-Kris Madden

I don't know if this is the proper place to comment like this here, but I just want to say that I found you're book a couple weeks ago on google books and was absolutely stunned to see that the full book was listed. Then, to my utter surprise, it was down-loadedable. The whole thing! I couldn't believe it. Then, I started going through the book and had so may concepts about what it was going to say. To my surprise the introduction was practical, useful, and informative (which is very rare), not to mention the rest of the book was just exercises! What a breath of fresh air. I have told some people around me of your book and that I am learning how to "speed read". So many of them are so unbelieving that it works and I can really pick up that they've had bad experiences with other things. So then I started going through the book and I could see how these exercises, if practiced enough, could really start to reap benefits later on. Then tonight I thought to do a little more research and look at the other resources that were listed in the bibliography, but instead I came upon this website. I look through most of the videos and now I am fully convinced in the possibility of increasing my comprehension and reading speed. The FAQ section was extremely informative, experiential, directional, and encouraging. I will continue in the book everyday if possible and continue with the exercises in a regular way over the winter break. I can't really speak of any definite progress that I have made yet, (I need to take the beginning test and subsequent testings to see) but I am more than encouraged to hear your personal testimony of increasing your comprehension and reading speed through personal research and practice. I do feel that what you are doing is a noble thing (making your book free to the public, trying to help others read better, not selling gimmicky products). Don't feel that it is in vain. I will continue with your book and practicing methods and will let you know my improvement. I can't wait to start seeing results!

I will let others know of your book and site! Don't stop what you've begun!

Oh the irony...

Now on to my comment, I thin both Leo and you are talking different languages and about totally different things. It's true that reading faster can help you develop extra comprehension, it's also true that fast reading is a good skill to have.

On the other side, what Leo shares is also true, going slow is for an enjoyable experience. He has also gone into a different side of the productivity theory, where he focus on important tasks to get more time for what he loves. Which in turn means slowing down.

As you can see, those two topics are totally different. One talks about enjoyment another one about comprehension. Both are backed up by an interesting set of analysis and experience.

But I think both miss something very important (mostly by the response each one gave after the original post at mnmlist) You are not taking into account your own individuality, what Leo may define as enjoyable to another person may sound like crazy talk, the same goes for the thought about reading faster, to someone else may sounds just like the wrong way to go.

I think both of you just collided the wrong way about this one. And blown it to something without importance, the real point of the 3 posts is to do what feels right for each one of you. Each journey is different. Reading fast can be horrible or pure joy as reading slow may be both too.

Think of this situation like 2 great ideologies colliding, the point is not which one is best or right. The point is which one can help you as individual. I personally stick with Leo's idea, but Kathryn Fenner above seems to find your take (Kris) more valuable and helpful. Enjoy the diversity, it makes for a very interesting world.

I have to say a few words for Kathryn's husband as I myself am a computer science researcher and I read those papers in snail's speed (I guess I am even slower than him as I am not a native English speaker/reader). Reading scientific materials, esp. those relevant to your area/interests, is a very complex and time-consuming process: you need to do some of those calculations and deductions yourself, trace back other publication from the same authors or related work done by other research group, even invoke some discussion among your own group and/or the authors. Therefore, please endure our incredibly slow reading speed.

Last but not the least, Sue, please accept my deepest sympathy for your son and forward my best wishes to him.

Cheers for reading,
Hao