   Reading a 1000 words a minute? How fast can you read?
  Some guy told me that it's possible to read a 1000 words per minute. The average human reads around 200 words per minute and this is because you actually read with your ears. When you read, you say the word in your mind and this process takes up time.So the dude said that if you can train yourself to read with your eyes, and not with your ears, you can read a novel in a few hours I guess.Of course I had to look this stuff up on the internet, I've found various sites that say the same thing and have software for training and everything (example). I just thought I'd ask on here if anyone can actually do this? Or has tried any of these techniques.Did they actually work? How long did it take?This stuff sounds all really good. Imagine being able to read software engineering books in a day or so!![edit]Found this test online. I average at 213 words per minute (on a computer screen which is apprently equal to 240 wpm on paper) my comprehension is 82%[/edit][Edited by - IFooBar on May 14, 2006 6:05:14 AM]
  I can do the reading with your eyes rather than your ears thing (as weird as that might sound), and while I don't know about 1000 words/min I can read a lot faster using my eyes.  It's great for for skimming over something and taking in 'enough' of it, but not good for taking in the details (altough I haven't 'trained' to do it or anything).When it comes to reading a novel though would you really want to read it that fast?  I'd much rather read a bit slower and use my imagination to get lost in the story than blaze through it.   ;  I don't understand the point of speed reading. There's 2 types of books I read:1) Literature - I want to take my time with them them, pick up on the theme, metaphors, allusions, etc.  things i'd probably miss if I didn't sit down and enjoy them2) technical books - there's often no way to speed read them, you have to take your time and understand the concepts they are presentingThen again, I do enjoy a good speed run - especially when it's of a classic NES game: River City Ransom. [smile]   ;  Without skimming it - ie reading every word, I got 752.  I wouldn't have thought 1000 was possible reading every word, but maybe it is.   ;  488 wpm which was okay, 64% comprehension, which I thought was a little strange. I thought I was going to do better than that.I mean, in this case, comprehension was mostly remembering numbers, right?   ;  300ish but 100% comprehension   ;Quote:Original post by ranakor300ish but 100% comprehensionSame here. My speed was 334.Quote:Original post by snootyjimWithout skimming it - ie reading every word, I got 752.  I wouldn't have thought 1000 was possible reading every word, but maybe it is.That's extremely good for reading every word. Out of curiosity, what was your score on the comprehension test?   ;  494, with 91% in the comprehension.    Funny thing is, I guessed about all but 2 of the questions, I didn't remember reading the answers [grin]. So theoretically I could have started and finished the text within the time it takes to scroll to the bottom button, and get ~24927 wpm with the same comprehension. [smile]   However, I've always found it hard to keep information (even very short term ) when I'm not interested in what I'm reading.;  Interesting test. 211 words at 100% comprehension. Now if there was an Arabic version of that test, my results would be a bit more realistic [smile]   ;Quote:Original post by Will FI don't understand the point of speed reading. There's 2 types of books I read:1) Literature - I want to take my time with them them, pick up on the theme, metaphors, allusions, etc.  things i'd probably miss if I didn't sit down and enjoy them2) technical books - there's often no way to speed read them, you have to take your time and understand the concepts they are presentingThat's a good point. I guess it would be good for reading the newspaper or reading crap you hate in school. But you're right. I don't want to speed read a good book. I'd rather take the time to read it and enjoy it, and read the dialog so it actually sounds like dialog in my head.And as far as technical books go, I generally have to read particular paragraphs 3-4 times anyway, and often times there are minute details buried in there somewhere. I'd like to see someone speed read these things and tell me what bit 3 of register X does.Speed reading is useless for code too.   