digest
Short Summary
Main recommendation: To read faster without losing comprehension, use your finger or a pen as a visual pacer by underlining the words as you read, and pair it with active questioning. The speaker says this can raise reading speed by roughly 25 to 50 percent, and he argues that skimming and scanning are not reliable for careful reading.
Key Points
- The three tips for smart and speed reading the video describes are: (1) set a purpose and read upright with the book angled toward you to reduce visual fatigue, (2) ask questions as you read so you don't forget what you read, and (3) use a visual pacer such as a finger, pen, or highlighter to underline words while reading.
- Measuring your base rate first gives you a baseline to compare against: time 60 seconds, count the lines read, and estimate roughly 10 words per line, as he describes it.
- The speaker says an average reader reads about 200 to 250 words per minute, and that using a pacer typically increases lines read by 25 to 50 percent or more.
- He says he works with many attorneys, financial advisors, and doctors, and argues skimming/scanning doesn't work well when deep understanding, not just the gist, is needed.
- The speaker gives three reasons the pacer works: children naturally use their fingers to track text, our eyes are drawn to motion, and touch, sight, and other senses are closely linked in the nervous system.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Set a purpose before reading and sit upright with the book tilted toward you, resting it on the table or your knee, so the words appear larger and easier to read.
- Ask questions as you read and answer them, so the material doesn't pass by without being understood.
- To find your base rate, mark the margin where you start, set a 60-second timer, read, and mark where you stop. Count the lines read in 60 seconds (don't count lines with only two words), then estimate about 10 words per line. For example, 20 lines in 60 seconds is about 200 words per minute.
- Then read a new section for 60 seconds while underlining the words left to right with your finger or a pen (without marking the page), returning to the left at each line. Count the lines again and compare.
- The speaker says the pacer works even without practice, and that practice will increase the gain further.
- He notes that a finger is convenient because everyone carries one, and that you don't need to touch the page.
Bottom Line
Use a visual pacer while reading, check your progress with a simple 60-second line count, and pair it with questions to keep comprehension strong as you speed up.
