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[lilraylewis]

I've seen various articles on the net about speed reading and the need to eliminate subvocalization (sounding the words out in your head as you read), fixing your eyes on every word, etc., in order to become a better and faster reader.

So my question is, have any of you every tried speed reading? did you try to elimnate subvocalization, eye-fixation, etc.? did you become a better and smoother reader because of it?

I only ask these questions because I realized that I have all the "symptoms" the speed-reading guys are talking about: I subvocalize, and I read every word. I also realized that I tend to mentally stumble around while reading very difficuly material; I thought maybe these techniques would help the problem.

 

[RepMovSB]

The way that I read matches with the way that you describe "speed" reading. I just scan my eyes across the lines and pick up the words without any of the subvocalisation you mention.

It has advantages and disadvantages. I can blast through an enjoyable novel very quickly, so my enjoyment is not hindered by the actual reading process. However, if the material is more difficult, or is technical non-fiction that I need to actually absorb properly, then I will slow down and "read it aloud, but in my head".

I'm someone who re-reads books that I like. Due to my reading style I'll pick up details I didn't originally notice on subsequent readings.

Writing is a different matter. For example, I've read this post "aloud" (not actually aloud) several times, to make sure it expresses what I'm trying to say. I do this not just at the end, but during the composition of each sentence.

 

[ElyrionX]

Hmmm, I never did realize the subvocalization thing had such a major impact on reading speed. What other speed reading techniques are there? Any useful links?

 

[lilraylewis]

Hmmm, I never did realize the subvocalization thing had such a major impact on reading speed. What other speed reading techniques are there? Any useful links?

Not really: Most of the websites cover the basic obstacles(subvocalization, etc.) but don't go into detail about how to overcome those obstacles, either because they're trying to sell you a program or because its a university web-page trying to convince you to take a speed reading course.

Here's the most useful link i've found:
http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday/speed.htm

 

[Ninjas4Less]

I read pretty fast, but I have a habit of skipping words. So its not really speed reading so much as skimming. I gloss over words like 'the', 'if', 'said', only picking up the words that make the scene. its sorta weird.

While I can read the book fast with solid comprehension initially I often forget details after about a week, but I blame that on some issues I have with long-term memory and my ability to read numbers.

 

[Senior Lurker]

Not speed reading, but Photoreading . I had the course for a long time but didn't practice at all after finishing the first time, so now I am thinking of redoing it (more than 3 years later).

One step of it probably resembles what Ninjas4less does. But the photoreading step itself is the one that usually amazes people.

It's basically taking "snapshots" of pages at a rate of.... a page per second? Doing this it's claimed you'll get the information straight into your subconscious mind (skipping active). Then you do some other techniques to "activate" what you PRed.

Does it work? I can't say for sure.

 

[Zaptruder]

It's all shit.

The long term memory retention for speed reading techniques are generally shite. At best it's as good as a thorough skimming of the material.

Not that it isn't impressive to have the ability... but it's not as handy as you'd think it is.

 

[Ninjas4Less]

What if there was a contest, whoever reads the fastest doesnt die! Ha!

 

[wandering goat]

I've tried speed reading a long time ago and was somewhat decent at it. However, I find that it takes away a lot of the enjoyment that you get from reading a book at a normal speed and becoming more absorbed into it, so I don't do it anymore unless I'm cramming for a test or something like that.

 

[Mejilan]

I've kinda trained myself to speedread, as described in the first post, without really knowing it. I've got way too many books, and not enough time.

 

[psycho_snake]

Ive tried speed readining but Ive Im given a comprehension on what I just read, I wouldnt beable to get 50%. I have to subvocalize and it only adds to how slow I am at reading.

 

[blackwind]

Speed reading has made my life (school life mostly) a lot easier.


Here are bunch of great links and a few demos.
http://doink.biz/forum/index.php?showtopic=364&hl=speed+reading

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I'm a naturally fast reader apparently, but once back in Uni our lecturer got to do a bunch of reading exercises that went something like this

1. read for 2 minutes, then count the pages etc.
2. do a bunch of reading "gym" that involved turning the book upside down and reading the top of every page etc. reading the bottom line on the bottom of each page backwards etc.
3. then read for 2 minutes again and count the number of pages.

After that quick exercise everybody sped up their reading by about 30% (Not claiming that we retained that speed though) It was interesting anyway.

 

[snaildog]

I'm kind of a perfectionist who likes to absorb every little part of a book and think about it; even rereading stuff constantly. I can speed-read quite well if I have to (like cramming for exams). I'm quite often thinking about other parts of the book while still paying attention to what I'm reading which sounds weird.

 

[The Faceless Master]

wow, i went from 555 to 693 on that first flash demo

 

[LakeEarth]

It took me a minute to read your post, so no, I have nothing significant to add.