What is the speed reading and how to master this skill
Forming / / December 19, 2019
Speed reading and its species
The easiest way to compare the speed reading with the use of food. In the same way as we use the proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins, we use written information. Reading quickly, we cut the "lunch time", but in some cases it does not make sense.
In addition to calories and nutritional value in food there are plenty of other pleasures. We do not try to swallow the rate restaurant dish prepared by chef, decorated by all the rules to serve the table. Speed reading fiction looks as strange, if you, of course, not a student of Philology, who needs to upload a semester for a long list of references.
Speed reading needed for business purposes, for training. When we say "reading" in this article, we mean reading academic or business literature, professional texts and news. The average speed of an ordinary person reading - about 800 characters per minute, taking into account the coefficient of memorizing. How it can be increased?
Business, too, is different speed reading:
- analytical - most difficult. You need to learn and understand the new paradigm, principles and approaches. For this information has not yet formed the assimilation of the structure, we do not know how to use it and how to classify. This is the slow reading, because this information is necessary to seriously think about. My speed - 3100 characters per minute.
- Getting Started - simple and intuitive reading. The system of knowledge on the subject in our head is already there, we simply add new facts, ideas and points of view. This includes all the news and stories. Fast reading. And a half times faster than the two-analytical. My speed - 4800 characters per minute.
- exploratory - the fastest reading. Search for information in a large array of text. Suitable for the restoration of the knowledge in your head. Speed reading is 4-5 times faster than analytical. My speed - 14 000 characters per minute.
Advantages seem to be obvious. The reduced speed - taking into account the memory rate. After each test, the questions are asked to check what information has remained in my head.
When these objective benefits of speed reading, I meet the "evidence" that it does not work. Unfortunately, these allegations are promoted by people who do not speak or speed reading, or tried to learn, but they could not. Classic story: "Pasternak did not read, but condemn."
What to do to fall in love with speed reading
Imagine a preschooler who sagely states that the reading of syllables - a much more considered approach, rather than reading the words. It allows you to carefully take each word, listen to his sound. Funny? That's the same look a man who proves that slow reading according to the best speed reading.
Of course, speed reading does not work, if you learn to just absorb the text. To quickly read one's ability to quickly upload text in the brain is not enough. Speed reading - a set of skills to process written information. What else is needed to be able to speed reading has become a useful tool and a favorite for you?
Ask questions
Basic skills, without which it is useless to read. By reading you need to prepare. If we read with no issues, then the information is not to be hooked, it passes us. Question - it hooks, which we place in the way of information. Our task - to catch the meaning. Due to the issues we are immersed in reading consciously focus not on the process and on the target.
Ask yourself: "What I want to find in this book? What steps I'm going to make it after reading? What I want to learn to do differently? What am I missing? "
Train your memory
The amount of information that remains in the mind, does not depend on speed reading. Therefore, the statement sounds strange that after speed reading head settles little information. Let me ask you, and how much do we remember from the last business book, Read at normal speed? Will we be able to retell its content or the main points? That information fits into the head, it is necessary to develop memory.
There are hundreds of exercises that help us to retain new knowledge in your head. There are mechanics that fix new words, images, data.
Train, even if do not intend to master speed reading: strong memory will always help in life. Make it a habit to exercise "30 seconds": learn to formulate key ideas of any information exchange in 30 seconds.
So your attention is always focused on how to memorize important meanings and tie them to the existing system of knowledge.
Focus on the text
Our brains currently have a limit. We can keep in mind the limited number of thoughts. Usually slows down reading and memorizing decreases, because we are constantly distracting extraneous thoughts. If we learn to control the external stimuli and focus on the text, it will be much more information in the head.
Attention is scattered, or when we are bored or anxious. To focus, you need to get out of this state.
The rest of the attention activity can be easily found in the literature and on the Internet.
Think parallel
We all have a rudimentary two-channel thinking. We can talk on the phone and think which way to turn at an intersection. We can make plans for tomorrow and prepare dinner. But we do not develop this ability, and can in fact use it to its fullest: at the same time to read and think about the text at high speed. If you read quickly, but do not have time to think, then, of course, defeats the purpose of writing.
Try to read two books in parallel: a paragraph from one paragraph from another. Keep in mind two narrative strands simultaneously.
Over time, you bleed the second channel of thinking and reading a book, you will have the opportunity to read and think at the same time.
Go back to the read
What if the information is too difficult to understand on the move? Usually we stop and ponder incomprehensible text. These stops inhibit reading in general, because it is necessary each time to accelerate from zero. At the same time we all know the principle of Tetris, where continuous actions are becoming faster and faster. How not to lose any speed, any information?
Speed reading for me - it is read with a pencil. No need to stumble at every interesting idea, and then accelerate again. Suffice it to note the interesting places that require judgment, in the fields and return to them after the "high-speed approach."
Sift through a text book questions. When you run into the answers that you need to consider, simply mark them, no need to think about right away. Re-read them later - so you will spend a lot less time.
Use the information
This is a continuation of the previous rules. The vast majority of readers will not be returned to read the material, do not use it in life. I read a lot, but few do. Such people will not help speed reading, as long as they do not change behavior.
Few of us makes the information in the result. No matter how fast was to read the book, article or news. We suffer from obesity information: get information and do not use it, we do not turn into knowledge and action. Like a man who absorbs the sweet and flour, it gets a huge dose of energy, and he sits on the couch. But there are people with a high metabolism: even at night eat a chocolate bar, but he did never postponed.
How to improve the informational metabolism? You need to put into practice the information chain transformation. Reading should be meaningful.
- The information does not become knowledge does not make sense. Transform information into knowledge issues with this rule we started.
- Knowing not become action, it does not make sense. Knowledge in action makes the target. What we want to change with the information that achieve?
- The action does not become a useful result, it makes no sense. Action in the result makes the will and discipline. Create your own habits.
- The result, which brought no satisfaction, no sense. Result in satisfaction converted value. It is the result of our inner values?
If there is a need for specific information, goals and values, while speed reading - a necessary and useful skill. If you are ready to process and absorb a large number of meanings, then you will need the ability to read quickly.
To quickly read, you should be able to:
- To ask questions.
- Memorize.
- Focus.
- Think parallel.
- Return to read.
- Use the information.