Speed Reading – Double your Reading Speed

Most knowledge in our current system is stored as written words. Granted some people create info-graphics or cartoons to get their ideas across, but most of it is still stored as old fashioned words. Even new media like blogs are mainly centered around this. Although videos are trending as a means of communication they have fundamental problems with regard to convenience. Therefore being able to read faster using speed reading techniques gives one an egde over the rest.

Job Opportunity = no / Time to learn = weeks – months / Cost = free

Why learn it

• Cumulative Effect: being able to read fast allows you to absorb new information quicker. Granted you are going to have to understand what’s coming in, but that is an area related to how to study. This skill will increase the rate at which you learn others
• Gives an Edge: where most people in your surroundings will take a certain amount of time to read a new piece of information, by the time they are done you as a fast reader have had time to think about the matter already
• Low cost high benefit: most learning resources are free or cheap. During the process of training your reading skills you will also be exposed to the knowledge in your practice material. Thus, time spent learning is time well spent on two accounts
• Broad Area of Effect: apart from the more serious applications, getting into reading will open up new possibilities in your personal life. many readers report preferring books over movies (me included)

My experience

I have loved reading since I was little. I started with books that contained more pictures than words, and ended up in heavy books with a gazillion pages (by now I just carry them on my tablet). I found that my reading speed is naturally a bit above average due to the amount of practice I’ve had when I was a kid, which offers the advantages described above. One of the great benefits I observed in myself is that my ability to concentrate increased a lot as I started reading (fiction) books.

How to learn it

This post features an interview with Michael Tipper. Michael prefers being called a specialist over an expert, a distinction he will elaborate on in the interview. Starting off with what he thought was a very bad memory, Michael has worked his way up over the years to becoming a specialist on speed reading, memory and learning.

Inspiration

13 year old reading 13,000 words a minute

Interview

Interview broken down

Michael Introduces himself

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1-Introduction-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

You prefer the term specialist over expert. Why?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2-Specialist-over-Expert-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

How did you become a specialist?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/3-How-did-you-come-to-be-a-specialist-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

What is the significance of reading in our society? Especially considering the internet and other new media.

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/4-Significance-of-reading-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Is speed reading an innate ability or can it be trained?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5-Innate-ability-or-not-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

How does the education system handicap it’s students (with regard to reading)?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/6-How-does-the-education-system-handicap-reading-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

What is the relation between reading speed and comprehension of the material?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/7-What-is-the-relation-between-spead-reading-and-comprehensionMichael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Do you know that feeling that you read a name and are not able to articulate it after reading?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/8-Seeing-word-as-image-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Would you advise speed reading to anyone?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/9-Do-you-advise-speed-reading-to-everyone-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Should interlinked skills like memorization and such be learned separately from speed reading?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/10-Interlinked-skills-and-should-they-be-learned-seperately-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Where would you advize people to start learning speed reading?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11-Where-to-start-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

What are your favorite books (fun and self development)?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/12-What-are-your-favorite-books-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

The realization that there is a lot of capacity left unexplored is something you share in your presentations. Does that realization expand to other fields as well?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/13-The-realisation-that-there-is-a-lot-of-capacity-left-unexplored-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Do you have a golden piece of advice?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/14-Do-you-have-a-golden-piece-of-advice-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Do you believe language precedes thought?

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/15-Do-you-think-that-language-preceeds-thought-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Afterthoughts

http://www.skillcollector.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/16-Afterthoughts-Michael-Tipper-Interview.mp3

Online resources

• Michael Tipper offers a free mini course at his website
• Free speed reading training tool by Mr. Kent
• Similar tool by Spreeder

Books

• Double Your Reading Speed by Scott Young
• 10 Days to Faster Reading by the Princeton Language Institute