Speed readers, how many on here?

[chadthestampede]

To expand, the idea behind speed reading is that most people's reading is bottle-necked by the fact that we sub-vocalize (read aloud to ourselves) when we don't really have to. If you pay attention while you're reading something you really do read aloud to yourself, and it slows you down to somewhere around reading aloud speed (~200 wpm). You do read things without sub-vocalizing every day though, just think about when you read a label on a product or a short billboard. You merely see the information and understand it.

The brain can comprehend large chunks of info at a time, which is pretty much the goal of speed reading. A good speed reader can read chunks of information rapidly, all while their brain is organizing it into material that can be understood. It helps to have a good vocabulary and understanding of the English language as well.

There are dozens of exercises you can find for free online and for a quick increase in speed you can use a website such as www.zapreader.com, which is actually pretty cool. Just cut and paste any text in. Even this wall of text.

To be honest though I don't practice speed reading much beyond 4-500 wpm, because I enjoy the process of reading too much. I like to sit down and lose myself in a good book rather than blasting through it just for the hell of it. Besides, I think most speed readers have less comprehension than they realize. Comp tests with multiple choice questions are fundamentally flawed in that you have a chance to guess the right answer without actually knowing it. I think comprehension is often artificially inflated. Furthermore, knowing what you should or could be comprehending in a text is a skill all its own, something that reading timed essays and answering questions will not teach you.

[F34R]

On another note, how would you measure this? Do you read out loud? I could just flip pages and say I read a book in 40 minutes.

You read a numbered essay or a known numbered book. Time is kept then you answer questions(not timed) to figure out the comprehension %.

[Danny]

My guess is you've read a book on auto body, but the part about painting your hood Bronzit must have fallen through the cracks of comprehension.

70% of his car is bronzit. Makes sense.

On another note, how would you measure this? Do you read out loud? I could just flip pages and say I read a book in 40 minutes.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

Ive never timed my self. I should start i can read threw R3V in a matter of moments.

[Wschnitz]

I can do like 900-2000 depending on the read.

[long tall eta]

i took the evelynn wood head sped redding coorse and my redding impraved won der fully. so did my comprension.

[Optimator]

My guess is you've read a book on auto body, but the part about painting your hood Bronzit must have fallen through the cracks of comprehension.

[Todd Black 88]

Not me.

[F34R]

I am a speed reader and was wondering how many members on here are also gifted with extreme reading/comprehension.


Normal speed: 200-230wpm 70% comprehension and even slower with rich information.

Speed reading starts at about 700wpm

World record is 4,251 words per minute, held by Anne Jones. She read Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows in 47minutes(250,000 word novel)

My current best is: 1,836 wpm with 68% comprehension. There are a few ways to do it: Online testing that consist of an essay with a timing for the rate you finish. Then there is a list of questions to quiz you on reading the context. Can also do it the way Anne Jones did with a timed novel.

I retest every year, and try to get faster.