Speed reading, honestly
RomânăThis niche is full of promises of thousands of words per minute. Here we write what the research shows, including when the result isn't the one we'd like. Sources sit at the end of every article, so you can check them yourself.
How fast you actually read
What slows you down
7 min read
The Push-Up Method for Reading Speed (And How Much of the Gain Sticks)
Force the pace for two minutes, then ease back and your old tempo feels sluggish. The effect is real, but it has a ceiling. What the data actually shows.
Read the article →6 min read
How to Stop Subvocalizing When You Read (and Why You Never Fully Can)
The voice that says your words aloud in your head really does slow you down. Mental counting quiets it, but at a measured cost to comprehension.
Read the article →7 min read
Why Do I Read So Slowly? How to Find Out Which of the Four Brakes Is Yours
Why do I read so slowly? The four classic brakes on reading speed, what each feels like from inside, and the test that tells you which one is yours.
Read the article →
Guiding and pacing on the page
7 min read
How to Stop Regressing While You Read (With a Piece of Cardboard)
A cardboard card covers the lines you've already read, not the ones ahead. Why direction matters, how to lower it like a metronome, and when to drop it.
Read the article →
8 min read
Does Finger-Pointing Actually Speed Up Reading?
We searched for the studies testing finger-pointing while reading. There aren't any. Here's what's honestly known, and how to test it yourself.
Read the article →
7 min read
Why I Reread the Same Sentence (And When You Should)
Rereading isn't a character flaw. Sometimes it's correct repair, sometimes it's attention that left the room. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read the article →
