Product Description
Building on the five previous titles in the Smart series with sales totaling over 300,000 copies--is an easy-to-use guide to help readers improve speed and comprehension. Designed for students and adults, this book is written in Princeton's trademark style of candor and irreverent humor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Nearly Self-Defeating
"Reading Smart will help you get the most out of everything you read," or so the book, by Nicholas Reid Schaffzin, says on the back cover.Reading Smart; Advanced Techniques for Improved Reading sounds like a good resource for the average reader wanting to read better. However, on closer inspection, "advanced techniques" could really be reworded, "average techniques-and a lot of them."Reading Smart would be more useful were it concise, less repetitive, and consisted mainly of exercises.

First of all, if the book were more concise, it would be easier to read.Each chapter is written in an informal voice, as if a friend is talking and explaining everything.Because of this informal style, things get too wordy.Too many adjectives and flowery words are used to try and make a point, add humor, or explain; and in the end it detracts from the purpose of the book. The reader is given references to movies and actors all throughout the pages.This could be useful in further explaining a topic, but generally the references are for humor only, and break off the thought of the paragraph.Besides, the actors and movies are not current, and do more to distract than to elaborate. When Schaffzin expounds on a concept, corny analogies are used.The most glaringly distasteful comparison is the brain being portrayed as a large storage area where elves work.The book explains that if the reader does not understand a new concept he is learning, that giving it some time and some sleep will do the trick.The elves supposedly sort through the information you are receiving, and once they get everything in the right piles, you will understand the concept.The book never explains the real scientific processes of the brain, or expands on this analogy. If Reading Smart were written in a more formal, direct manner, with less flowery explanations and more instruction, it would be easier to follow, not to mention that it would take less time to read.Ridding the book of irrelevant references to actors and movies would add to a clearer understanding of the topics.Instead of silly analogies, a straight and logically fashioned set of rules for reading more quickly and efficiently would better answer the needs of the reader.

Secondly, if the book were less repetitive, it would save the reader time and effort.There are nine chapters of material in the book, not including the introductory chapter and exercises.Every chapter could be feasibly written in one paragraph or list of helpful rules.However, each chapter seems to bring in ideas from the last.They are not hard concepts to understand, and do not need to be repeated over and over. There are only a few concrete points that the book includes, everything else is just a re-stating of those points.In order to learn how to read smarter, the instructions you follow should be concise and brief, allowing you to process the information and test your new techniques for reading as soon as possible.With Reading Smart, the reader has to drag through chapters full of a rehashing of the chapter before it, taking a great effort to pinpoint the main facts and disregard the excess.

Lastly, Reading Smart would be more useful if it had only one chapter about how to read, and was otherwise filled with exercises.The exercises in the back of the book work on reading faster and reading comprehension; the goals the reader has in mind when purchasing this book. As with anything, learning to read well takes practice.The exercises in the book are its best feature. There are tests throughout the book to gauge what progress is being made.They are very useful for seeing if the book is helping the reader to improve, or not.Other exercises show how fast a person reads.With one, clear, concise section on how to read and plenty of exercises, the reader would be well on their way to reading success, without having to struggle though a wordy and incoherent book on how to read.

In conclusion, Reading Smart has wonderful exercises for evaluation reading level, progress, and for practice in reading better.The book also has great rules for how to read faster, more efficiently and with greater comprehension.However, it repeats these rules over nine "chatty" chapters, leaving the reader drained from too much information.Should Shaffzin republish the book with a single, concise section on the main rules of good reading and include many effective exercises, the result would be a much more useful resource for average readers wanting to get ahead in their reading.

A Must Read
This book is written so well. It explains the poor book reading habits we all have like sub vocalization, and eye tracking.The ideal way to learn to read is explained in a simple and fun way. If a child could get their hands on this early enough... wow. The author has a great sense of humor. Most of his advice and tips are simple to understand and put into practice with only a little effort. I've read two other reading books and this was my favorite. I've already given one as a gift and wouldn't think twice recommending it to an avid reader.

