How to Read Less More, and Twice as Fast

 Greg Koukl

      If you're like me, you really want to read more effectively, but you don't know how and can't find the time.  Solomon wrote, "The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body."*  I agree.  The stacks of unopened volumes in my own library weary me just looking at them. 

      I have a plan to change that.  I want to show you how you can read less, more.  It's based on one simple idea:  It's better to thoroughly read one or two good books than "finish" ten or twenty by reading them cover to cover and then moving on.

      Here’s the plan.

• Get a sense of the book in 5-10 minutes.
• Read jacket copy, contents, skim preface & introduction, read conclusion (last 3 pages)and skim the index.  Note publisher and date of publication. 
• Quickly page through the entire book at the rate of 2-3 seconds per page. 
• Determine if you want to read the book more thoroughly, give it away, or file it for future reference.

Preview

• Skim entire book at a slower rate (4-10 seconds per page), breaking the book in as you go. 
• Look for structure, outline, key facts and concepts.
• Write a quick summary for the book in pencil on title page. 

Read

• Preview each chapter again before you read it to get the structure (4-10 seconds per page).
• Read every word at fastest comfortable speed using a pointer so you won't wander, hesitate, regress, or lose your place.  Mark the margin, but don't underline the text.
• Write a 1-4 sentence summary in pencil at the beginning of the chapter.
• Sketch a quick outline or recall pattern.

Postview Immediately

• Re-read the chapter quickly, focusing on marked sections, interacting with the text. 
• Refine your 1-4 sentence summary at the beginning of the chapter.
• Review at regular intervals, looking over recall patterns and summary material.

      Think for a moment what six books you would like to have mastered a year from now.  You can do it.  Choose your titles carefully, then apply the plan.  This may be one of the most rewarding habits you'll ever develop.  I hope you start today