A Speed Reading Lesson

Here is the source article from Tim Ferris (author of The Four Hour Work Week).

Speed Reading Goals: Eliminate regression and rereading while increasing speed.
How? We must train our eyes to move faster and to trust the perception of our periphery vision.

A word of comfort...you will have to work on comprehension and speed skills separately. You may not have a high comprehension while you are working on motor skills (teaching your eyes to move faster).

Here are the steps in the exercise:

1. Determine Your Baseline Words Per Minute

• Get an average words per line by counting the number of words in 5 lines divided by 5 for an average.
• Read for one minute. After the timer goes off, count the number of lines you read and divide it by your average words per line to get your Words Per Minute number (most folks read between 200-400 wpm).

2. Exercise One: Technique (2 min)

• Mark your starting place. Use a pen or piece of paper as a tracker and pacer. Hold it flat against the line; don't use the point. DON'T WORRY ABOUT COMPREHENSION this time. Now read for two minutes, forcing your tracker to move at a speed of at least one line per second. (Count your lines to calculate wpm.)

3. Exercise Two: Speed (3 min)

• Mark your starting place again. Read again, but this time, move your tracker at least two lines per second ("one-one-thousand"). Keep your speed all three minutes. DON'T WORRY ABOUT COMPREHENSION. Focus on the exercise and don't daydream. (Count your lines to calculate wpm.)

4. Exercise Three: Perceptual Expansion (1 min)

• Concept: Although we choose to focus in on every word, our brains are actually able to absorb information via our peripheral vision. We must train our eyes to trust that part of our vision.
• Mark your starting place again. Use your tracker to read again, maintaining one line per second. This time, try not to focus on the first and last words in each line. (Count your lines to calculate wpm.)

5. Exercise Four: Perceptual Expansion (1 min)

• Mark your starting place again. Use your tracker to read again, maintaining one line per second. This time, try not to focus on the first and last two words in each line. (Count your lines to calculate wpm.)

6. Exercise Five: Perceptual Expansion (3 min)

• Mark your starting place again. Use your tracker to read again, maintaining two lines per second. This time, try not to focus on the first and last three words in each line. (Count your lines to calculate wpm.)

Processing Advice: Some people can do this and maintain comprehension. Some cannot, but the main goal is to retrain your motor reflexes. Comprehension will follow with practice. Also, the more you practice the faster you can go through the lines. Some folks can read a whole page in 10 seconds! Since we are reading this novel for a bit, I recommend that you keep practicing your speed with a tracker. Every once in a while, time yourself and see if your wpm grows. Good luck!