Speed Reading For Dummies

Having a large vocabulary is a must for speed readers. You can't get away from it. (Page 12)

How strong a background you have in the topic you're reading about determines how well you comprehend what you read. (Page 12)

Words per minute (WPM) testing

The WPS test isn't very different from a typing test. All it measures is how many words you read per minute. Experts use the following formula to get the results for a WPM reading test:

Words read ÷ reading time in minutes = WPM rate

For example, someone who takes 2 minutes to read 700 words reads at a 350 WPM rate:

700 ÷ 2 = 350

Someone who takes 2.25 minutes (2 minutes, 15 seconds) to read 700 words reads at a 311 WPM rate:

700 ÷ 2.25 = 311

Above-average readers read at a 300 to 700 WPM rate. Spead readers can read more than 700 words per minute. (Page 76)

Effective reading rate (ERR) testing

The effective reading rate (ERR) measure comprehension as well as speed. ERR testing is a more thorough measure of speed-reading rates than WPM testing because it tests comprehension, retention, and recall. The test also indicate how strong your vocabulary is and the knowledge reserves that you bring to the table when you start reading.

Experts use te following formula to get the result of an ERR test:

WPM rate × comprehension percentage score (as decimal) = ERR

Someone who reads 700 words at 350 WPM and answer 0.8 percent of the comprehension questions correctly reads at a 280 ERR rate:

350 × 0.8 = 280

Effective readers should score at least 80 percent on the conprehension test. (Page 76)

Seeing Where You Stand as a Speed Reader

1). 1 to 200 WPM: You're a talker

2). 200 to 300 WPM: You're an average reader

3). 300 to 700 WPM: You're an above average reader

4). 700+ WPM: You're a speed reader

So if your ERR is 700 or above, take the rest of the day off and give yourself a raise while you're at it. You don't need speed-reading lesson - you're already a fast reader. If your ERR isn't as high as you want, keep reading. (Page 83)

Skimming for the main ideas (Page 166)

Scanning for specific words or phrases (Page 166)

Prereading to find out what the text is about

For example, to preread a company report, you read the headings, subheading, table titles, and chart titles. Then you either dismiss the whole report because it isn't worth reading or you read the parts that are of interest to you. (Page 167)

Postreading to reinforce what you read. After you finish reading an article, for example, summarize it. (Page 185)

In all the talk of reading efficiency and reading speed, you can easily forget that reading is one of life's greatest pleasure. And because it's so pleasurable, savor the reading experince when you feel the urge. Slow down and enjoy the novel, biographies, math treatises, history books, or whatever type of books you love most. (Page 228)

Don't hesitate to throw aside the rules of speed reading from time to time if doing so increases your reading pleasure. When reading poetry, you want to vocalize. You want to hear and reval in the sounds of the words. Reading the speeches of the great orators is much more rewarding when you slow down to hear the words. Make your own rules when it comes to pleasure reading. You can slow down or speed up, vocalize or not, as you please. (Page 228)

Rather than watch TV before you go to bed, read a book or magazine. Your dreams will be sweeter, I assure you. (Page 243)