Insights for Getting Past the Limits of Rapid Reading
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I've been a fast reader since my high school installed a reading lab to teach us how to reader rapidly with good comprehension. For most material, I can breeze along at 2,000 to 3,000 words a minute without skipping anything. The key thing to remember is to just "see" the words and not "sound out" the words in my head.
But when I was in college, I often went to the library and just glanced at the pages of reading that I didn't consider very important. I could review those pages in less than an hour before an exam, and the key points and perspectives would somehow stick with me. But I never mentioned that I did that. I assumed that I was doing something wrong. But having looked at PhotoReading, I now realize that I was doing one of the processes described in this book.
After law school, I found my reading speed had slowed to a snail's pace. It was hard to speed up again. But I found that if I just let my eyes go back and forth across the page looking at several lines at once I could grasp 4-8 lines at a time. It was much easier than drilling along one word at a time . . . and I enjoyed the reading more. But I was reluctant to tell anything about this either. Again, I found this technique described positively in PhotoReading as "skittering".
As you can imagine, I found a lot validation in this book.
But I also had some nice surprises. I was stuck at the car dealer's today while my car was being repaired. This was the only book with me, so I gave it a whirl. In the PhotoRead segment, was I was astonished to see that it was easiest for me to do this when the pages were upside down and I was reviewing the text backward (one of the recommended methods to try). Each page was much clearer that way. I suddenly remembered that for years, I had previewed books that way. So here was another unconscious act validated!
I don't know how well you can learn this method on your own if you are a slow reader, but if you are an advanced reader I suspect it will make a lot of sense.
Here are the steps:
1. Decide on your purpose for reading this particular item and prepare your mind to be receptive to the process.
2. Preview the book over 8-15 minutes by looking at the table of contents, index and general layout of the book and whatever is highlighted.
3. PhotoRead by scanning pages at about one page per second using a technique that gives you a soft focus to your eyes as you proceed.
4. Wait awhile (ideally overnight) and activate what you've learned by focusing on the parts that interest you with fast reading skills (called super reading) or skittering and that help you answer questions you have to answer in order to achieve your purpose in reading the book. Create a mind map that outlines the key ideas in the book into a connected visual display.
5. Rapidly read the text again . . . but going fast except where the material is very relevant.
6. Develop perspective on what you've read using the Syntopic reading methods outlined by Adler and Van Doren in How to Read a Book (the 1972 version).
This outline is summarized in more detail on pages 146-149 in the book.
If you are a regular meditator, I suspect you'll find it easier to use this method . . . which relies on shifting your mental focus to work at top efficiency.
Once you've been doing this for awhile, I suspect you can simplify the process. I don't think I need to do all these steps to get the same results. But then, I've been doing rapid reading for over 40 years.
Have a great read!
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Mixed feelings-and a return visit to the subject
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I bought the course and book 5 years ago. I keep revisiting it and have read about 50 books with it so far. However, I don't get the fantastic results claimed. As it happens I'm aware that my own mindset and attitude wasn't always 100% and sometimes I obsess and try too much at once with this stuff. The multiple pass approach does make psychological sense though I've yet to prove the photoreading part of it. The reason I'm revisiting it is because an NLP trainer with whom I'm friends with and trust has invested the time in it and uses it a lot, he also recommends a seminar. He's got no profit to gain from my taking this up-he's my mate anyway LOL. So now, I'm going to start again with it as the technique would be useful. To anyone else thinking of taking it up-may I suggest a reliable PERSONAL recommendation if possible? Anyone can type anything on here to be fair. I suspect the truth about this course is between the useful and the fantastic claims. If so, it's worth reinvestigating.
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Tried and Failed. Tried Something Much Better.
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I was surprised as to how different the reviews were. All either giving it a 1 or a 5 star rating. I personally agree with the 1 star ratings. I was fortunate enough not to have paid for the book, and had it given to me. I read it and put in a little effort, but didn't see any results. I got bored because of the lack of results. like most people would. Whose going to spend hours and days trying to learn and practice something which just MIGHT work. If there aren't any short term results, there's no carrot to motivate this donkey! Everything's a bit vague and it makes you feel like you're the one not doing it correctly. Nothing in life that's worth the effort is easy, but does it just start working out of the blue like the Stereogram pictures, which you can't see and then they just appear. I realised that results are possible when I came across another book (not going to plug it here cos you're going to think I work for this company). I read only the first 2 chapters and doubled my speed in 2 hours. I was astonished that it was so easy and am in the process of increasing my speed farther, as I only started reading the other book yesterday. Only hint I will give about the book is that it's a system that's been around for over 50 years. The one claim that Photo reading makes is Why only read at 5'000 words a minute when you can read at 25'000. That's almost like the Pyramid selling Schemes. Where they promise you loads of money, but you get nothing. I would rather be someone who could read at 1000 words a minute. But at least I would be doing more than the average Schmo. Bottom line. It's possible to read much faster, but don't know about this Photo reading idea. Have a read of some other techniques, don't give up because this one didn't work for you.
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PhotoReading - yeah right!
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The photo reading whole mind system (as it is humourously called) offers the ability to read at 25,000 words per minute, with practice. There are suggestions that as ever, practice makes perfect in the book, and that you may one day, be able to perform one of the feats of the 'real people' situations EXTENSIVELY documented in the book. Now, how many people, photo reading seminar leaders not included, can honestly say that they have achieved that goal? Non in this review section so far.
If you're looking for a quick and effective way of absorbing information, and being able to repeat it (photo reading isn't being able to remember everything), I personally suggest looking elsewhere - if there is anywhere else. If you fancy reading a book, cross-eyed in a library or in public for example, then this is your book.
Really though, don't bother.
-Pete.
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Excellent Choice
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I have succesfully been able to achieve PhotoReading skills and highly recommend the book and the course.If you have an unbiased view and are able to adapt to experience new ideas then this is for you. Don't be put of by the experience of bitter people that would gladly sour anybodys learning experience rather than attempt to improve their own.
I've read 70 books on my chosen field of study after learning how to PhotoRead and I know mystuff pretty well. PhotoReading is like any other skill in the sense it requires time and commitment to Master.Knowlege is available to all yet few people take it and use it . I also applied some of what I learned in PR to help my students overcome learning difficulties.
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