What is Speed Reading?

As a kid first we started learning letters. Once we knew them all by heart we started learning syllables, because reading was only possible if we knew these letters without any reference or any sort of memory trick, i.e. we had to know them by heart. Once we knew the letters we could "read" the objects they constitute, which are words. We were taught that we have to read every single word to be able to succeed in this skill called "reading".

When we first started learning to read, we read loud because that was the only way the teacher could make sure whether we recognized and pronounced words correctly. After some time we were told that we no longer needed to read loud, but instead, we could read "silently to ourselves". So we grew this habit of reading by hearing, by either murmuring or sub vocalizing words as we read.

While you are reading, the eyes move from left to right making certain fixations on the text, and during these fixations they capture the words just like a camera and the captured image is sent to the brain via optical nerve. The brain processes these symbols in accordance with the words that has been seen and known from before and thus reaches the idea behind the sentence. This is the global accepted definition of "reading".

An average reader makes about 3-4 fixations per second on the text, and on each fixation he captures a single word and sends it to the brain to be processed. Therefore his reading speed is limited to the statistical fact of the average reading speed, 180-240 words per minute. However, the talking speed is also within this range and this makes us suspect whether there is a connection.

Speed Reading is a technique which is quite contrary to what we have so far learned about reading. Instead of single words, a speed reader reads blocks of words, with a higher speed. A speed reader makes about 5-6 fixations per second and on each fixation captures 3-4 words, which triples or quadruples the reading speed up to 800-1000 words per minute.

Brain is the champion of the human body organs. It constantly works without even feeling any symptoms of tire, and everyday some new facts are being discovered about this marvelous organ. No wonder it consumes almost half of human body oxygen intake. Speed Reading depends upon the power of the brain. Nineteenth century theoretical economist  John Stuart Mill has once complained that he couldn't turn pages as fast as he could read them.