I wish I can do that

Thanks for your response on reading more than one book at a time. I was keen to hear what others think.

Happy reading!

Read more than one book at any given time. I usually have 3-6 books working at any given time.

Learn to retain what is read — for some, this is admittedly more difficult, depending on God’s gifting and the way the mind is trained. Re-teaching what has been read is a great way to retain more.

I’ve not found speed-reading methods to be of much use, but I do speed read. In my case, I’ve learned to read the entire page at one time, slowing down as necessary to pursue details, arguments, etc. I’m not sure how to train someone to do what I do, but it is very effective. It starts with getting out of the habit of reading each letter or each word individually (often pronouncing it in one’s head) but rather, assimilating information directly into the mind from the page. For what it is worth, I cannot retain when I try to “speed read” in the way it is most commonly taught (skip words, run a finger along the page quickly, etc.). I have to read everything, and I do — but very quickly (about 750 words per minute with 90+ % retention for me.

Practice makes perfect!

I have a question : what do you think about reading books in parallel?

I have tried previously to read books together but often struggled. So now I tend to start one finish it and then move to another.

Is it more efficient to read books in parallel?

I think there are some books you pour into, but I think you do that once you practice the fast reading that you are writing about. This is what rereading is for, going through and getting the other ten points beyond the first two or three, if they really are worth getting.

Anyways I appreciated your thoughts and enjoy your blog very much.

I just received e-mail notification that my latest book order has shipped, which means that I should be receiving “Holy Subversion” tomorrow. Looking forward to digging into it!

Incidentally, I work on staff with Robert Ward at Stevens Street Baptist in Cookeville. When I saw you’d gone to school in Oradea I figured he and Bob must know you. They said hello!