For the Dedicated Reader
This book is for people who want to read quicker and at the same time retain more information. The book is somewhat meticulous, but I don't see how the tediousness could be lifted from it in any other way, so I guess the book performed to what was expected.

As the exercises goes, if you are very focused and intent at improving your reading, then this book will help you immensely, as it did for me. Now I can read much quicker and my eyes just fly through the page. But, a lot of the stuff that was recommended I already did subconciously, jumping from groups of words. But, this book helps you by giving you sound advice and exercises so that you can plot your improvement. I can now read normally at a pace of 270 wpm, and at a peak of nearly 300 wpm, and my wpm is still improving.

Here's my tip: Don't do all the exercises in one day. If you do, then your eyes will be tired and you won't have learned anything really permanently. If you do it over a span of, lets say 5 weeks, then the repetoire that the author suggests will be built into your head and this way, you can really put your skills you've learned to good use. I suggest using the skills they provide on the text of this book too.

Ok, but leaves some to be desired
Reading Smart is a book intended to help people develop their reading skills, including preparation, speed, and retention. While the book indeed was right that teachers tend to just teach us to read properly but not well creating a need for education directed at improving reading skills, I felt this book came up a little short in that area.

Reading smart does indeed have some good ideas, but it tends to state them at the beginning and then repeats them and rides them for the rest of the book.Ideas like marking up your book, prereading, think about why you are reading the selected text, what do you want to take away from it, etc.There is a speed reading chapter, however while I found the idea to be accuracte, I found the amount of text and practice to be inadequate.

The exercises were quite painful.... as in painfully boring.The text selected for the exercises was from areas that I was not in the least bit familar with (Art, Politics, etc) which I found caused my comprehension to be lower than normal.However it is still important to be able to read uninspiring material and be able to retain the material.However I really didn't want to practice that in succession with improving retention, speed, etc.

While I think this is a good book to read, I would have trouble saying that this is definitely a MUST read.It has some good tools but I would look for a book with a more complete set of areas and corresponding material.3 out of 5 stars.

Major on reading smart -minor on speed reading
I bought this book thinking it was a speed reading book. I quickly found that it describes the different styles of writing and how to dig the information I need out of a piece of writing. Some speed reading basics are covered. How to read newspapers, poems, short stories. How to question the source of the writing, what the author is trying to communicate. Is it an opinion or a fact? A must read for beginning students and those starting research. A great place to start for those going back to school like me. ... Read more

Product Description

This brief, thought-provoking collection evaluates historical perspectives in reading to show how current reading practices have developed over time and provides an understanding of the development of significant issues in the field of literacy education.

Richard Robinson carefully chose 46 selections with several aims in mind: to include the historical perspective so often neglected in other texts; to explain the evolution of reading practices and ideas across time as well as in terms of pedagogical development; and to illustrate the developing nature of literacy education.

Customer Reviews (1)

Readings in Reading Instruction: Its History, Theory, and Development
I was assigned to read this book for one of my education grad classes. There have been many books I've resold once the class was completed; this one, however, is a keeper! This was an amazing book. Anyone interested in education should find this a fascinating read. Those of us who believe students deserve better instruction will be amazed how many top-notch researchers came to similar conclusions 100 years earlier. Sometimes the accounts could be frustrating when reading how little has changed regardless of the quality research that has been in existence.When strong and blatantly obvious research supports that students perform better in student-centered classes rather than teacher-centered, lecture-based classes, why is it that so many schools (especially middle and secondary) still operated in the outdated model? I highly recommend this book to anyone who still has hope for improving the future of our children's education. ... Read more

