Monday 29 July 2013

Better reading speed and comprehension

'How to read better and faster' by Norman Lewis is a very informative book that helps to improve reading speed and comprehension. As the title says this book helps the reader to read anything very fast and at the same time retain the meaning and improve comprehension.  There are numerous techniques described here in detail for training. Practice all these with enthusiasm to get good results.  
I bought this book in 2002. Read it up to half for the first time. Because of work pressures could not continue it, so discontinued. Then in 2004 read it again. My reading speed after taking the first exercise was 244 words per minute. I completed this book and all the exercises within 2 months. My reading speed became 360 words per minute. Thereafter I began applying the principles I learned from this book. One of the things that I learned is to read faster and adjust reading speed according to the topic.

Whatever be the material just try to get the gist of what is written by quickly by scanning the entire thing in a zig-zag manner. Then try to include more words in a sentence when you fixate the eyes and move fast. It is a common psychological observation that when we speed up something our concentration improves and mind does not oscillate like a pendulum. When we slow down, the mind wanders.

I recommend this book for everyone. A simple book, not at all complicated. Easy to understand, sure you will not get bored like reading some scientific books or journals ðŸ˜Š
  • We have to constantly improve ourselves in all aspects. Learn something good, enrich our life and environment, share your views and experiences, let others also benefit! 
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15 comments:

Remembering Grace said...

I always did speedread, I think I must have learned it from my mom. My daughter does too. I've tried to analyze how I do it and I think, like you said above, I scan the page, and then read it. I don't know!?
Funny how you do something you've always done but you don't know how you do it!?

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Hi Michelle, wow, you were a reading expert ! You should have blogged about your reading betterment experiences !

Well, this book has plenty of scientific techniques and exercises for training. These are effective too; I improved my reading capabilities that helped me in going through so many books, journals and the like. Helped me in my studies too. The real test lies when you try to read text books and reference books for academic works. We have to speed read these and at the same time comprehend and reproduce what we learned and pass a test!
Speed reading fiction, novels, novellas etc. are altogether a different matter.

I would recommend this book to school students. It will surely help them in studying well.

Thanks a lot, Michelle ! I am honored by your visit and comment. I like comments like this so that I can add more points to posts.

jonathan said...

This will be beneficial to me and to my students if I could teach them to do so. Just like learning, we need to do it first before we can transfer them to others. I cannot teach them how to drive when I myself cannot. Reading is one of the most difficult but fun thing to teach. I hope to be able to read fast so I can read your longer articles, lol!

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Hi, thank you.
Wow, good to hear that you are planning to teach this to school students. I wonder why speed reading, memory training, life skills and the like are not being taught at schools. Children spend a considerable part of life in schools and Colleges. Apart from academic activities such things may also be included in the curriculum.

It is easy to learn these techniques. Buy the book, learn it and start teaching kids, they will thank you ! Sure !

A common obstacle to smooth reading is difficult words or words that are used not very commonly. eg: filipendulous, gargalesis etc. Here the reader stumbles and the thread of flow, comprehension and concentration get interrupted. When you read the book you will get to know how to overcome this hurdle !

Will try to write something asap about reading fast online resources. If we keep our webpages uncluttered it makes reading faster. Popups, irrelevant ads, attention diverting images etc. will distract readers.

KISS - Keep it simple, stupid ! :)

Thanks again, have a great, happy week ahead ! Visit a laughter club and lol!

Joy said...

Seems a nice book to read, but still I have lots of learning books to read and it takes time. My problem is I always try to read faster that I forget what I had been reading just now:) maybe this is a book for me:)

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Wow, Joy ! You are awesome !
Thanks for this good comment.

You are still reading books and that is excellent. Many people have already stopped reading books. Some are working, some are watching TV, some listening to music, some are partying and you still have lots of learning books to read ! You are putting lot of effort into doing nice things like reading, blogging and spiritual activities. Those who read good books will be having lot of goodness in them, anybody who is a book lover will be good person, a Godly person with a good heart. Now I understood you better, a spiritual, person radiating goodness and Godliness !

God bless !

Blackswan said...

I'd attended some speed reading classes some yrs back & it's really useful. Highly recommend!

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Oh, great ! Thanks for sharing this.

DWei said...

I read fast enough as it is. I'll have to pass.

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Good ! Best of luck !

Nilu A said...

Book seems to be interesting.. Coud use some tips for my son .. Thanks for sharing.. Do visit my blog.. http://kitchenserenity.blogspot.in/

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Hi, it is an interesting book. Will visit your site asap.

Irina Kovalenko said...

I used to attend courses of high-speed reading. Before classes they checked our speed and I was somewhat baffled by the results – mine proved to be high enough. Thus my motivation was killed at once! Yet, they did help in a way; all those voice, rhythm and other exercises, I mean. But I can't remember what the speed was before or after. You're a very conscientious student! )))

Rajiv Sankarapillai said...

Hi Irina, thank you so much.
I improved my reading comprehension and speed. The book is awesome !

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