I love reading. It's one of the passions of my days. But, there are times when I need to just finish the book fast, so that I'll know what happens or so I can review it. And, once upon a time, I had to finish the book because I was having a test on it the next day (or in 15 minutes).
Yes, speed reading has its place in discussions of literature and reading, but it's a topic that can often be confusing and frustrating. We're not just talking about finishing the assignment. As readers, we need to comprehend and be able to apply what we've read. And, as bibliophiles (lovers of the written word), we enjoy savoring the lines, getting the most out of every morsel of wordage. How much good does it do when we read it super-duper-fast? Do you cringe when you're forced to rush through those golden words? (Or perhaps you prefer to read in a hurry... get through, and then read again.)
But, NOW, you're probably chin-deep in homework: reading, writing, test-taking, and essays. There's no end in sight. I remember the stacks of books I read for my literature classes. I loved every minute of it. I learned so much, and I read so many amazing works of literature in those years... But, I also remember the stress and the worry--as I madly tried to keep up with my work load--both in and out of the literature classroom. So, in view of all that, here are some tips to help you read with more speed: How to Improve Your Reading Speed.
If you have tips for how you're able to read with speed, please post your suggestions.
Comments
You are right on point. Speed reading has its place, but not for me. The words and how they are used is the most delightful thing for me in reading. Woody Allen once said, and I repeat it to the best of my memory: ” I took a speed reading course once; I finished War and Peace in 10 minutes; it was about Russia.” That sums it up for me.
I don’t normally speed read if I am reading a book, unless that is it is bad and I am expected to review it. You have to finish the boring old thing so you know what to write about. Or for me I have had to use it if have investigated an incident where there are lots of reports. I believe there are some good books on the subject of speed reading.
For me I peruse the text looking for obvious things such as actions and incidents. A lot of words you can forget about,i.e. if someone is sitting you could have a long description on how they sat, all you need to know is that they were sitting, so you can speed through to the next part. At times I will slow down to normal pace as something catches my eye and I want more details.
You can teach a person how to speed read, but unless they use the skill then they can’t improve or get proficient at it.