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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Speed Reading summary
Kam Knight
Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour
18 mins
Brief summary
Speed Reading by Kam Knight offers techniques and strategies to improve reading speed while maintaining comprehension. The book provides practical exercises and tips for readers looking to increase their efficiency and enhance productivity.
Table of Contents
Speed Reading
Summary of 5 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 5
Shaping your expectations with effective pre-reading strategies.
Have you ever pondered the significance of the two most important days in your life, as Mark Twain famously did – the day you were born and the day you discovered why?
Just as finding your purpose in life can transform your existence, approaching reading with a specific goal activates your brain’s goal-seeking mechanism, sharpening focus and enhancing comprehension. Whether your aim is mastering a new skill, acing an exam, or diving into the depths of a good novel, identifying this purpose gears up different regions of your brain to work in concert. Suddenly, like noticing a specific car everywhere after you’ve decided to buy it, your brain zeroes in on relevant information, filtering out the noise to spotlight what’s important to you.
Let’s start by trying this exercise: note down everything you’ve read recently and pinpoint the reasons for each choice. This will aid you in organizing your future reading and prime your brain, aligning your cognitive resources with your interests and goals, and making your reading both efficient and impactful.
Now let’s consider the practice of previewing material before you dive in deep. This is a little like exploring a new city before settling down – a strategy that unveils the layout and primes your expectations. A preview acts as a scaffold, a preliminary sketch that guides your understanding and aids in assembling the puzzle pieces of new knowledge. As you glance through the titles, subtitles, and highlighted texts in a book, you’re not just skimming; you’re constructing a mental framework for the detailed exploration that lies ahead.
For practice, try previewing some diverse reading materials you’ve gathered. By examining titles, introductions, and summaries without delving into the full text, you train your brain to anticipate and structure the information, making the actual reading smoother and more intuitive.
But remember that not all reading requires the same approach. Different materials demand different speeds and levels of engagement. A novel may invite a leisurely pace, allowing for immersion in its world, while a technical manual requires slow, deliberate attention to grasp complex information. Adjusting your reading style based on the material’s nature and your objectives optimizes both your enjoyment and the efficiency of learning.
Try experimenting with altering your reading pace and focus across various texts. This should make you proficient in shifting gears, ensuring you can navigate through dense academic texts with the same ease as through light magazine articles, enriching your reading experience with flexibility and depth.
When you incorporate these practices into your reading routine it’ll be transformed from a passive activity into an active journey of discovery. By setting a purpose, previewing your path, and adapting your reading style, you unlock a more fulfilling and effective way to engage with the written word, making every reading session a step toward achieving your personal and professional goals.
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What is Speed Reading about?
Speed Reading (2018) reveals how to dramatically increase your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension or retention. It delves into your brain’s and eyes’ natural capabilities to process more words in less time and offers practical strategies and exercises beyond mere skimming and scanning. Through innovative techniques, it promises to enhance your reading speed and improve your focus, memory, and understanding.
Speed Reading Review
Speed Reading (2016) provides a comprehensive guide on improving reading speed and comprehension for efficient learning. Here's why this book stands out:
- Offers practical techniques and exercises that help readers increase their reading speed and retain information effectively.
- Employs proven strategies backed by research to ensure readers see tangible results in their reading speed and comprehension levels.
- Keeps readers engaged with its dynamic approach to speed reading, ensuring that learning this valuable skill is anything but dull.
Who should read Speed Reading?
- Curious minds eager to devour more books
- Busy professionals aiming to boost their productivity
- Students looking for a way to improve comprehension and retention
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Speed Reading FAQs
What is the main message of Speed Reading?
Improve reading speed and comprehension using practical techniques.
How long does it take to read Speed Reading?
Reading time varies. The Blinkist summary is a quicker option.
Is Speed Reading a good book? Is it worth reading?
Speed Reading is valuable for enhancing reading skills efficiently.
Who is the author of Speed Reading?
The author of Speed Reading is Kam Knight.
What to read after Speed Reading?
If you're wondering what to read next after Speed Reading, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Why is Sex Fun? by Jared Diamond
- Remote Work Revolution by Tsedal Neeley
- Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford
- Think Remarkable by Guy Kawasaki & Madisun Nuismer
- The Art of Reading Minds by Henrik Fexeus
- 10 Days to Faster Reading by The Princeton Language Institute and Abby Marks Beale
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- Get Better at Anything by Scott H. Young
- Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz
- Unlimited Memory by Kevin Horsley