4 ms·

I can't control the speed that I read. In fact, I noticed that whenever a book becomes most exciting, I start reading especially fast (to the point of skipping

I can't control the speed that I read. In fact, I noticed that whenever a book becomes most exciting, I start reading especially fast (to the point of skipping words), because I want to know what happens next. So I spend the least time with the best parts of the best books. Ever since I realized that, I have switched pretty much exclusively to audiobooks. I don't really know if it's faster or slower overall, but it's a predetermined pace, and that works better for me.

chihuahua 10mo ago
Audiobooks are great, while driving or walking or riding a bike. But for complex topics, I miss the ability to read a sentence or a paragraph again.
- Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
  This is definitely a disadvantage of audiobooks, although I’ve found having access to a `skip backwards 15 seconds` button can help a lot. (There was one point during Riyria Revelations where a character was explaining how Elven succession works. After repeating the sequence a bunch of times, I finally had to get out my laptop and take notes.)
__MatrixMan__ 10mo ago
I feel the same way. It goes away if I already know what's going to happen. For this reason I strongly recommend reading the things you love a second time.
underdeserver 10mo ago
Have you made a serious effort to try lately? I think it should be possible for everyone.
- Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
  Yes.
hx8 10mo ago
> I can't control the speed that I read. For me, moving my lips while reading is a surefire way to significantly slow down the pace. I do this all the time when giving a document a final proofread before publishing.
- fluoridation 10mo ago
  I do something similar, only keeping my lips shut and moving my tongue and throat as if I was speaking. I find it's an intermediate speed between conversation speed and purely reading with my eyes. I started doing it when I wasn't so good at English to give myself time to understand the text, as well as to practice the mechanics of English speech when I didn't have anyone, but I find keeping me at this pace gives me maximum comprehension. I have a friend who reads much faster than me and he quite often misses points in whatever he's reading. I think he got into that habit from literature, but it's disastrous when reading something more densely packed with information, like technical documentation.
- Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
  Oh, I forgot to mention—reading out loud (silently or not) does work, but then I find it difficult to actually pay attention to what I’m reading. Like you, I do proofread this way, and for that it works well.

chihuahua 10mo ago

Audiobooks are great, while driving or walking or riding a bike. But for complex topics, I miss the ability to read a sentence or a paragraph again.

Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
This is definitely a disadvantage of audiobooks, although I’ve found having access to a `skip backwards 15 seconds` button can help a lot. (There was one point during Riyria Revelations where a character was explaining how Elven succession works. After repeating the sequence a bunch of times, I finally had to get out my laptop and take notes.)

__MatrixMan__ 10mo ago

I feel the same way. It goes away if I already know what's going to happen. For this reason I strongly recommend reading the things you love a second time.

underdeserver 10mo ago

Have you made a serious effort to try lately? I think it should be possible for everyone.

Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
Yes.

hx8 10mo ago

> I can't control the speed that I read. For me, moving my lips while reading is a surefire way to significantly slow down the pace. I do this all the time when giving a document a final proofread before publishing.

fluoridation 10mo ago
I do something similar, only keeping my lips shut and moving my tongue and throat as if I was speaking. I find it's an intermediate speed between conversation speed and purely reading with my eyes. I started doing it when I wasn't so good at English to give myself time to understand the text, as well as to practice the mechanics of English speech when I didn't have anyone, but I find keeping me at this pace gives me maximum comprehension. I have a friend who reads much faster than me and he quite often misses points in whatever he's reading. I think he got into that habit from literature, but it's disastrous when reading something more densely packed with information, like technical documentation.
Wowfunhappy 10mo ago
Oh, I forgot to mention—reading out loud (silently or not) does work, but then I find it difficult to actually pay attention to what I’m reading. Like you, I do proofread this way, and for that it works well.