The reason to find shortcuts is that there is a vast amount of information out there and limited amounts of time you can devote to learn it. I am not trying to

The reason to find shortcuts is that there is a vast amount of information out there and limited amounts of time you can devote to learn it. I am not trying to do it less carefully, I would like to do it more efficiently. To put in perspective: I know people (mostly English PhD students) who read 2x or maybe even 4x as fast as I do AND retain and understand what they read better than me. Of course, this doesn't apply to them trying to read SICP, but it does when reading Virginia Woolf. Specialization and practice have something to do with it; but, the point remains that there is something to be gained by making the process of information intake as efficient as it can be.