Read on Twitter
1/ A thread on SpeedReading 
Speed reading = super power.
Speed reading = super power.
2/ Before any of you big readers chops my head off - you are right, speed reading is not always useful.
Think about it as a super power you can (and should) turn ON and OFF - depending on whether you are reading for pleasure Vs specific purpose.
Think about it as a super power you can (and should) turn ON and OFF - depending on whether you are reading for pleasure Vs specific purpose.
3/ We stop learning how to read when we are kids - and most of us never spend any time honing reading as a skill itself.
Imagine you were only taught math up to basic arithmetic - that is the equivalent of what happens in most schools around the world with reading technique.
Imagine you were only taught math up to basic arithmetic - that is the equivalent of what happens in most schools around the world with reading technique.
4/ An average human reads at 250 words per minute (WPM).Â
You can (relatively easily) >2x your WPM while maintaining comprehension.
You can (relatively easily) >2x your WPM while maintaining comprehension.
5/ Fun fact: Teddy Roosevelt was a speed reader, rumored to read above 1000 words-per-minute while maintaining great recall.
6/ Hereâs a quick tool you can use to test your current capacity.
https://www.spreeder.com/app.php
https://www.spreeder.com/app.php
7/ The three main skills you need to develop are:
- Avoid subvocalization
- Avoid regression
- Decrease fixations
- Avoid subvocalization
- Avoid regression
- Decrease fixations
8/ Subvocalisation - when you read, notice how you hear a voice repeating the words you are taking through your eyes, inside your head?
You donât need it.
We humans absorb information much faster through our visual system than our auditory system.
You donât need it.
We humans absorb information much faster through our visual system than our auditory system.
9/ Regression - avoid re-reading passages by becoming an active reader.
You often regress (feel like you have to go back) because the author provides (excess) background that âboresâ you.
Instead, become an âactive readerâ by searching for specific information.
You often regress (feel like you have to go back) because the author provides (excess) background that âboresâ you.
Instead, become an âactive readerâ by searching for specific information.
10/ Fixations - this is how many times you move your eyes on the page.
On average, an untrained reader uses 10-15 fixations per sentence.
You can dramatically reduce this number by learning to use your peripheral vision.
On average, an untrained reader uses 10-15 fixations per sentence.
You can dramatically reduce this number by learning to use your peripheral vision.
11/ Invest the first 20 mins:
- Reading front, back, & table of contents.
- Skimming: pre-read taking 10 seconds per page, looking for sub-headings & graphs.
- Scannning: spend 30 seconds per page, looking for key words and figures.
And SpeedRead!
- Reading front, back, & table of contents.
- Skimming: pre-read taking 10 seconds per page, looking for sub-headings & graphs.
- Scannning: spend 30 seconds per page, looking for key words and figures.
And SpeedRead!
