I’m writing to share worthy information for your readers about the concept of speed-reading Eric Spitznagel wrote about in his recent article “How a Mormon Housewife Sold America the Big Speed-Reading Scam.” (about a six minute read for someone at the average 250 words per minute reading rate.)
I have been teaching speed reading for over 30 years and feel compelled to update folks on a few things. Evelyn Wood was THE founder of the concept speed reading because she knew people could do better and read faster. She was certainly on to something powerful and had an amazing business model. However, I believe she pushed the envelope too far for the average reader. Expecting readers who average 250 words per minute to instantly jump to thousands of words per minute – with comprehension – was ultimately achievable by only a select few.
Since then, speed reading has been looked at as something fantastical and superhuman. I know, because I hear this thinking often. However, speed reading, in the way I have recreated it, is similar yet very different. My definition of speed reading is not just speed for speed itself, rather it’s a set of active, mindful and conscious strategies that allow you to get what you need quickly from any reading material in an efficient and effective manner.
What readers need to understand is that having the ability to read even two to three times faster than where they start (say they start at the average of 250 and then go to 500 or 750 words per minute) will not only help them read more in less time but more importantly will force concentration. Think about it: while you walk, there’s a multitude of things you can do such as daydream, window shop, kick a can, chew gum, talk to a friend, and more. But while you run, you can’t do those any of those things as efficiently or effectively. Instead, you need your focus placed on where you are going, hence the increased concentration. Evelyn Wood understood that idea but again think she pushed the envelope too far.
Once there is good concentration, there is a higher chance for better comprehension and then improved retention. Too many readers read too slowly which is a breeding ground for daydreaming, the antithesis of concentration.
Nowadays, speed reading strategies should be looked at as a continuation of one’s reading education. Most people stop learning reading skills in elementary school and are then expected to manage a high school, college and/or professional reading workload, which has increased by a factor of 10 in the last decade, with these antiquated skills. Speed reading is a welcome retooling providing even the slowest readers with ways to read smarter, faster and just plain better.
Abby Marks Beale is a speed-reading expert and creator of the Rev It Up Reading Online Course. She is also author of 10 Days to Faster Reading and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Speed Reading. www.RevItUpReading.com
There seems to be a trend these days to discredit everything that has gone before and Evelyn Wood is just one of the many victims of a generation that believes they have all the right answers since they have more advanced technology. Of course, this is not helped by some of the outrageous claims of those selling speed reading programs of being able to read at thousands of words per minute with full comprehension. As a teacher of students who struggle with reading, I could not agree more that good reading skills need to be taught earlier and that includes many of the skills that are typically taught in speed reading. How many of my students hate reading simply because they read so slowly that by the time they get to the end of the passage, they have forgotten what was at the beginning? Not only that, the Internet caters to those who have short attention spans in their thinking as well as their reading. Our country desperately needs deep readers and deep thinkers, but that is certainly not the current trend.
I have taken the REVITUP Reading course and found it excellent. It has increased my speed and comprehension, but that’s true only when I mix them with the third element, concentration. In my experience, speed reading enhances concentration!!
Did Evelyn Woods overpromise on the results that could be achieved? It seems she did, but Abby’s point is well taken. Increasing one’s reading skill to any degree helps all students throughout their lives. Teaching speed reading throughout their school years would make that possible for infinitely more people. And it’s never too late to learn the techniques.
Is speed reading a scam? Definitely not!
Ms. Marks Beal has given us an updated explanation of the realistic benefits of speed reading. Her research and teach record are both worth checking out. What is equally impressive about Ms. Marks Beale is her ability to respond to someone who criticises her livelihood without having to defend or call names. I believe this is her professional and natural style. I applaud her maturity. Linda McLyman
Consultant and Author
Great letter Abby! I’m glad you clearly explained the differences between Evelyn’s program and yours.