How to Read a Book Faster with Good Understanding

If you have been a reader for some time, you already have a pretty good idea of what you like to read. The first step to reading more is to stay motivated and hungry for books. There are tons of books out there! But only read good stuff!

Here are seven steps to reading a book quickly with a good understanding:

1. Read With Goals in Mind

Always keep the target in mind after selecting the book. Have a specific goal in mind. What do you want to learn by reading the material?

The more specific your goal is, the easier it will be to concentrate. It will keep your focus on track, and you will stay engaged and interested all through your reading.

Jot down some questions you want to be able to answer by the end. It will not only improve your focus but will also help you get through the material more quickly.

2. Preview or Scan the Book First

Preview a text before reading it. 

Read the title, table of contents, substance outline, preface, and end part of the book or novel to rapidly get a brief of what the book is all about. It will give you a brief understanding of what to expect in the article, book, or material.

Afterward, begin scanning through the chapters, headings, and subheadings.

While skimming, look for words that will give you an understanding of what the page is all about. 

3. Read for the Key Information

Books can be thorough and contain so many details for your consumption. Focus on what is most important to you in the book and highlight it with your highlighter pen or jot it down in your note. Read for the vital details first to sift through the mountain of information available.

Avoid reading every section or chapter of the book. It is an old-fashioned myth to read every chapter of a book. Skip the parts that do not add up to the main reason why you are reading the book. Selective reading makes you read faster and allows you to digest the main points.

This step applies to selected books, such as textbooks for school, scientific materials, etc. Novels, and empowerment books may require you to read all chapters or sections of the book.

4. Eliminate Distractions

Your reading area should be free from distractions. 

If you find yourself easily distracted when reading, figure out which distractions to eliminate. There will always be distractions out of your control, but focus on distractions that you can control.

You must also be comfortable; ensure you are not hungry and the reading place is not too hot or too cold. Turn off the television, music, internet, phone, or anything that has the potential to sidetrack your reading.

Do be careful of getting too cozy. Make sure you can stay awake and pay attention to your reading material.

If other people constantly interrupt you, you may want to try reading in a different location.

These are all distractions that you can control. And, if you can control them, you should eliminate them to achieve a higher level of focus while reading.

5. Read Silently

Reading a book silently improves your understanding as it helps you concentrate on your reading rather than the pronunciation of individual words. When you read silently, you can form mental pictures of the topic you are reading.

Also, you do not need to read one word at a time. When you read silently, you are helping yourself develop the strategies you need for reading fast and with better comprehension. It will help you read any book or text with maximum attention to meaning.

To develop this habit, read words or anything without pronouncing it loudly or even mimicking it, only to absorb the words or sentences you are reading.

6. Take Short Breaks

Break time is a vital component of any crucial learning session. If you feel the information is overwhelming or you are unable to digest the content anymore, it is always better to take a short break and come back fully refreshed.

According to recent research, taking short breaks early and often can help you learn things better and even improve your retention rate.

Take a break every 30 minutes. Research shows that the human brain can only focus on one task for a short time. Give yourself a break from reading and try to read every day.

7. Write a Summary 

After you have finished reading, summarize what you have read. Answer any questions you had before you started reading. Did you learn what you were hoping to learn?

By spending a few minutes after reading to think, synthesize the information, and write what you learned, you’ll solidify the material in your mind and have better recall later.