I have learned to read any book 400 pages or less and finish within 24 hours. If you were to ask, I could tell you the plot lines, major and minor characters, major themes and also exactly why I enjoyed the book. If you are struggling to finish reading a novel, or need to finish those pages soon for an assignment, read on. These are 5 tips to get you started on speed-reading quickly and effectively.
1. Read the Back
This might be a no brainer, but read the back of the book first. Quickly make predictions about what you think may happen with different characters. Don’t hold on and assume they will happen though, be prepared to be wrong.
2. Read the first few chapters as quickly as possible
Start off quickly but know that at least in the beginning, you still need to read everything. This will help you cement the key characters and plot lines in your brain. Make mental notes about characters, plots, backstories etc.
3. As the scene is set, start skimming more and more sections
When the scene and characters have been introduced, you can now begin to skim and read faster. If you catch something you think might be important, stop and read through it more carefully.
4. Make note of when your predictions are wrong and right
This way, when it comes time to remember what happened, you will remember when you were wrong vs. when you were right. This will help you retain the book itself.
5. Really try to enjoy the book
I know you are in a hurry, but these stories are precious. They are precious to the ones who wrote them and countless others who have read them. These stories are gifts and if you enjoy them, you will reap greater rewards and be able to understand, analyze and recall the book’s themes better.
Foremost, know that this advice is meant for getting that book read so you can successfully analyze it and review the book before it is due. If you want to truly get the full and good experience of a book, everyone will want to read every word to understand every glorious detail of the masterpiece the author created for his or her enjoyment.
Those are my tried and true methods for speed-reading! Good luck!
