I am a fan of speed reading. Last month I continued the habit series by taking up a challenge on reading to test my speed reading skills and polish it. My easy guideline for the challenge was to at least read 2 pages a day. And as you know, it is not easy to stop at 2 pages if you are a book worm like me. So, here are a few tricks for speed reading that you can try too:

Why Speed Read?

I am an avid reader. By avid, I mean that I read on an average, 15 books a year. In some years, I have managed to read over 20 books. At least one of the books in a year is a huge novel which is about 4 books in one. Average readers in the world read 12 books a year. Most people read 4 in a year. Indians top the world in the number of books we read, as per this survey. My reason for try speed reading is to read more books without dwelling too long in pages of one book. Audiobooks and ebooks are of course easier to finish but the old fashioned paperback has its charm.

Speed Reading Tips:

• Preview the book or material and understand the main idea behind it. Often it is given at the back of the book. You can go through the index page as well.
• Use an index finger or pen to guide you while reading and pace you. This also prevents you from repeating lines or missing where you left.
• Read groups of words at a glance, for instance bunching 4 words together. Don’t be tempted to read every word out loud or even in mind. One way to do it is to skip the first and last word of each line and move fast through the center.
• Don’t skip back or repeat text. Just keep reading. The context will guide you about what happened. Comprehension is usually guided by understanding each paragraph and not necessarily every word.

• Improve vocabulary so that you read faster and do not get stuck anywhere.
• Read mindfully without distractions like TV or music around you. One hour of focused reading is better than several hours of distracted reading. This is time-efficient as well as helps with comprehension.
• When reading online – just scan headlines, bullet points, and bold words through blogs and articles. And focus more on sections that interest you.
• Improve lighting around you and make sure you get a good sleep before reading. Pressure on eyes is often a reason we give up on a good book.
• Keep reading where ever you go – signs, magazines, manuals. Unless reading is a lifestyle it can’t improve the way you want it to.

Challenge Results:

These are the books I managed to read this month with number of pages –

• 100 Days of Solitude – 250 pages (I had already read 150 pages last month out of this)
• How Starbucks saved my life – 260 pages
• The art of happiness – 40 pages

I read 2.5 books this month. That is more than double of what I usually manage to read. But that is not the point I am trying to make with this article. The purpose is to read more pages without losing the understanding of it. Reading more books may not be your goal. But speed reading always helps.

I know Speed Reading does not suit all kinds of books and materials. Technical books may read focus in every word. But I bet that it is a great life skill to have and encourage you to try it before judging it.

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