Speed-reading

[dr_mabeuse]

In a recent post, Og mentioned that he’s a speed reader and can knock off a paperback in a couple of hours. I’d forgotten all about speed reading, which was quite the thing some years ago. I had a friend who took the Evelyn Wood speed reading course. I never found out what happened with him though.

Personally, while I could see how it would certainly be a valuable ability to have, I was never interested in learning to do it myself. To me it seemed something like learning speed-eating or speed-fucking. I usually like to take my sweet time reading. The journey is the point, not the destination.

I was just curious if anyone else out there uses speed-reading, and, if so, do you use it for reading the stories here too?

---dr.M.

 

[Icingsugar]

I use a kind of speed reading at work. I scan websites and newsfeed services for news articles, and have learned which key points to check for facts and crucial information. I can also read, and leave editorial comments (content-realted - I suck at checking spelling and grammar), on a novel-sized technical manual in the span of a working day.

To speed read a good book? I guess I could, but I haven't yet done it. I'm with you, Doc. That would to me be like like downing a '96 Aurus for the sole purpose of getting pissed. That goes for most fiction, online smut stories too.

It just have to be savored in the right tempo. Some stories and books allow itself for a qucker read, but most of the time, you want to let the story saturate in your mind while you read it. I also don't read too much ofa novel at once, because it is a better experience if I get to muse on the latest turn of events before I continue.

 

[whispering_surrender]

I'm with Ice on this one. (I think. If I misinterpreted please only throw soft things.) If it's "technical" or "has to be done" reading, I can, and will, speed read. If I'm reading for pleasure, I read at my own pace, in my own time. The only problem with this is my list of things I want to read sometimes outpaces my available reading time. Grr.

Whisp

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I never took a course, but one of them came to school and tested us. They promised to double your speed AND imporve your comprehension. I tested at 560 wpm and 70% comprehension. She said she was glad I didn't sign up as they were unlikely to improve on that.

When reading for pleasure I still read fast, but in general I slow down enough so that I am sure I am getting everything out of the story. The exception is mystery novels, where I plod along trying to absorb every detail so I can figre out the ending before I get there

-Colly

 

[mtnman2003]

Read the thread real fast.........

Actually, took the E. Wood speed reading when I was alot younger, college days. Reading at 1200 words a minute with very high comprehension was extremely valuable.

Speed has slowed substantially. Still read very fast, but use it for papers, mags, etc. Books still read very fast, but for enjoyment it seems ok.

Is there a correlation between speed reading erotica and the speed at which one can "finish"?

I really appreciate the speed at which I can read, makes for absorption of lots of mags, articles, etc for breadth of interests.

Mtn

 

[English Lady]

I read pretty quickly but i don't speed read. I skim read sometimes but not when i'm reading for pleasure. When i had time I could easily read 3 mills and boons type paper back books in a day so you're looking at about 12 hours or so...so thats about 4 hours a thin paperback I guess. However as I only grab the odd half hour to read these days it takes me months to read anything*L*

 

[Guest]

I can speed-read (not taught) at work, and did with college courses other than English. I sort of speed-read when looking at new stories on Lit., most of them but for fave authors. Otherwise I read for pleasure and that includes taking my time. It's why I reread fave books, for the love of them, so there is no point to reading fast.

Perdita

 

[oggbashan]

I wasn't formally taught speed-reading.

My brother is 8 years older than I. When I was 3 I used to push a board book under his nose and ask him to read it to me. He soon got bored with the few books I had and would flip the boards quickly.

As my comprehension improved, so did the books. From one word a page, to three or four, eight to ten and so on. He kept flipping the pages.

By age four I could read fluently but only at high speed. I scanned a page at a time then progressed to scanning both pages at once. I thought that was 'normal'.

When I started at school my mother, brother and sister told the reception class teacher that I could read fast. The teacher heard the same thing from almost every mother so she didn't believe it.

Once I was in the classroom I rushed over to the library corner and behaved like a kid let loose in a sweet shop. I ignored the readers and went for the proper books. I'd read four by the time the teacher had sorted out the class.

