# Does Speed Reading Really Work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-speed-reading-really-work/106719>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [May 1, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-speed-reading-really-work/106719 "2002-05-01T19:45:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wex10024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8797f3/32.png) [@wex10024](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wex10024)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-speed-reading-really-work/106719/1 "2002-05-01T19:45:16Z")

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A column written about 1987 answered the question -  
Does Speed Reading really work?

I have to offer these credentials first -

My background is senior educational consultant. and  
one of my clients is “Donna Holman Speed Learning”, in  
Miami, Florida. I have studied this subject, and was  
an associate of Evelyn Wood, the founder of the field of  
study of speed reading.

The new “Speed Learning” course includes large chunks devoted  
to speed reading, and is affiliated with Long Island University  
8th largest college in the U.S.

I will assume two things: that “Straight Dope” is willing to  
change its collective mind when new evidence is brought forward,  
and that the people who visit these message boards are confirmed knowledge-seekers.

The definition of “speed reading” is the ability to absorb three  
(3) levels of material:

Basic: (Reader’s Digest in difficulty), Semi-Tuff, (Text books), and Tuff-Stuff, which consists of Journal articles,  
Encyclopedia Britannica, and Legal briefs.

```
It is NOT speed reading unless:

```

1. You read 300% faster than your present, normal (snailing), in all three (3) areas of reading difficulty, and maintain it permanently.

2. You increase your comprehension 10% or better.

3. You increase long-term memory up to 20%

4. You add 15% to your present concentration as measured  
by standard testing,

```
The SECRET of speed reading is: Our eyes follow a moving
object. Peripheral vision makes it happen.

Coda:

They have graduated 2 million students: from 5th graders,

```

to students at Harvard, Yale etc., through graduate schools,  
and from the Fortune 500, executives and professionals.

```
It is a serious academic skill that permits kids to ACE their

```

classes, and even the SATs, and adults to shorten their learning-  
curve, often leading to promotions to leadership positions.

I used in Law School and it was enormously helpful in helping  
me pass the Bar on the first click.

For serious details, you may surf to

P.S. I am a member of “Straight Dope”, and am not a stockholder, officer nor director of Speed Learning.

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**Author:** ![mok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mok)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-speed-reading-really-work/106719/2 "2002-05-01T20:26:07Z")

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_(I’m sure this thread will be closed or moved real soon now, as it is nothing more than blatant advertising, regardless of your disavowal of affliation with Speed Learning. So I’ll get my two cents in real quick… 🙂 )_

I certainly hope that this organization teaches reading better than you were taught writing… Your grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation and spelling are remarkably below par for someone claiming to be a “senior educational consultant”. I’m really trying hard not to go ad hominem here. However, you are making specific measurable claims about education in the English language. Therefore, I think it is fair to call into question your credentials based on the command of English you display in your post.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-speed-reading-really-work/106719/3 "2002-05-01T20:32:53Z")

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This is EXACTLY the kind of thread we do not allow on this board.

If you want to solicit commercially on this board, buy a banner ad.

your humble TubaDiva  
Administrator