I've been teaching speed reading courses and private speed reading lessons in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut for about twenty years now. (View My Speed Reading Courses in NY, NJ, and CT.) People who I train in speed reading are amazed when I show them a few simple speed reading techniques and speed learning habits that help them slash their reading time while improving their reading comprehension and reading speed. Here are a few techniques to get you started:

1. Stop Reading: To optimize learning, stop reading -- word by word, that is. Most of us spend too much time savoring every word in print. Most material in print is junk; a lot of what we read just isn't worth our time. You can learn more and make better use of your time by skimming most of the material you read and only "zooming in on" -- carefully reading and considering -- key ideas and information. I train people to build a healthy disrespect for print; don't read everything word by word. Instead, learn to hop, skip, and jump through material.

2. Budget Your Time: Using a clock or timer, set a challenging time limit in which to complete your reading. This technique helps you stay focused and productive. I like to limit myself to two or three hours maximum for a 200-300 page book. I get in, get what I need, and get out.

3. Use Parallel Reading:  Do you want to become an expert in any field in just a day or two? Use parallel reading. Here's how you do it. Go to an online or retail bookseller. Order five to 10 titles on a particular topic. Skim each book, digesting an enormous wealth of information. Once you've gone through this parallel reading process, you'll learn an incredible amount. You become an expert




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