Well written book with tons of tips (not only speedreading but also concentration, memory, organization…).

Tips

· state your reading purpose clearly
  (general idea/information/pleasure)
· motivate yourself (visualize outcome)
· get excited, interested
· empty (your mind, desk, etc…)
· break the routine
· build the context/framework before you start
· meditate, concentrate, be present
· use five step reading system (below)
· read actively (use as many senses
  as you can (multisensory reading))
· make notes, highlight, mark, underline,
  circle, argue, ask questions, draw, mind-map, talk
· chunk your reading
· extract the message, don’t read every word
· evaluate
· listen to music to improve concentration
  (eg largo by bach from harpsichord concerto in f minor)
· use imagination
· push yourself
· eat & drink properly (small & often)
· warm up, stretch
· take breaks often
· once you start something don’t let anything distract you
· do relaxing/breathing exercises (slowly and deeply)
· do eye-robics (close, sun, blink, swing, refocus,
  stretch, massage, acupressure…)
· use pacer
· practise!
· have fun
· teach others

Facts

· the faster you go the less you will vocalize
  and the more you will concentrate
· memory relies on perception, attention,
  reasoning, framework
· memory can be trained by using it often
· what’s good for the body is also good for the mind
· memory = acquisition + retention + retrieval
· retention = organization + revision
· retrieval = using accesspoint
· 10 am = peak performance
· afternoon = performance drop

Five step system

1. prepare (why am i reading this?
  what i know about the subject?...)
2. preview (10 min intro to book structure
  - cover, t.o.c., foreword, index…)
3. passive reading (scan, highlight,
  look for words, ·language·, arguments…)
4. active reading (extract the idea
  from each paragraph/chapter)
5. selective reading (read selected passages
  for specific ·information·)

Conclusion

· well structured book, each chapter starts with
  list of objectives and ends with a summary
· introduces useful 5-step system for effective
  reading
· provides practical exercises
· emphasises importance of mindset, concentration,
  active reading, interest and flexibility
· gives practical lists (vocabulary roots and prefixes)
· explains function of memory and why it’s important
  to build a framework in your mind before starting
  to fill it with new information

I read this book just hoping to pick up some hints and tips about improving my reading. I was a slow reader due to poor concentration— this book covers that issue and many others ranging from eye exercises to utilising peripheral vision. Very useful.