Can anyone here speed read?

I'm interested in learning how to speed read. I was wondering if anyone here can speed read, if it was difficult to learn, and how much you've benefited from being able to speed read.

We were taught speed reading when I was at college. I think maybe if you go on trying over and over, maybe you'll get something out of it, but I never did. I found myself missing important details - worked better when reading fiction, wouldn't wnat to read a text book like that.

Speed reading? Are you talking about a specific technique that is possible to learn? Well, such at thing sure would be interesting to learn.

I definitely don't read my fastest possible when I read, as that will only make me remember what I've read much more poorly. But if it would be possible for me to "speed read", and still remember the text as good as I do when I read with my average speed, that would really be valuable.

If you are speed reading properly, and have practiced at that speed so that it becomes your normal speed, comprehension actually goes up. The average reading speed is about 200 wpm, and I believe that comprehension among those that read at an average of 500 wpm is 10-20% higher. Your brain takes in larger chunks of data at a time, thereby forming more complete thoughts. I've seen it compared to being told a sentence all at once or being told one word a day for a week - your comprehension is obviously better when you get it all at once.

I've read quite a bit about speed reading, and I know the techniques (just google or go to the library...info on how to do it is easy to find). However, my reading speed is not yet what it should be or even what I would like, because I find that I read mostly technical things and text books, where I can't afford the drop in comprehension while becoming accustomed to reading faster. At first, comprehension at higher speeds sucks, but it will improve. I've probably increased my reading speed 50%-100% though, so it's not impossible. I have trouble remembering to push myself when reading.

I read most;y textbooks (Dover's math and engineering books). Speed reading wouldn't be terribly practical for those since I'd have to solve the problems quickly as well. :rolleyes:

At any rate, when I read fiction, I'd rather relax anyways.

I saw those ads for the programs that teach you to memorize a page per second, and then you view it in your mind to read the material. Waste of money. It was a biography of a guy that could do that.