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Complete Academic Improvement Tool - Empower your Education This set includes:ebooks:Speed Read in Only One Hour (min. 6th grade reading level) Be Dynamic Through Speed Reading (college prep. - grad. school) Audio programs include Power Programming with Visualization for: Speed Reading / Comprehension Educational Power Programming Lecture / 3-in-1 Memory, recall, concentration Accelerated Learning Skills / Develop Total Self-Confidence Intuitive Test-taking / Memory for Test-taking audio programs (mp3)Speed Read in Only One Hour (min. 6th grade reading level) Be Dynamic Through Speed Reading (college prep. - grad. school) Audio programs include Power Programming with Visualization for: Speed Reading / Comprehension Educational Power Programming Lecture / 3-in-1 Memory, recall, concentration Accelerated Learning Skills / Develop Total Self-Confidence Intuitive Test-taking / Memory for Test-taking ... Read more

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In today's busy and complex world, rapid and efficient reading is not only a useful skill, it is a must for everyone who wants to succeed. The big switch in business and industry has been from brawn jobs to brain jobs -- and it is the person who knows how to read swiftly and intelligently who will reap the profit of this new era.

Here are the secrets of a dynamic new reading technique that will enable you to read in half the time with better comprehension -- in only 10 days! In fact with just a few simple exercises your reading will improve 10% or more on the very first day! Spend just a few minutes a day with this book and you will not only double your reading speed but also your chances for success in any walk of life. ... Read more

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Uncover the secret to reading and learning at incredible speeds using this amazing speed reading course.You'll learn several high level techniques so you can read faster and remember what you read allowing you to have more time to do other things you like to do. ... Read more

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Researchers from a variety of disciplines have collected verbal protocols of reading as a window on conscious reading processes. Because such work has occurred in different disciplines, many who have conducted verbal protocol analyses have been unaware of the research of others. This volume brings together the existing literature from the various fields in which verbal protocols of reading have been generated. In so doing, the authors provide an organized catalog of all conscious verbal processes reported in studies to date -- the most complete analysis of conscious reading now available in the literature.

When the results of all of the studies are considered, there is clear support for a number of models of reading comprehension including reader response theories, schema perspectives, executive processing models, and bottom-up approaches such as the one proposed by van Dijk and Kintsch. The summary of results also demonstrates that none of the existing models goes far enough. Thus, a new framework -- constructively responsive reading -- is described. This new model encompasses reader response, schematic and executive processing, and induction from word- and phrase-level comprehension to higher-order meaning. The important concept in this new model is that readers respond to bits and pieces of text as they are encountered, all as part of the overarching goal of constructing meaning from text.

This volume also includes a critical review of the thinking aloud methodology as it has been used thus far. This examination suggests that it continues to be an immature methodology, and that much work is needed if a complete theory of conscious processing during reading is to be developed via verbal protocol analysis. Finally, after reviewing what has been accomplished to date, the authors provide extensive discussion of the work that remains to be done and the adequacy of the verbal protocol methodology for permitting telling conclusions about text processing.
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Customer Reviews (1)

A Must-Read for Protocol Researchers
Warning: This book is by and for academic researchers.It will probably not be very useful to people outside the academic community.That being said, however, this is a must-read for academics using protocol methods tostudy reading behaviors.

The book arose in response to readingresearchers' desire to know "just what claims about reading arejustified on the basis of existing protocols of reading" (ix). Chapter1 narrates the history of protocol analysis and traces the persistentmethodological debates that have accompanied and informed that history. Chapter 2 describes the methods by which their study, which could bedescribed as a meta-analysis of verbal protocol studies up to the year1992, was conducted.In Chapter 3, the authors use their meta-analysis toidentify three main categories of reading operations--constructing meaning,monitoring, and evaluating--each of which contains a long list of specificreading behaviors.In Chapter 4, the authors review the most prominentmodels of text processing in light of the results of their meta-analysis,showing that their meta-analysis extends and enriches the existing models. Then they pose a model of their own, based on their Chapter 3 summary. They call their model "constructively responsive" (an awkwardphrase) and argue that "excellent readers are activelyconstructive" as they interact with the text.Finally, they speculateabout the origins and development of these constructively responsivereading skills as related to reading pedagogy and current theories ofexpertise.In Chapter 5, they conclude by commenting at length on protocolmethods and methodology, making suggestions for the further development ofthis method.

