Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour (Mental Performance)

Last spring I started nursing school and about the same time the role at my job changed noticably which meant I had a whole new role to learn and not only did the role require a lot of reading to learn but it required a lot of reading to perform. I've never been a reader liked reading or was ever good at it and now I was up against the wall with so much textbooks, manuals, reports, and lots of books, books after books. As much as I wanted to my brain just couldn't take it.One afternoon a colleague saw me in the break room way in over my head and he told me something that knocked my socks off. He told me he was a straight A student throughout school and he said it wasn't because he was smart, worked harder or had special genes. He said his uncle taught him some reading, memory, and organization strategies that helped him do better than 90% of the students and a light bulb clicked in my head that I just needed to find better ways to read, for as long as reading and school has existed someone had to have figured out a better way.I started looking for better ways starting my search online. I went through pages of search results reading articles from guys like Tim Ferris but none of them had anything substantial, like nothing!. Just basic common sense tips like track your reading speed, use a pointer, skim and scan. Literally headlines of articles would say "How to Read Faster" or "Read 300% Faster..." and this is the advice they gave. Do an online search and this is what you'll find. Majority of the advice aren't even related to reading but stuff like "make it relatable" or "take notes."So I jumped on YouTube thinking there would be student focused channels that would talk about these topics and of the dozens of channels I found, it was more of the same talking about strategies like SQ3R or 4P's which are more comprehension strategies and not really strategeis for reading faster. I wanted ways to read faster, not just reading more intently which actually took more time, but to read faster like more words in a shorter amount of time faster.Eventually I came across some courses but they were like hundreds of dollars. They were better but the ideas took a lot of time and practice. Your reading might improve if you stuck to them, but they weren't intuitive or natural but felt awkward and all my efforts went to waste as I never used'em.Ultimately I ended up dropping out of nursing school. I couldn't keep up with both school and work and something had to give so I gave in to the option that was bringing me income in the moment.Several months go by and this book shows up as a recommendation in the search for something random and it turns out to be a freakin gold mine! I was like why did it take so long to show up in my life!!!1. The tips actually increase reading speed, it teaches you to read more words in a shorter time.2. The results are immediate, no need to practice for weeks or months to see improvements, some of them worked in minutes.3. Process is intuitive, it's easy on the brain so easy to use and you'll enjoy using it.4. Writing is clear, it's easier to follow than any other matter I read on the subject.5. Instructions are idiot proof, you know exactly waht to do, how to do it, in the right way with the right materials.6. Comprehension will soar, you'll understand more and better than you were reading at a slower pace.7. Everything is in one place, no need to sift through endless articles, books and videos to find anything meaningful.8. Material goes beyond the book with links to additional practice resources and they're all free.Best part it doesn't waste time on any of the stuff found online like skimming, scanning, SQ3R, 4P's, using pointers none of that garbage you already know is even mentioned!After reading it, I was confident about managing the school load so I re-enrolled to nursing school and I'm KILLIN IT! School is so much easier now, it's much more fun when I read something because I have complete understanding of the author's intention. I know what he/she is communicating and not getting lost in what I think is being communicated so 70% of what I would normally miss I pick up on the first read. It's a beautiful thang! I'm telling you it's a beautiful thang!!Sorry for my sob story but to cut this short if you don't like reading or reading is hard for you, you'll like reading this book, it's fun, engaging, enlightening and by the end you will like reading and be reading faster.

The primary advantage of this book is its conciseness, though I believe it could be even more compact. Another significant virtue is its accessibility—the text is written in very clear language, with short, well-structured paragraphs that facilitate easy comprehension. Kam Knight has skillfully condensed information from multiple sources into a single, comprehensive volume.Despite the title "Speed Reading," the book's focus extends beyond mere reading speed. It provides comprehensive guidance on effective reading techniques and memory retention strategies. While these methods ultimately improve reading speed, the core objective is teaching how to read more effectively—precisely what I was seeking.The book will undoubtedly benefit young readers. I wish I had encountered this resource when I first began reading seriously. The advice is valuable, but it's crucial to understand that these techniques will only be effective through consistent practice.Recommended Approach:Revisiting the book every 6-12 monthsAssessing personal progressIdentifying areas for improvementAdditional Insights Not Covered in the Book:Reading Session Length: Aim for approximately 50 pages per session. It takes time to:Enter a deep reading flowOvercome initial mental wanderingDevelop comprehensive understandingMental Preparation: Ensure adequate rest and sleep. As the author notes, we typically remember only about 20% of what we read. Without proper rest, retention can decrease even further.One improvement would be a single-page reference card summarizing key reading techniques—a quick-reference guide to review before each reading session.This book offers practical, actionable strategies for improving reading skills and comprehension, making it a valuable resource for readers seeking to enhance their learning capabilities.