What's Your Reading Speed

junkyardwillie · 07-06-2009, 09:55 PM

I've been using a program called AceReader to try to get my reading speed up, I finally got to ~430wpm consistently. I was wondering what everyone's reading speeds were and if you had any special insider secrets to speed reading. This is like the 5th time I've tried to learn speed reading but now its finally starting to stick a bit better. I'm still trying to get over the subvocalization, that's killer but I feel like I'm not absorbing the information if I'm not reading it to myself in my head

Cheers

lilac_jive · 07-06-2009, 09:59 PM

I haven't even tried to track it (not even sure how to figure it out), but it's pretty fast. I blame it on the ADHD. I definitely do not absorb as much as others might (spelling/grammar errors not included), and I notice that when I read I'll deliberately skip areas of unimportance.

So maybe it isn't such a good thing to read too fast

junkyardwillie · 07-06-2009, 10:03 PM

A lot of it depends on the material for me, I can sit back and read a 300 page fiction novel in one day if its interesting but I seem to read news articles really slowly. I'm trying to get my speed and comprehension up across the board so everything gets better but about 60% of the time I forget to try to speed read and just read regularly.

Greg Anos · 07-07-2009, 12:09 AM

I read about 300-400 WPM, by choice. That's a speed that I "feel there" at for pleasure reading. I can read much faster, and do so at need professionally, but not by choice..

Elsi · 07-07-2009, 01:03 AM

I haven't tested my reading speed for a while. I classify it as "fast", particularly when I'm reading fiction. I do *not* strive for maximum retention of details. Rather, I just enjoy the story. When I've finished the book, I move on to the next.

Sparrow · 07-07-2009, 05:33 AM

I'm generally a slow reader, I 'spot' each word individually and subvocalise - that's the most enjoyable reading mode for me. It gives me more time to detail the mental image, and savour the emotional ride.

For dull reading (e.g. at work) I can 'spot' word groups, and not vocalise in order to read faster; but it's a continual effort, and not pleasant for me.

Dictator is a freeware app for reading Gutenberg texts that can also be used to test reading speed.
"Dictator provides an alternative approach called Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) in which words are displayed consecutively in the same place at a user-controllable rate."

mklynds · 07-07-2009, 05:43 AM

I am a fast reader. I don't know how many wpm it would translate too. I don't subvocalise at all and have quite a good memory. I can still remember the better part of every book I have read. I only wish my memory was as good for things unwritten. I also suffer from a condition I lovingly refer to as mims. My Inside Movie Screen. I have a far to active imagination. It is great when I am reading, not so great when my boss or some one similar is trying to give heck for something.

Xiaopanda · 07-07-2009, 06:19 AM

I read kinda fast, and can read a 300page pbook in a about 2-3 hours if its a gripping tale. I read mostly by word shape assosiation ( I look at the shape of the words rather than the actual word, and ignore the smaller words -and, the, but etc) and rarely subvocalise. I have a vivid imagination, and 'cos of the way I read, I suck at spelling and grammar. I have been kicked out of speed reading courses (cos I beat the instructor), BUT, when I am racing, I retain very very little.

For retention , 300 pages in 4 hours is about average.

on the plus side, I can read a novel on the day before I see it's movie version....but I read nearly 15 - 20 books a month. (18 last mnth) I read faster on an E-device, PDA or Kindle at the moment.

Crusader · 07-07-2009, 02:02 PM

I just did a quick online search for a online test and found http://www.readingsoft.com/

Did their reading speed test and apparently I read at 308wpm with a 100% comprehension. Although I don't know how good their test is, especially since they are in it to sell some software.

kaas · 07-07-2009, 02:29 PM

hmm, 622 for english, which is not my native language...

cheers,
kaas

pdurrant · 07-07-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusader

I just did a quick online search for a online test and found http://www.readingsoft.com/

A nice little test, trying to sell their software, but probably gives an indication.

411wpm, 100%.

Reading up on speed reading (which I hadn't before) it seems to be a bit of a pseudo-science, with snake oil salesmen everywhere.

ruth1304 · 07-07-2009, 03:18 PM

Definitely very fast. I did a literature degree which included Old English (pre 1066) and a lot of mediaeval literature, as well as a lot of poetry etc. I now find reading novels written recently don't take long to read. I find that I can read several novels in a day when I have the time.

I have to admit that I have a habit of reading gripping books twice though, once to find out what happens because when I get really into a book I have to know and start reading even faster, and once to get every last detail from it!

Teyrnon · 07-07-2009, 04:15 PM

I'm not sure what my current reading speed is these days. I'm pretty sure it has slowed down drastically as my reading has dropped off over the years. In my younger days I usually read a typical length novel in about 4 hours and read at least a book a day.

DixieGal · 07-07-2009, 04:19 PM

No hurry here. I chose 200, just because I might possibly be the world's slowest reading bookworm.

Go Speed Readers! Go!

junkyardwillie · 07-07-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

A nice little test, trying to sell their software, but probably gives an indication.

411wpm, 100%.

Reading up on speed reading (which I hadn't before) it seems to be a bit of a pseudo-science, with snake oil salesmen everywhere.

I got 406wpm, 100% on that test but I guessed two of the answers so those really shouldn't be considered correct.

I've seen so many different books and theories on speed reading and some of them seem like its impossible to work but it must work for some people I guess. There is one that is called photo reading or something like that where you stare at a page until your eyes almost cross and you flip through the book like that spending about 3 seconds on each page. Supposedly your mind can still decipher the text and when you are done you flip back through the book and where ever you feel like you should stop you should stop because its your unconscious mind telling you that there is important information in that portion of the text. That one was a bit odd I thought

.

