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A few years ago I learned to speed read, but in recent years I'm using it less and less. Maybe because it didn't bring me what it promised: same or even better comprehension and speed.

Did you get the comprehension and are you still using speedreading as your main manner to read? How did you motivate yourself to stay with speed reading?

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I subscribe to the simple idea that the more you read, the better you'll get at it.. at least until you hit 70 or so. – Adel Sep 18 '11 at 2:29
Could you adjust your reading speed depending on what you are reading? For reading detailed text like some specifications, I would imagine that the "slow and capture everything" reading mode kicks in. For the latest novel by your favourite author, the "fast and understand the plot" reading mode kicks in. – tehnyit Sep 22 '11 at 12:49
@tehnyit yes, when reading complex subject you'll probably read a bit slower than when you read easy subjects. – Roel Nov 15 '11 at 14:08

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I learned to speed read, last years I'm using it less and less

Learning something and don't using it regularly, that can be worst thing for your productivity. If you learn something new, you should never stop doing excercise with it. That's the best way not forgeting that something you learn.

In my opinion, you don't need read very fast. I think nobody does. If you not satisfied your reading speed, so let it slower. There is no reason to read faster if you don't get better comprehension or another something. It only gets more time but why should I need more time If I don't understand what I'm reading.

200 - 250 words per minute is normal, relaxed reading speed. So make this speeding test.

Also read How can I improve reading speed and comprehension?

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I agree that it is useless to have skill you don't practice. When reading a good story I would most certainly read 'normal'/phonetic. In some cases, where I have to read loads of texts in a few days, speed reading could be a solution. Somehow, most speed readers say they stopped after a few months. My conclusion is that there is 'something' wrong with the value proposition of speed reading. – Roel Sep 12 '11 at 18:00

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