BEING A SPEED READER IS SOMETHING I never had an interest in doing. Even though I am constantly reading, as far as reading speed is concerned, I’m a plodder. You might say that I read books like I eat mashed potatoes: slowly, savoring every spoonful. Speed reading, from what I can tell, has certain pros and cons and, perhaps, relates to the very purpose for reading. Are you reading so that you can say that you read the book, or to learn something, or for enjoyment? Speed reading will save you time, but you will sacrifice accuracy and comprehension. For some people, reading may be difficult, but speed reading is exhausting. I always have a pen at hand while I’m reading and, when I encounter a passage that I find particularly intriguing or important, I mark it. Then, on the last, blank page of the book, I note any pages where I’ve marked passages. I often return to a book months or years later just to read over those noted places. In short, a good book ought to be savored, and you can’t do that at a quick pace. So I find Woody Allen’s take on it compelling: “I took a speed reading course and read ‘War and Peace’ in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.”

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