The stuff like using your finger to pace yourself and humming in your head to stop subvocalization were more reasonable but apparently you can read up to about 600wpm while still subvocalizing, if I could get up to that I'd be fine. When I did my first speed reading tests a couple weeks back I was in the mid-200s so getting to my high 300s has been good, I have so much stuff to read I wish I could just plug a usb cord in my head and upload it all directly. Maybe Apple will come out with an iMind app

View Poll Results: How fast can you tear through a book?
People still read? I'm all about the audiobooks	1	2.56%
Less than 200 wpm	2	5.13%
200 - 350 wpm	7	17.95%
350 - 500wpm	13	33.33%
500 - 650 wpm	5	12.82%
650 - 850 wpm	5	12.82%
Googol wpm	6	15.38%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll

07-06-2009, 09:55 PM	#1
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	What's Your Reading Speed I've been using a program called AceReader to try to get my reading speed up, I finally got to ~430wpm consistently. I was wondering what everyone's reading speeds were and if you had any special insider secrets to speed reading. This is like the 5th time I've tried to learn speed reading but now its finally starting to stick a bit better. I'm still trying to get over the subvocalization, that's killer but I feel like I'm not absorbing the information if I'm not reading it to myself in my head Cheers

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07-06-2009, 09:59 PM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I haven't even tried to track it (not even sure how to figure it out), but it's pretty fast. I blame it on the ADHD. I definitely do not absorb as much as others might (spelling/grammar errors not included), and I notice that when I read I'll deliberately skip areas of unimportance. So maybe it isn't such a good thing to read too fast

07-06-2009, 10:03 PM	#3
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	A lot of it depends on the material for me, I can sit back and read a 300 page fiction novel in one day if its interesting but I seem to read news articles really slowly. I'm trying to get my speed and comprehension up across the board so everything gets better but about 60% of the time I forget to try to speed read and just read regularly.

07-07-2009, 12:09 AM	#4
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,247 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	I read about 300-400 WPM, by choice. That's a speed that I "feel there" at for pleasure reading. I can read much faster, and do so at need professionally, but not by choice..

07-07-2009, 01:03 AM	#5
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I haven't tested my reading speed for a while. I classify it as "fast", particularly when I'm reading fiction. I do not strive for maximum retention of details. Rather, I just enjoy the story. When I've finished the book, I move on to the next.

07-07-2009, 05:33 AM	#6
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I'm generally a slow reader, I 'spot' each word individually and subvocalise - that's the most enjoyable reading mode for me. It gives me more time to detail the mental image, and savour the emotional ride. For dull reading (e.g. at work) I can 'spot' word groups, and not vocalise in order to read faster; but it's a continual effort, and not pleasant for me. Dictator is a freeware app for reading Gutenberg texts that can also be used to test reading speed. "Dictator provides an alternative approach called Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) in which words are displayed consecutively in the same place at a user-controllable rate."

07-07-2009, 05:43 AM	#7
mklynds That guy, no not that guy Posts: 337 Karma: 2846 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS600 Red	I am a fast reader. I don't know how many wpm it would translate too. I don't subvocalise at all and have quite a good memory. I can still remember the better part of every book I have read. I only wish my memory was as good for things unwritten. I also suffer from a condition I lovingly refer to as mims. My Inside Movie Screen. I have a far to active imagination. It is great when I am reading, not so great when my boss or some one similar is trying to give heck for something.

07-07-2009, 06:19 AM	#8
Xiaopanda Addict Posts: 230 Karma: 1290 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brisbane Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I read kinda fast, and can read a 300page pbook in a about 2-3 hours if its a gripping tale. I read mostly by word shape assosiation ( I look at the shape of the words rather than the actual word, and ignore the smaller words -and, the, but etc) and rarely subvocalise. I have a vivid imagination, and 'cos of the way I read, I suck at spelling and grammar. I have been kicked out of speed reading courses (cos I beat the instructor), BUT, when I am racing, I retain very very little. For retention , 300 pages in 4 hours is about average. on the plus side, I can read a novel on the day before I see it's movie version....but I read nearly 15 - 20 books a month. (18 last mnth) I read faster on an E-device, PDA or Kindle at the moment.

07-07-2009, 02:02 PM	#9
Crusader Space Cadet Posts: 1,180 Karma: 4030536 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Africa Device: Sony PRS-T1, Cybook Opus, Kobo Glo	I just did a quick online search for a online test and found http://www.readingsoft.com/ Did their reading speed test and apparently I read at 308wpm with a 100% comprehension. Although I don't know how good their test is, especially since they are in it to sell some software.

07-07-2009, 02:29 PM	#10
kaas Muncher of ebooks Posts: 312 Karma: 6423 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fürth, Germany Device: Pocketbook 360	hmm, 622 for english, which is not my native language... cheers, kaas

07-07-2009, 03:18 PM	#12
ruth1304 Addict Posts: 394 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Waiting for a kindle!	Definitely very fast. I did a literature degree which included Old English (pre 1066) and a lot of mediaeval literature, as well as a lot of poetry etc. I now find reading novels written recently don't take long to read. I find that I can read several novels in a day when I have the time. I have to admit that I have a habit of reading gripping books twice though, once to find out what happens because when I get really into a book I have to know and start reading even faster, and once to get every last detail from it!

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07-07-2009, 04:15 PM	#13
Teyrnon Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 384 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Eastern United States Device: jetBook, Kindle DX, Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Nook Simple Touch	I'm not sure what my current reading speed is these days. I'm pretty sure it has slowed down drastically as my reading has dropped off over the years. In my younger days I usually read a typical length novel in about 4 hours and read at least a book a day.

07-07-2009, 04:19 PM	#14
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	No hurry here. I chose 200, just because I might possibly be the world's slowest reading bookworm. Go Speed Readers! Go!