| A common enough remark is that speed reading | | | | the former we may choose not to. |
| takes the joy out of reading. However, is this | | | | In other words, speeding reading skills are a |
| entirely fair? Would it not be fairer to say that | | | | "horses for courses" skill. Invoke them at times |
| being able to speed read actually increases the | | | | when you need to read something really fast, but |
| joy of reading? To answer this, we need to look | | | | not when you don't need to. |
| at some of the reasons why we are speed | | | | Furthermore, as your retention rates are usually |
| reading in the first place! | | | | better with speed reading, it is often a good idea |
| It should always be in the forefront of your mind | | | | that you speed read at times when you have a |
| that speed reading is a skill. It is adopted when | | | | special need to comprehend and retain the |
| certain circumstances arise and it is not always | | | | information you are reading. If we go back to the |
| necessarily a skill you need to invoke each and | | | | financial report/thriller novel example above, it is |
| every time you read something. | | | | far more likely that comprehending and retaining |
| An example, if you are curled up in bed reading | | | | the information in the financial report is going to |
| the latest thriller novel, it is unlikely you are going | | | | be more beneficial to you, so utilize your speed |
| to want to be speed reading. The reason: first, | | | | reading skills at this time so that you can enhance |
| because you have spent a lot of money on the | | | | your chances of comprehending and retaining the |
| novel and so want to make it last; second | | | | text. |
| because part of the atmosphere that you have | | | | Finally, speed reading does not have to be a |
| set in which to read is one of relaxation and | | | | cumbersome, professional, skill. It is quite possible |
| taking things easy. | | | | to enjoy your time speed reading something, in |
| If we now transfer the scene to one where we | | | | much the same way as you would when reading |
| are reading the latest financial report from ABC | | | | a novel. To do this all you need do is create the |
| Company Limited, even if we are doing this in | | | | correct atmosphere in which to speed read. |
| bed, the environment in which we are reading has | | | | Eliminate all distractions, such as music and chat. |
| dramatically changed. | | | | Do a pre-read of the materials: read the index, |
| The need and reason why we read the text in | | | | headings and subheadings. Then speed read the |
| these two scenarios is not the same. In the | | | | text. Retain the information. Utilize that |
| former we are at leisure. In the later we are in | | | | information. |
| professional mode. Clearly in the later, where we | | | | As you can see then, having the ability to be able |
| want to be done with the reading and off to | | | | to speed read will allow you the choice of reading |
| sleep, we can adapt out speed reading skills and in | | | | faster, or slower. It's about having choices. |