Chapter 5. Seven golden pillars of speed reading

Any theory is based on generalized rules and principles. Over time, the technique is enriched by discoveries made by researchers, who have dedicated more than one year to a particular kind of activity. Opening any guide for speed reading, you will find seven basic settings, that allow you to master this technique. I will give this list in a modified form, because I see the point in processing the key points.

Number one. Reading without regressions

As you remember, regression means returning to the already read text, since the majority of readers don’t have time to master and remember the text.

Speed reading teaches reading information at the same speed as its processing. My task in this part of the book is to teach my audience to rely first of all on their own memory, avoiding the doubt that they will not be able to cope with a volume of several pages!

Without confidence in your own capabilities, moving forward is impossible. The active development of memory and concentration will allow to perceive the text as a process "here and now" without need to return to the past.

Regression accompanies us not only in the process of slow, thoughtless reading. We encounter it every day – we regret for words, that we didn’t say, we are experiencing moments of the past. Present your life as a book – would you like to constantly return to the written lines? How important is it for you to focus on the present, without losing time on the past events?

Every time, feeling like re-reading the text again, imagine that life has given you only one chance – the opportunity to find out this information at this very moment. You will see how valuable each piece of essay, article, paragraph will be.

Number two. Integrated read algorithm

To me, this formulation seems too complicated. Many modern non-fiction publications present information overly intricate, trying to arouse the confidence of the reader. But the wording can be significantly simplified.

In essence, an algorithm is a set of operations, that we perform daily, often without even thinking about it. By inertia, we perform familiar rituals. For example, in order to brew a mug of aromatic tea you need:


Do you think about this algorithm, when going to work or to the university, especially in the early morning? I think, no. The same applies to speed reading. If you master the scheme for which thoughtful reading is carried out, this process will gradually enter into constant practice, you will simply not be able to read differently!

The speed reading integration scheme is as follows:


Title → Author → Source → Main content → Facts → Features → Novelty


If the first five blocks are specific facts about a book or an article – the name of the text, authorship, year and place of publication, as well as key points and information, that the author reports, then the sixth and seventh paragraphs suggest an individual study of the material. The peculiarities of the text are understood as controversial statements, the possibility of synthetic analysis, the way the addressee perceives it. Novelty means “freshness” of what is being reported, how useful it is for the reader, the possibility of applying the data in practice.

This scheme distinguishes speed reading from slow reading. Indiscriminate reading of the literature doesn’t allow the text to be analyzed, while purposeful division into seven blocks leads to effective structuring.

A strong desire to teach is 50% of success.

While reading the text, imagine, that you put the material on the shelves, correlating the information received by the semantic sections. This will allow you to avoid randomness of thoughts in the process of reading, and will relieve factors distracting the mind.

At first, it may seem to you, that constantly holding a seven-point scheme is too difficult, but the habit will form over time. You will unconsciously perceive the text as an ordered construction.

Familiar philologists told me about, how to study art works at the university.

Then goes the exploration of the philosophical currents, that are the result of historical events.

First the historical epoch, in which the novel or story was created is studied.

The next stage is acquaintance with the biography of the author, who adheres to certain philosophical convictions.

And only after working through this information, students begin to analyze the work itself as a product of the environment and the author's vision.

This scheme of analysis of any text seems to me the most productive, since it involves understanding and awareness of all the components of the material – from the base to the individual perception.

The pinnacle of reading a book or an article is your opinion about reading and applying the knowledge gained in practice.

Number three. Selection of the main semantic meaning. Text dominant

This was discussed in the previous part of the book, but I repeat once again – the ability to select the semantic grain from the general information material is the main principle of effective reading.

According to some critics, out of 100% scientific or technical material, only 25% of the volume has practical importance. This principle is not so actively applied to fiction, but I can say with confidence, that some authors bring to the essence of the work for hardly hundreds of pages!

For example, you see the following text:

Based on media reports, it was concluded that a single-story structure made of super-combustible material with a woody texture, under the influence of high temperatures, was destroyed due to illegal actions of persons under the age of minority.

Is it convenient for perception? What is the message that carries the text? Yes, everything is simple:

The house burnt down.

This fact is the semantic dominant of the message. Eliminating unnecessary information, you learn analytics and significantly save time on understanding what you read. Among other things, capacious facts remain in your memory for a long period.

Number four. Reading without articulation

The main enemy of speed reading is the internal pronunciation of the text by words. In the previous chapter I tried to explain the essence of this problem. Here I want to emphasize, that you can get rid of a bad habit by rebuilding the mechanics of reading itself.

Speaking the text with lip movement? Feel free to take a pencil in your teeth to control this process.

Can you feel the text in your head? Try to create a different reading rhythm. If you are an audial (better perceive audio information), get a metronome or a ticking clock; if kinesthetic is closer to you (tactile perception of the surrounding world), then tap the rhythm with a finger or a pencil. Of course, for all these purposes, we have wonderful trainers, that will help get rid of pronunciation.

Remember, that speaking the words while reading, you are on the way to understanding the text erect another obstacle, thereby depriving the brain of the possibility of high-quality processing of the material.

More specifically, we will dwell on this component in a separate chapter.

Number five. Vertical reading

Try to read the text, while tracking the process of eye movement. Noticed, how many times your pupils made a shuttle run from the beginning to the end of the line?

This type of reading reminds me of typing on an old typewriter – the slider moves from left to right, and then with a deft movement of the hand is thrown back to the left side of the page. Is such typing effective? I don’t think so.

This problem is associated with a small field of view, which means fixing a small portion of the text with a glance. Traditional reading includes only two or three words for one fixation, while fast reading allows you to cover entire paragraphs and pages.

When reading text vertically, the gaze moves from top to bottom, accommodating whole phrases and sentences in sight. In addition to increasing the speed of reading, the level of understanding of the material increases, and there are visual-figurative representations.

Number six. Development of attention and memory

The effectiveness of speed reading rests on the backs of these two pillars. If the previous rules are more connected with the practical development of the methodology, then this is with the mental restructuring of thinking.

Learning to concentrate on a particular type of activity, without being distracted by external objects, is attentive to the process being carried out and remembering useful information – three important factors, that help to achieve success. Having learned to focus on the text and constantly improving properties, you can get rid of regressive reading and easily highlight the dominant of the material under study. The Green Point exercise will help in this.

Number seven. Daily practice

Although this promise is last on the list, I can say, that it plays a crucial role. Do you remember the theory of 10,000 hours? To strive for this figure is necessary every day. This applies not only to the exercises, but also to the reading itself.

It’s advisable to read two newspapers, one magazine or 50-100 pages of the book daily. Otherwise, the sense of all the training will be zero.

For example, you decided to give yourself a rest for one day. Our brain is a very cunning and resourceful “comrade”, who is able to find many loopholes in order to rest and not overwork! It can decide, that one day for respite is too little and will look for new reasons – “tomorrow is too intense day”, “tomorrow is Sunday”, “on Friday I want to relax with friends”, etc. etc. And if he manages to turn this scam, you will give up speed reading for many months...

Don’t give yourself relief, because after you go through a certain stage, it will be much easier to study. The brain will get stronger and will require more and more new food in the form of texts and exercises. The trick called "tomorrow" can discard you from the implementation of plans and the realization of the dream for many years! Start now!

Looking back, you will regret not starting today.

Finally, I want you to constantly keep in your head the answer to the question, for what. What am I reading for? Why do I do speed reading? Why do I use this or that practice? Meaningful action is a guarantee of success, a pledge that you will not give up what you started half way.

Why are you reading this book?

You will find the answer on the last page, but without going all the way, you will never understand it!