Researchers in English studies may have difficulty withthe fact that this book is shamelessly cognitive and does not show muchinterest in or awareness of postmodern discourse theory. That's why I gaveit 4 stars instead of 5.But that criticism reflects my own disciplinarybias as a researcher in rhetoric, composition and literacy. Moreover, theauthors do cite important researchers in English studies (e.g. Flower,Geisler, Bazerman), and do call for more research from a socio-culturalperspective.

In short: Even if you are not in psychology and not acognitivist, you can't do a protocol study without citing this book. ... Read more

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The most complete Business and Corporate-oriented Speed Reading Program Class 1 - THE BASICS OF LEARNINGFirst you will test your own reading rate and evaluating your baseline reading speed. Then we will discuss how techniques drive the course to its success-oriented goals. We will make comparasions between the computer and it's function and how the brain functions to help you achieve your goals. There is a discussion of how Corporate and Personal Stresses affect your career and success in life and how to learn to reduce, manage, and eliminate, stress from your life. You will learn Physical Relaxation techniques of 1) Neck Rolls, 2) Shoulder Shrugs, 3) Tense and Release Exercises, 4) Exercises to Increase Mental Power, and more. We include a lecture of the effects of negative-oriented advertising and how todays negative news media can make it up as they go long; to influence your day and your reality. This knowledge might cause you a little stress, so we include more stress management including: 5) The Progressive Relaxation Method, 6) the 3-2-1 method, and 7) the Zipper Method for increasing your relaxation in seconds. Stress gone! You are now ready to learn effective and dynamic of key note-taking, and conceptual note-taking. We give you the basic elements of successful goal planning and a method called proactivators to help you make your goals reality. And that's enough for the first class. Class 2 - SPEED READING TECHNIQUESWe begin with a discussion of reading habits developed during early childhood education and other problems that developed reading speed limitations. Then, immediately, we begin breaking slow habits with instruction in pacing techniques using your index finger and practicing pacing. We teach acceleration exercises and have a reading test on an interesting 4 part article you will read about youthful attitudes. We take a break from the intensive speed reading program and focus on problem solving, visualization for problem solving and how to analyze problems and use methods to find solutions to them. Back to school with how to read and study technical materials and improve comprehension. Then we switch to another speed reading technique, a variation on pacing, to accelerate speed even more. A continuation of the article about youthful attitudes and another speed reading test. And a comprehension test as well, as we move forward towards a new speed reading technique for reading narrow columns (newspapers and financial/stock reports) called Vertical Tracking. We complete the day with helpful speed reading hints, two more articles and tests and relaxation for the final day with more speed reading methods ahead for greater success. DAY 3 - MORE SPEED READING TECHNIQUES & MORE SUCCESS WITH YOUR MENTAL POWERDay three includes our more advanced speed reading methods. More methods than any other speed reading course taught in the U.S. We use the Z - Movement for short paragraphs and practice it on an article about brilliant scientist, Albert Einstein.Two more specialized speed reading techniques are included ... the Looping/Infinity Techique this technique is great with small with columns that have information of limited value to catch the key words, and the I-Bar Movement method which excels with stock reports, sports scores, and narrow column material that has extensive data to be retained.From an ancient Hindu technique we drew the most powerful of the Mudra methods. This one is famous for intensification of knowledge, memory and recall. Using this method has provided students with excellent memory for tests, and professionals have instantaneous memory for public speaking, and recall during corporate meetings.There is short lecture on insight/intuiti ... Read more

Product Description
If you’re looking for an in depth explanation of the history of speed reading and a million ways to read faster then you’ve come to the wrong place. This report is here to only give you the meat and potatoes you need to learn how to read faster and understand more while allowing you to get your life back.

I cover the tips and tricks I have used personally to double my speed reading within 30 minutes of reading this same information. That is my goal for you as well. And now, on with the show ... Read more

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DEADLINES LOOMING? Want to TRIPLE your reading speed?

