"Breakthorough Rapid Reading" Book Notes

Tips

• Use the index finger to avoid regressions - 10%-20%
• Try to not subvocalize- to do that, move the finger as fast as possible
• To improve comprehension, achieve the necessary vocabulary, or re-write the passage in a simpler manner.
• Divide texts into rapid, comprehensive or both and adjust your speed accordingly
• Read important material multiple times, one after the other
• To decide if the material is important or not, set a purpose/objective for everything you read
• The main idea is often given in the first chapter, use it!
• Turn pages with the "dusting" process <-, ->, !
• Abstract writing is hard to understand
• Comprehending groups of words at a time is possible
• When rapid reading, turn on white noise in your earbuds
• Skimming is not a substitute for reading

The 3 Readers’ Misconceptions

• One shall read everything the same way
• One shall understand everything on the first try
• One shall remember the important stuff on the first try

Recall Patterns

From:

To:

Types of Hand Movements

in order of slow to fast:

How to Practice (and, later, read)

• White noise
• high enough speeds
• lots of practice
• lots of repetition
• write notes in recall patterns

Signal words

• help in anticipating something happening
• example: formerly, when, soon, later next, now, earlier, however
• they are especially useful in harder (more abstract) materials
• because when reading more than 1k WPM, one reads out of order

Skimming

• Skimming is not a substitute for reading
• Scanning =/= Skimming
• if reading linearly, one very rarely remembers everything, therefore must set out with a purpose, achieve it, and stop

4 Ways of Reading

1. Linear- word by word, <800 WPM
2. Skimming- selective, quick linear reading
3. Scanning- to find something specific
4. Visual- groups of words out of order (quickest)

Previewing to Organise

• Find out the main points by skimming the table of contents
• Skim the beginnings and endings of major chapters
• Look for summary paragraphs
• Skim the beginnings and endings of major subsections
• and only then read

Changing your Attitude

• imagine yourself practicing & believe in yourself
• practicing everyday is super important!1!!!
• before going to sleep take several minutes to successfully imagine the next day

New Hand Movements

Study Reading

• Always set a purpose and recall the material
• Always know how to involve yourself with reading
• Use the information you’ve learnt

Defining Reading Purposes

• purposes vary against the number of books set for different classes
• it is possible to find the purpose midway

Levels of Information

1. Book’s main idea
2. Point of each chapter
3. Main point of each section
4. Main point of most paragraphs
5. Details within each paragraph

"Reading to Learn" Efficiency

1. Purpose
2. Survey the material for organization aids etc.
3. Set up a recall pattern