I can finish a 350 page book in a few hours. I read so fast that the most liked comment on my reading wrap ups is usually "you read HOW many books?!". It isn't unusual for me because I've read this fast my whole life - I speed read and speed type (124 words per minute!). But I get questions a lot on how to read faster.
There are courses online and videos on YouTube to teach how to speed read, but here are some tips (and disclaimers!) for how I read so much and so quickly.
The disclaimer: I'm a lonely grandma stuck in a young woman's body - I don't drink, I don't like to go to concerts or bars... I'm a total homebody. I don't watch movies or TV shows. I don't have kids, or pets (RIP Lucy). I have less responsibility than other people which means I generally have more time to read.
1. Read line by line, not word by word
This is hard for me to describe because I don't know if other people read like this, but when I look at a page, I will take in the entire line/ sentence/ section, not word by word. I don't know how I started doing this - this is just always how I've read. Doing a bit of research into speed reading tips, this is apparently common.
All speed reading techniques have one thing in common: you avoid pronouncing and "hearing" each word in your head as you read it, a process known as as "sub-vocalization." Instead, you "skim" lines or groups of words, as you can understand words more quickly than you can say them.
One way to stop yourself from sub-vocalizing is to focus on blocks of words rather than on individual ones. Do this by relaxing your face and "softening" or expanding your gaze on the page, so that you stop seeing words as single, distinct units. As you practice this, your eyes will skip faster across the page. Then, when you approach the end of a line, allow your peripheral vision to take your eye to the final set of words. This will help to stop pauses in your reading (often at full points), meaning that you scan across and down to the next line more quickly.
In books I've loved, where I didn't want it to be over or I wanted to try to "savor" it while re-reading, I've actually tried to read "word by word" and it just didn't work for me. I'm used to reading full lines at once and it helps me get a better, more full understanding of the book vs "word by word".
2. Don't "read inside your head"
When we're taught to read we often practice by reading aloud. Some people get into the habit of always reading like this - but silently. They will subvocalize, internally speaking and sounding out the words you're reading, but just in your head. This can stifle reading speeds because you're limited by how fast you can "speak" - the average WPM for speaking is 100-160, whereas an average reader can read (about) 200-250 WPM. Already that could be a 100 WPM jump if you find you do this.
A speed reader gave the tip to press your tongue to the roof of your mouth while reading to prevent yourself from mouthing along to words, and to remind yourself not to silently read aloud.
3. Read with continuous scroll
For me, reading ebooks is always faster than reading a physical book. But a game changer for a lot of people while reading ebooks is to enable "continuous scrolling". This allows you to constantly scroll instead of having to read top to bottom before "turning the page".
If you're on the Kindle app (on a phone or tablet), open a book, click the "Aa" in the top right corner, go to "Layout" then enable "Continuous Scrolling". This will not work on a Kindle device - they will always be a page view with a tap for the next page. This will also not work for documents sent via email to your Kindle address, even if you're reading the document on your phone or tablet.
If you're on iBooks, open a book and click "aA" in the top right corner, and enable "Vertical Scrolling".
I like to leave my eyes set on one place on my screen, usually around the top-middle of the screen. Then I drag my finger up so I leave my eyes in the same place, just moving left to right - not left to right AND up and down.
4. Be mindful while reading
Personally I like quiet when I read, but it's all about finding what puts you in the best mindset to read and be uninterrupted. Some people like noise cancelling headphones, others like instrumental music. Some people read best before bed, others read best overnight while everyone else is asleep, some people like to catch 15 minutes here and there throughout the day.
Some people say that having a designated device for reading (like a Kindle) helps them read more with less distractions. Personally I almost always read on my phone just because it's easier, but I do have a problem with flipping to TikTok every few chapters if the book isn't holding my attention. Which brings me to a big tip...
5. Read what YOU want to
I can read fast... unless I'm not into the book. This is why studying is a big fat "nope" for me. I can read a textbook on project management 5 times in a row but unless I also write it out or take notes, I won't retain any of it because the material is dry as hell.
But even with fiction books and even within the romance genre... if I'm not feeling the book, I will put off reading it. I can tell when a book isn't working for me because I'll find excuses to do things other than read.
I have no shame in DNFing books, but I should probably do it more often. Sometimes I just need to know how a book ends, or I find myself unable to look away even though I hate it. Life is too short to read books you hate, or that are boring! DNF more books and find more winners.
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