work, and everyday life.
Efficiency: You can cover more material in less time, allowing you to focus more on other tasks or areas of study.
Improved focus: Speed reading develops your concentration skills, which can improve your overall focus and attention span.
Enhanced comprehension: Contrary to popular belief, speed reading, when done correctly, can improve comprehension because it reduces the likelihood of getting bogged down by less important details.
Common myths
There are several misconceptions about speed reading.
One common myth is that speed reading sacrifices comprehension for speed. However, you can increase your reading speed with the proper techniques without losing comprehension.
Another myth is that speed reading is only for gifted individuals.
For example, Udemy instructors Howard Berg (often referred to as the “world's fastest reader”), Anne Jones (a six-time World Speed Reading Champion with a reading speed of 4,700 words per minute and 67% comprehension), and Maria Teresa Calderon (a Guinness World Record holder for reading 80,000 words per hour) are champions of speed reading.
“Impossible!” many might be tempted to say, giving up on the idea of ever learning to read faster.
In reality, anyone can increase their reading speed with the help of focus-improving exercises such as skimming, scanning and chunking, visual guides, subvocalization reduction, and comprehension enhancement tools.
Techniques to improve reading speed
Let's explore some exercises, techniques, and tools that can help you improve your reading speed.
Skimming and scanning
The most basic techniques to start with are skimming and scanning.
Skimming involves quickly running your eyes over the text to grasp the main ideas without getting into the finer details. Skimming is especially useful when you need to understand the general structure or argument of a text.
Scanning is when you are searching for specific information or keywords within a text. By scanning, you avoid reading irrelevant sections and focus directly on the parts that matter.
Chunking
Chunking is a technique where you read groups of words together instead of reading each word individually.
How chunking works
Start by practicing with small groups, such as two or three words at a time, and gradually increase the size of the chunks as you become more comfortable.
This method helps reduce the time spent moving your eyes from one word to another, which can significantly improve your reading speed.
Using a visual guide
In many cases, using your finger, a pen, or a pointer as a visual guide is a simple yet effective way to improve reading speed.
Why it works
A visual guide helps you maintain focus and prevents your eyes from wandering. It also encourages your eyes to move smoothly across the line of text, which can help increase your reading pace.
Enhancing comprehension
To get the most out of speed reading, it's essential not just to read quickly but to understand and retain the information. Active reading is a powerful approach to achieving this.
Active reading
Engaging in active reading is crucial to ensure that you comprehend what you are reading while speeding up. Active reading involves interacting with the text by questioning, summarizing, and making connections.
Questioning: As you read, ask yourself questions about the content. What is the author’s main point? What evidence is being presented? How does this information relate to what I already know?
Summarizing: After finishing a section, try to summarize the main ideas in your own words. This reinforces understanding and retention.
Making connections: Relate the material to your own experiences or other knowledge areas. This can make the information more meaningful and easier to recall later.
What is subvocalization, and how can you reduce it?
Subvocalization (derived from vocalization and vocal) is the habit of silently pronouncing individual words in your head as you read, which can significantly slow down your reading speed.
How to reduce subvocalization
To reduce subvocalization, try focusing on the meaning of the text rather than the sound of the words.
Try to read faster than your internal voice can keep up. This will force your brain to process the text visually rather than audibly and improve the quality of your reading time.
Eye and brain exercises
Engaging in eye and brain exercises will help support your speed reading journey.
Infinity technique
Just like any other muscle, your eye muscles can be strengthened with eye exercises. One effective way to train your eye muscles is the infinity technique.
Draw a large infinity symbol (∞) on a piece of paper and trace it with your eyes. This exercise improves your eye movement control and helps reduce eye strain, which can be a limiting factor in speed reading.
Mental exercises
To enhance your focus and reduce distractions while reading, try incorporating some mental exercises.
Focus drills: Set a timer for 2 minutes and try to read as much as you can without losing focus. Gradually increase the time as your concentration improves.
Visualization: Before you start reading, visualize the key points or arguments you expect to encounter. This primes your brain to recognize and remember the important information as you read.
Peripheral vision: The term "peripheral" comes from the Greek word "peripheria," meaning "circumference" or "around." Peripheral vision refers to the ability to see objects outside the direct line of sight at the edges of the visual field. It allows you to capture multiple words or phrases at once, reducing the need for frequent eye movements.
