How can I read faster? -

[Smolrolls]

Feels like I'm reading slowly and I'd like to read fast. How many pages can you read per hour? And what's your advice on how to read faster while understanding what your reading?

 

[Arm Pit Cream]

stop being retarded

 

[Sped Xing]

Just read the page numbers. Everything else is details.

 

[Just A Butt]

 

[Massa's Little Buckie]

Move your eyes rapidly.

 

[likeacrackado]

limit your subvocalization(speaking the words in your head while reading) . You could also try reading a novel which is light in its use of grammar and vocab.

 

[Rusty Crab]

I have physical issues with my eyes that make reading difficult. Comprehension is somewhat impaired because of that. Here's how I read pretty quickly in spite of that:

• If I'm reading paper, trace the words with my finger.
• Reading softly under my breath (as mentioned above) helps somewhat if i'm trying to skim or get a summary.
• If I'm reading on a computer, especially a web browser, I drag my cursor along the text, highlighting as I go. That's especially useful to keep my place when my eyes jump to the next line.
• If it's a technical book (that's usually what I'm reading), I use SQR3 (look it up). While it requires you to do multiple passes, you get a lot more out of it and rarely have to go back and visit it again later.
• Take 5-8 minute breaks in between half-hour stretches. Your attention span is limited, whether you want to admit it or not.

Overall though, if you're reading for enjoyment, don't worry about it. If you're reading for work, reading/writing speed is rarely the actual bottleneck in your workflow.

 

[BingBong]

just read the highlights and anything that catches your eye. most other things don't matter.

 

[C.U.N.T.]

Instead of reading each individual word, try to take in chunks of text (multiple sentences) at once.
Start small and build up, your brain will learn to absorb the info without needing to read each and every word separately.

 

[Chaos Theorist]

level up your reading skill

 

[Frank D'arbo]

As you read one word, focus on the next word after it and don't overthink it

 

[Immortal Technique]

Summit to Supreme Leader and you'll just be able to absorb the page.

 

[Smolrolls]

• If it's a technical book (that's usually what I'm reading), I use SQR3 (look it up). While it requires you to do multiple passes, you get a lot more out of it and rarely have to go back and visit it again later.

What technical books do you read/recommend?

 

[Rusty Crab]

What technical books do you read/recommend?

I program stuff for a living so mostly just my relevant fields. Often times it'll be for learning a new language. Other times for software architectural stuff. I can't really make recommendations without knowing what you're interested in. I've never seen a bad book from O'Reilly, Wrox or Robert C Martin, though.

 

[JosephStalin]

Instead of reading each individual word, try to take in chunks of text (multiple sentences) at once.
Start small and build up, your brain will learn to absorb the info without needing to read each and every word separately.

Yeah. For most reading I just look at the page and it seems like the words just flow into my head. I normally read very, very quickly. Never move the lips, never subvocalize, just move your eyes down the page and let the words flow into you.

If you want to become a better reader, read, read, read. If you want to become a better writer, read, read, read, then write, write, write. These days am doing more writing than reading.

 

[Exorbital Columnations]

Never move the lips, never subvocalize, just move your eyes down the page and let the words flow into you.

If you want to become a better reader, read, read, read. If you want to become a better writer, read, read, read, then write, write, write.

Listen to ol' Grandpa Stalin here: read a lot and vary the subject matter as you go along. It's best to develop a bit of flexibility so you can go from things that are fairly abstract to things that are technical, etc. Once you've broadened your horizons you won't find yourself so disoriented while you're reading.

Don't fuss over every single word, try to aim for the substance of the material rather than getting bogged down in ephemera. The majority of words are basically just scaffolding that ideas are built upon; learn to distinguish between the scaffolding and the house, so to speak.

If that all fails.. Adderall, I guess.

 

[C.U.N.T.]

Exigent and Joseph get it.
Try taking a "photo" with your eyes of a page with only a sentence or two. Don't start to read every word, look at the sentences as a whole for a couple of seconds then look away and try to remember what was written.
You might surprise yourself with how much you absorbed without realising it.
Your brain unconsciously recognises the words and patterns without you needing to fill in every single piece of grammar/structure.
Helps a lot if the info is in a logical order of progression.
Then just push faster or try bigger chunks (increase one at a time) and Bob's your uncle.
Sounds like voodoo but that's how people read and retain a lot of info in a short time. It's like touch typing, once it starts to click it seems weird that you couldn't do it before.

 

[Smolrolls]

If you want to become a better reader, read, read, read. If you want to become a better writer, read, read, read, then write, write, write. These days am doing more writing than reading.

How do you know when your ready to write than read?

 

[supermonkeylove]

Search online for speed reading software.

 

[JosephStalin]

How do you know when your ready to write than read?

That's up to the person. You can do both, and I encourage everyone to read and write. The better you get at one, the better you will get at both. Get out there are do it. The only shot guaranteed to fail is the shot not taken. So take the shot.

Added: If you participate here, you are both reading and writing. You improve in each the longer you participate. Everything counts when building reading/writing skills.