She thought I was faking it so she asked me to start on the reading scheme. I finished all 24 books by morning break. She questioned me on the stories - I knew them all. By the afternoon I had access to the infant school's library.

By the end of the first term I had exhausted the school library and was borrowing books from the junior school library on the same site. By the end of my second school year I had run out of books in that library as well.

Despite reading fast my comprehension is as good as a slower reader's. That irritates my wife. We cannot read a newspaper together, or search the net. By the time she had finished a page I'm on page 6 or 8 - and I can recall more of each page than she can.

Now I am older I have slowed down to about 60% of my former speed.

That reading speed only applies to 'normal' text. I cannot read mathematical treatises or scientific textbooks fast - unless I fully understand the terminology.

Og

 

[Guest]

I can read a 500-600 page novel in about 2 hours. I don't necessarily call it speed reading. I have just been reading my entire life, so I read fast. My comprehension doesn't suffer. I completely understand and retain what I am reading.

Ogg, I had the same problem with running out of books to read from the library while I was in school. I have that problem now with the public library. I read everything that is of interest to me, and then I have to wait a few months for them to get a grouping of new books in before I go back.

CM

 

[A7inchPhildo]

I hear that speed reading when done properly can increase the amount of valuable information retained. Most likely because one starts to pass on the small words and focus on the important words.

I am the opposite I tend to slow down when reading I like to disect each sentence and each words multiple meanings. Then at the end of a paragraph I return my thoughts to place it in context to a story or thought. The same at the end of a chapter, I will place all that has occured prior and make the picture flow together.

That is why I like to read poetry, lots of hidden meanings make my mind race for answers. (not really Lit poetry)

I can scan read too but that is not reading it is just getting a basic idea of the text.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Wow, I have never even reflected on speed reading. If the book is good I can finish it within a few hours, but I think I slow down on purpose. If reading for enjoyment I'll take it easy. It's relaxation for me, no point in hurrying.

When studying at Uni I could plow through textbooks quite fast (mainly cos I started studying the night before!), so I guess I can do it. Not sure how fast I'd be if you actually measured me. I'm good at skimming through texts though and finding the important bits.

 

[shereads]

Last night's guest on Conan O'Brian was a cab driver who has memorized the world atlas. Every county, village, national shrub, deep ocean trench, river and mountain range that's worth publishing in the world atlas, he knows it.

That would be a useful talent to have, but only for one evening; I can't see him going very far with it, although he's probably a better cab driver for it.

Speed reading is for books you're forced to read, for school or for business. I don't even think of that kind of reading as reading.

Reading is a journey; reading good fiction is an escape. If the escape is over too quickly, it's more of a weekend parole.

 

[Guest]

I hear that speed reading when done properly can increase the amount of valuable information retained.

Yes, and that's why I do it only for work. I don't read literature, or even porn, for information. I've quoted this before, it's a theory and the title of a book by Roland Barthes: The Pleasure of the Text.

Perdita

 

[Wills]

Speed Reading.

The man who did more to advance SR in the 1970's was a guy called Tony Buzan. Google the name, he has more entries than any other person I have come across. There is a Tony Buzan educational foundation in England. He was also head of Mensa for a period in the 70's.

I met him in 1972, my then girlfriend became his PA. I designed the interior of his house in Hampstead, London and later discovered we were both in love with the same girl. The emotional scars from that episode stay with me even now and I must be one of the few people who have a direct linkage between SR and sex.

Buzan is an inspirational character, a motivator and charmer. He has given many people an opportunity to develop their reading ability, not just through speed but also through understanding. I am in general agreement with the other comments about the benefit of SR but will forever associate it with emotional pain.

What pisses me off more than anything is that three of his books are dedicated to me and my ex-girlfriend. There was a time when we were all three very close, I met many interesting people, writers, artists and the like, through his group, unfortunately the downside of a three way relationship that continued for almost two years cut deep, I was saved by meeting my wife.

It would make a great story, I recently looked him up on Google with a view to writing a story synopsis.

 

[dirtylover]

conversely

I can read extraordinarily slowly. It took me two years to read Mr Happy. I don't really remember what happened. I think it revolved around him being happy in some way; more than that, I couldn't tell you.

