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psychic
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24 May 2005, 9:19 am

Has anyone of you guys ever tried a speed reading techinque that really worked? A software or a certain method of practice?



Prometheus
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24 May 2005, 9:31 am

I don't really use a techique, but when I read, I create a outline of the general structure and I use syllagosism (if A+B=C, then C-A=B) to back up important points I see. I pretty much speed read everything I see, and the syllagosism's help me recall some of the more detailed stuff.


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monastic
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24 May 2005, 9:45 am

psychic,

I am old (hehehe) but when I was in school, we had a course on speed reading. I believe it was the Evelyn Wood Speed Reading course (does anyone else remember Evelyn Wood?) and it's technic was to first read a sentence as a whole instead of one word at a time and then move to reading a paragraph as a whole. I still use some of these techniques now especially when I'm reading something to just get the gist of what is being said like in the workplace. The problem (for me) with reading in this fashion is that I do not retain the content of the material being read in this manner (which works for the department I work in which I handle many documents). This method is satisfactory if I do not need the information years from now but if I wish to retain the information for future (brain) retrieval, I have to slow down and read each word more carefully. When I read for pleasure, I like to savor each and every word.



pizzaboss
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24 May 2005, 9:55 am

I just look for highlights of reading.



anbuend
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24 May 2005, 12:14 pm

I can't seem to do anything but speedread. The trouble is that my reading comprehension is low that way. But it's even lower if I try to read slowly.


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Bunnylover
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24 May 2005, 4:01 pm

speaking from someone who reads a LOT, the best way to speed read, is to read, really. you get faster, i remember impressing many people because i was reading at a college-level pace and enjoying stephen king in sixth grade. now...i try not to flaunt my impressive reading and writing abilities...unless necessary.



Torak
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24 May 2005, 4:03 pm

Reading fiction, I can devour a page in between 20 and 40 seconds.

Reading a textbook I'll take my time to analyze the data available.

I read the web stow too. I only read fast with fiction. I absorb most of it, but I sometimes take my time and enjoy it more with favorites like Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy.



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24 May 2005, 4:21 pm

Ermmm. I dont have a technique, i just speed read. I can finish a book in the time it takes most people to read the first 4 chapters.


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24 May 2005, 5:23 pm

Speed Reading? Proof Reading? This
is how I see speed reading. I for
example read "Curious Incident"
and read moderately because the
more complicated the book the more
you don't catch the subtle clues.
Speed reading it you miss things
unless you have a photographic
memory, of which I DON'T.

I then pick at it in pieces, parts and
notes. As you can tell I don't speed
read because you mostly lose full
comprehension value.

Hmmmmm!
Ghosthunter



MrPink
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24 May 2005, 7:09 pm

psychic - There is a popular program calles ace reader which you can download and trial here http://www.acereader.com/ . I did try it for a while but didn't have the time to practice as much as recommended by the software. The key things that this program can help with, like many others is tackling "1) Subvocalization (pronouncing the words in your mind while you read), and (2) Re-Reading/Regression (letting your eyes wander back to re-read text)." Personally I found it quite difficult to overcome Subvocalization even at high speed settings - I've read that this is the key hurdle most people have. I recall a tip by an expert on reading techniques who recommended not trying to supress subvocalization at high speeds, and with time this 'bad habit' would subside.
Good luck


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psychic
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25 May 2005, 5:02 am

Thank you guys. I'll try to make the best out of the tips you have provided.