Comments on: Speed-Reading: A Personal Experience

By: AlexK

AlexK — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:25:11 +0000

When I learned speed reading my speed went backward. 400 plus WPM was my average and after the course my speed was 235 WPM. These days I can read 3 or 3 books a day each book only takes 30 to 90 minutes and comprehension is 75 to 90% depending on my needs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:29:50 +0000

I have been a speed reader for many years.

I lived on the streets since I was 6 years old and never learnt to read. Although I could read ‘MacDonalds’ and my name ‘Richard’

When I was 46 I was ‘adopted’ by a Christain family and David, the landlord, had taken speed reading course in the 80’s and read frequently. Him and Linda taught me how to read and write (and type!), at first I had to pronounce the words as I read. Within in a few months of progress, I was then taught to look at the words rather than sub-vocalise.

This was when I first started speed reading - it took many months of practice before I could read fast.. I am 56 now and recently did a test (from author Tony Buzan). I read at 630 words a minute with 68% comprehension.. so I guess thats pretty good as the average is 300 with 50%.

Thanks to David and Linda

By: suzy Carr

suzy Carr — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:50:29 +0000

I am glad to find someone who is a natural speed reader like myself. I really never gave it a thought until I started college way back when. At that time I considered it natural and thought everyone read “fast.” Then I took a speed reading test and learned I was reading at over 500 wpm with 100% comprehension. My school counselor thought I was “gifted.” But honestly it was just normal for me. I don’t know any other way to read. My brain scans the written word like a computer( for lack of a better word)I filter out words like the, and etc. This is not conciously done, of course. Some reading material I have no patience for and find myself scanning a whole page and grasping the central idea without all the fillers. Do you do this also? And secondly, is there an explanation as to why we speed read? I can’t think of any. I do know that I was reading by age 4 and when I started school the following year the teacher said I would have to be “retrained.” LOL Any insight would be helpful..

By: ThePickards » Blog Archive » Harry Potter 7: They All Die In The End, And It Turns Out Voldemort Was His Mum

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:44:41 +0000

[…] I bought it yesterday, and read it in about three and a half hours. Yes, I do read quickly. No, it wasn’t skim […]

By: jim

jim — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:10:08 +0000

My reading speed varies from 320 to 400 wpm. I only know this because I’ve been researching reading speeds (started at that wikipedia article also) and I tested myself several times. I tested myself over several hours of reading, not just 3 minute tests. I thought this would give me a more accurate reading.

I’ve never thought of myself as a fast reader. In fact, I’ve always thought I was a slow reader, but according to the data I’ve seen online, “average” seems to be between 250 and 350 wpm (depending on the source), so I guess I am at the upper end of average. I’m looking at ways of increasing my speed — well, I’ve been looking into whether it is really possible. I don’t think “speed reading” really works; like you said, some people just naturally read at a faster rate. I think you can probably train yourself to unlearn bad habits that can slow you down, but at most I think you’d gain 150 wpm out of that. Anyway, I’d be happy with 500 wpm.

Oh yeah, don’t test your speed on “Moby Dick.” I was lucky to churn out 300 wpm on that. That really made me realize how much your speed can vary according to the style, etc.

Well, you asked.

By: mark fairlamb

mark fairlamb — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:13:47 +0000

got through that in fourteen seconds………..
how did the butler do it when he wasn’t in the room then?