Tools and resources
A variety of tools and resources, including apps, courses, and books, are available to enhance your speed reading journey. These can help you practice, improve, and track your progress.
Apps and tools
Several apps and tools to help you practice speed reading and track your progress are readily available.
Spreeder: A popular digital tool for improving speed reading skills.
Spritz: This app uses Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) to display one word at a time, helping you read at faster speeds.
Accelareader: A simple online reading productivity tool.
Headway: An app offering concise book summaries for personal growth. While it doesn’t include speed reading tools specifically, it can greatly reduce your time spent on reading books.
Online courses and books
For those who prefer a more structured approach, online courses and books can provide in-depth training.
Courses: Udemy and Coursera offer various courses on speed reading techniques that cater to different skill levels, for example:
Udemy → 10X SUPERHUMAN Learning: Speed Reading & Memory Booster. This is a 14-hour online course teaching speed reading, memory enhancement, and effective learning strategies for better retention.
Coursera → Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects. This course, led by Dr. Barbara Oakley and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski, covers valuable techniques for improving learning efficiency, including reading strategies. Financial aid is available.
Books: Aside from the books (such as ‘Learning How To Learn’ by Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski and ‘How to Read a Book’ by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren) available on the Headway app, consider reading ’Speed Reading for Dummies’ by Richard Sutz. This book focuses on eliminating poor reading habits, developing effective speed reading techniques, and ensuring a balance between speed and comprehension.
Helpful tips: Check out 5 techniques to read faster and more efficiently on the Oxford Notebooks website.
Building a reading habit
Now, what do we do with all the tips, tools, and resources we've just learned about to read faster?
Set goals and track progress
To stay motivated, it’s important to set clear reading goals and track your progress over time.
Goal setting: Start by setting realistic goals, such as reading a certain number of pages or chapters each day. Gradually increase these goals as your speed improves.
Tracking: Use a reading log or app to track your reading speed and comprehension levels. This will help you see your progress and identify areas where you need improvement.
Consistency
Like any skill, speed reading requires consistent practice. For example:
Daily practice: Dedicate at least 15-20 minutes each day to practicing speed reading techniques. Over time, this will help you build the muscle memory needed to read faster without sacrificing comprehension.
Create a favorable environment: Ensure that your reading environment is free from distractions. Good lighting, a comfortable chair, and a quiet space can make a difference in your reading efficiency.
Insights from Kam Knight
Experts emphasize that the key to successful speed reading lies in balancing speed with comprehension.
Kam Knight explains,
“Speed reading is not just about reading fast; it’s about reading with purpose.” He further elaborates, “By setting clear goals and focusing on the material that is most relevant to you, you can achieve a balance that allows for both speed and deep understanding.”
Knight underlines the importance of this approach by advising,
“Since purpose has such power, anytime you sit down to read, set a goal or purpose. Determine beforehand what you want or hope to gain from the material.”
If you're looking to really improve your speed reading skills, Kam Knight's ‘Speed Reading. Learn to read a 200+ page book in 1 hour’ might be the right book for you.
Breaking down into chunks
“When designing microlearning, you need to decide what you want the participant to do, not what they need to know,” — Karl M. Kapp and Robyn A. Defelice advise in their book ‘Microlearning Short and Sweet.’
They highlight the importance of breaking down large volumes of information into smaller, more manageable chunks. This approach is particularly effective in speed reading, as it aligns with the chunking technique discussed earlier.
To summarize, “Scientists estimate that as much as 65 percent of the brain is used to process visual information,” Kam Knight states in his book ‘Speed Reading.’ So, why not take advantage of these built-in abilities?
Your path to speed reading mastery with Headway
By incorporating the strategies discussed in this guide, such as skimming, scanning, chunking, and using a visual guide, you can significantly increase your reading speed while maintaining a high level of comprehension.
Additionally, by focusing on active reading and reducing subvocalization, you can ensure that you retain more of what you read. Remember, the goal of speed reading is not just to read faster but to read smarter. With consistent practice and the right tools, you can develop a speed reading habit.
For more insights and a deeper understanding of these and similar concepts, check out our book summaries available on the Headway app providing you with brief reviews of the best books by the best authors.
