Peter had finished dinner, done his homework, and was about to
embark on his favorite time of the day. He would now practice speed
reading and then read the current book he was in the middle of. As he
sat in his chair, he looked around his room. He found great joy in
looking at his bookshelf. He felt as much pleasure looking at the book
he has read as he got from looking at the medals and trophies he has
earned from running. As he sat looking over the many books on his
bookshelf, a thought came to him. It was an eye opener that would take
his speed reading to new heights. He would glance at a book, and look at
the title. Just by looking at the title, and maybe the front cover,
depending on how it was arranged in the bookshelf, thoughts would come
to him of what the book was about.
He did not have to think about what the book was about. Just by looking at the book, he instinctively knew what it was about. That is one of the reasons he found great joy and satisfaction when he would look at his bookshelf. All of that knowledge was in his head. He knew that he did not recall every single thing or event, but he knew what the book was about, and may remember certain things. Often times, even years after reading a book, he may see or hear something, and he would remember reading about it. Sometimes, to strengthen his memory, he would look at a book and try to think of something that he read in the book. Then he would look at another book on the shelf. Without picking it up, he would try to think about something that he read about in that book.
Sometimes he would just open a book and glance through it, or look at the pictures. Many thoughts and memories would come into his mind. As he thought about all of this, a light bulb went on in his head. If he could look at the title or front cover of a book, and instantly recollect what the book was about, he should be able to look at a phrase or a thought, and instantly know what it is about. Most people look at a word and p-r-o-n-o-u-n-c-e that word. Some people look at each letter and say the word very carefully. They will do this to each and every word. They do not want to miss anything. After reading a page or two, they may need a break. That is how most people learn to read. Unfortunately, many people still stay at, or close to, that level. That is why some people may read two books a year, and someone else may read two books a month.
If Peter took a quick glance at his bookshelf, he would not sound out each book. He would look at one and go to the next. It is like walking through a room. Go into another room and think about what you just saw in the first room. You will picture and name a number of things. Yet, as you were walking through the room, you did not sound out and say each item. The same principle applies to speed reading. When reading something, there is no reason to sound it out. Look at the word, phrase, and thought, and go on to the next one. That first word, phrase, or thought is still in your mind, and will link to the next one. It is important not to just look at letters or words on a page. Visualize and build a picture in your mind. This will help link each phrase or thought unit to the next one. It will also help strengthen the memory, and make the reading more enjoyable.
He did not have to think about what the book was about. Just by looking at the book, he instinctively knew what it was about. That is one of the reasons he found great joy and satisfaction when he would look at his bookshelf. All of that knowledge was in his head. He knew that he did not recall every single thing or event, but he knew what the book was about, and may remember certain things. Often times, even years after reading a book, he may see or hear something, and he would remember reading about it. Sometimes, to strengthen his memory, he would look at a book and try to think of something that he read in the book. Then he would look at another book on the shelf. Without picking it up, he would try to think about something that he read about in that book.
Sometimes he would just open a book and glance through it, or look at the pictures. Many thoughts and memories would come into his mind. As he thought about all of this, a light bulb went on in his head. If he could look at the title or front cover of a book, and instantly recollect what the book was about, he should be able to look at a phrase or a thought, and instantly know what it is about. Most people look at a word and p-r-o-n-o-u-n-c-e that word. Some people look at each letter and say the word very carefully. They will do this to each and every word. They do not want to miss anything. After reading a page or two, they may need a break. That is how most people learn to read. Unfortunately, many people still stay at, or close to, that level. That is why some people may read two books a year, and someone else may read two books a month.
If Peter took a quick glance at his bookshelf, he would not sound out each book. He would look at one and go to the next. It is like walking through a room. Go into another room and think about what you just saw in the first room. You will picture and name a number of things. Yet, as you were walking through the room, you did not sound out and say each item. The same principle applies to speed reading. When reading something, there is no reason to sound it out. Look at the word, phrase, and thought, and go on to the next one. That first word, phrase, or thought is still in your mind, and will link to the next one. It is important not to just look at letters or words on a page. Visualize and build a picture in your mind. This will help link each phrase or thought unit to the next one. It will also help strengthen the memory, and make the reading more enjoyable.
Excerpted from Peter the Speed Reader. Pat Esposito is an
entrepreneur, an author, and a runner. He wrote Peter the Speed Reader.
Learn how Peter became a speed reader, and how you can too. He is also
the founder of Selfpublishauthors.com
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