Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/141380
Manliness The Art of By Brett & Kate McKay, courtesy of www.artofmanliess.com How to Speed Read Like Theodore Roosevelt W JOBS for TEAMS hen Theodore Roosevelt did things, he did them with gusto.That included reading. Roosevelt was a voracious reader.The man devoured books like a damn hungry lion feasting on a fresh kill.While in the White House, he would read a book every day before breakfast. If he didn't have any official business in the evening, he would read two or three more books plus any magazines and newspapers that caught his fancy. By his own estimates,TR read tens of thousands of books during his lifetime, including hundreds in foreign languages. Roosevelt accomplished this feat because he knew how to speed read.Associates said he would would flip through two or three pages in a minute. Despite reading so quickly, Roosevelt could relate back in minute detail all of a book's important points and even recite quotes from the text. Being able to plow through so many books so quickly benefited TR's leadership and influence. He easily connected with others as he could hold a conversation with anyone on any subject imaginable. Scientists were blown away with Roosevelt's knowledge of complex theories, socialites were smitten with his witty insights about the latest piece by Oscar Wilde, and cowboys out West respected the "Eastern Dude's" understanding of desert wildlife.TR's life as a bionic book worm also provided plenty of grist for the 2,000 published works he turned out himself. In this post we provide some suggestions and tips so you can start speeding reading just like Theodore Roosevelt.Are you ready to start devouring books with your brain? Let's get started! | 16 JobsForTeams0613_manliness.indd 1 How to Speed Read Stop subvocalizing by counting.When we learned to read, we usually read aloud and pronounced every single word that we saw in a line.This slows reading down considerably because you can only read as fast as you can talk.While you may long ago have graduated from Hooked on Phonics and transitioned to reading silently, you probably still subvocalize. Subvocalization is when you pronounce words with the voice in your head or larynx.You might even open your mouth silently as you read, sort of like a guppy (I do this sometimes and my wife makes fun of me for it). Quitting the subvocalization habit can be hard. First try simply reading faster than your mouth can move or the voice in your head can speak. If that doesn't work, try this technique: Repeatedly say "A-E-I-O-U" or count "1, 2, 3, 4 as you read the text.This will help train you to stop reading with your larynx and guppy lips and start reading with your eyes.This little trick can increase your speed in a matter of minutes. Stop backtracking by using your finger. Backtracking slows many readers down. After reading a word, a person will read two or three more words, but then dart their eyes back to the first word.You probably do this without even realizing it.Watch someone read.You'll see their eyes darting back and forth. Chances are they're re-reading the same line over again. To help you stop backtracking, use your index finger as a pace car. Underline the text with your finger at a pace faster than you normally read. Only look at the text in front of your finger; once you pass it with your finger, you can't go back. Use your peripheral vision.Your brain www.jobsforteams.com 6/5/13 3:21 PM