Today, I have undertaken another challenging literary milestone: Mr Tickle. Apparently his character has even more depth than Mr Happy.

Phew. I was the first person to reply to this thread, in case anybody gets there before me.

Slowly does it.

 

[dirtylover]

Speed Reading.

The man who did more to advance SR in the 1970's was a guy called Tony Buzan. Google the name, he has more entries than any other person I have come across. There is a Tony Buzan educational foundation in England. He was also head of Mensa for a period in the 70's.

I met him in 1972, my then girlfriend became his PA. I designed the interior of his house in Hampstead, London and later discovered we were both in love with the same girl. The emotional scars from that episode stay with me even now and I must be one of the few people who have a direct linkage between SR and sex.

Buzan is an inspirational character, a motivator and charmer. He has given many people an opportunity to develop their reading ability, not just through speed but also through understanding. I am in general agreement with the other comments about the benefit of SR but will forever associate it with emotional pain.

What pisses me off more than anything is that three of his books are dedicated to me and my ex-girlfriend. There was a time when we were all three very close, I met many interesting people, writers, artists and the like, through his group, unfortunately the downside of a three way relationship that continued for almost two years cut deep, I was saved by meeting my wife.

It would make a great story, I recently looked him up on Google with a view to writing a story synopsis.

Wow, far more interesting than my shit spouting.

 

[Guest]

d.lover: Wait til you get to the Miss books, hopeuflly you should be mature enough for them by then. I fondly recall Mr. Grumpy, he gave me an epiphany.

Perdita

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Yes, and that's why I do it only for work. I don't read literature, or even porn, for information. I've quoted this before, it's a theory and the title of a book by Roland Barthes: The Pleasure of the Text.

Perdita

Perdi,
That sounds like a very interesting read. I find he has written several books. The 'Pleasure of the Text' I can pick up used at Amazon for $5.45 Thanks for the insight.

 

[dirtylover]

Yes, Little Miss Naughty gave me something. Don't think it was an epiphany though. Something to do with her fanny. Think I might just have invented Miss Naughty too.

good golly, think I must be feeling a little frisky

 

[dirtylover]

Perdi,
That sounds like a very interesting read. I find he has written several books. The 'Pleasure of the Text' I can pick up used at Amazon for $5.45 Thanks for the insight.

Do you sell books for Amazon Peridita?

And 7"?!

 

[Guest]

Perdi, That sounds like a very interesting read. I find he has written several books. The 'Pleasure of the Text' I can pick up used at Amazon for $5.45 Thanks for the insight.

Phil, it's not what you think. I do not mean to be condescending, or presumptuous, but Barthes was a critical and literary theorist, particularly known for semiotics. Check him out first and see if he still interests you. P.

Barthes

 

[Guest]

Do you sell books for Amazon Peridita?

No, I do not. I do sell dildoes at half-price, but only to a select clientele.

P.

p.s. I like your misspelling of my name.

 

[Guest]

good golly, think I must be feeling a little frisky

I think I missed out on Mr. Frisky.

P.

 

[mtnman2003]

Frisky......... hello!

Hey dirtylover -- frisky was yesterday........lol
And running 4-miles can fix that -- albeit not satisfactorily!!!

I am sure perdita can fix frisky..... and can colly, lou, lucky, plus many many more.........

Those ladies really did a great run on the frisky thread yesterday..... still waiting to catch my breath!

And, most importantly, I think frisky comes with age...... no one born in 1980 can feel frisky...... horny maybe, but not frisky!!

If you read this real fast, you get done quicker!!!

 

[dirtylover]

re

hey pier idita, half-price? Why, are they second hand, or something?


If so, I'll have ten.


Hiya mountain, quote: I am sure perdita (et al) can fix frisky

Are you using frisky as a euphemism for my John Thomas in this sentence. The idea of colly, lou, lucky, and ipi eri dita (wow, I can speak latin) fixing it, is somewhat mindboggling.

Re, the use of frisky when born in 1980, -that is just the way I talk