Finally, a simple and effective solution; now you can harness the power of your computer to train in speed reading.

* Improve speed AND understanding

* Focus, concentrate and remember more of what you read

* Study more effectively - Special STUDY section

FREE access to over 1,000 pages of support material at the readpal.com website. ... Read more

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Double or Triple Your Reading Speed
In Just 11 Minutes - 100% Guaranteed

This system has several fantastic advantages!

Your study time will be slashed to less than 50% of what it used to be. That means more free time, and still you can get straight "A"s.

You'll spend less time going through reports and books, a mandatory activity in your career. Use your 'extra' time to be more productive. Work smart with speed reading. Be productive and effecient.

Increase your competence because you'll have a greater understanding of what you've read.

Your confidence will build and build and build.

If you like to read, anything for that matter, you'll love your new found reading speed because that means you can read more books in a lot less time.

The truth is that "readers are leaders" new opportunities begin with reading! ... Read more

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Here is a book that will teach you the basic knowledge necessary to quickly and easily learn the techniques of speed reading.An easy to follow and well written speed reading program that can teach anyone how to read faster.Absolutely everything you need is included in this complete speed reading course; no gimmicks, no home study guides to buy, no self help tapes to order.The problem with most speed reading books and home study courses is they are filled with unrealistic promises and difficult assignments. They lack step by step basic speed reading techniques and clear easy to grasp instructions for the beginner.You will be reading faster after finishing the first chapter in this book, and with a little practice can double or triple your reading speed within the first week. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book, but more used than advertised
This is an older book that is used to help people increase their reading speed - includes excellent exercises and advice.Only problem was that the vendor stated that there were no marks inside the book, when indeed several of the exercises had the correct answers circled or underlined - in ink.There were enough clean exercises that I kept the book, but the fact that the vendor had gone to the trouble of stating there were no marks in the book and then there werewas disappointing. ... Read more

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A guide to tripling one's reading speed features eye exercises to control and expand vision, drills for practicing pacing and block reading, and strategies for mastering the ""two-stop"" reading method. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Excellent book!
I've tried the hand-scanning methods, and I really don't like them. This method is more of a 'leap-of-faith.' You have to practice the exercises faithfully. The weird thing is that I didn't notice my reading speed had changed significantly at first. It's a little slower than using the hand-scanning method at first, but offers more long-range benefits. For example, not only can I read faster, but I can do things like scan a store shelf faster and I notice more details in my peripheral vision. This is my favorite book on speed reading - and now my only one. I keep it now to revisit the practice exercises from time to time. Definitely worth it for the "big picture" results.

A crash course in speed reading
Overall this book helped me. I picked up the main idea the author was trying to convey early on, and I was able to finish this 200 page book in under an hour. The main idea that this book tries to teach the reader is that one can increase their reading speed by controlling their eye movements. That is, to gather information faster physically without doing as much eye work. The author uses the analogy of the eyes being like a "camera". Almost the entire book is about this concept. There are many drills to help one better their eye movement. The author also gave some other tips, such as "previewing" each chapter before you read it. There were two things that I did not like about the book. The author has the reader take several tests to measure current reading speed. I guess it is necessary, but I did not enjoy this part of this book since it was tedious and time consuming. Also the drills are a bit excessive for my taste. But I am a person that really dislikes self-tests and over-practicing. Overall I thought this book was pretty good and simple to understand. I have never explored the topic of speed reading before until I saw this book, so I have nothing to compare it to. I did, however pay less than $15 dollars to tripple my reading speed, and I think that was a very sound investment.

Unce, Tice, Fee Times the reading speed.
I finds that speed reading is more about them numbers than the words. There are lotsa them claiming to make reading speedier in different kindsa ways. Some says to helps you read quicker in 7 days,or 6-steps, or 10 minute. I says that's confusing to me. Some books say they will hep you read faster, but since there aint no miles per hour for reading its hard to finds a way to decide on. I almosed got a book on readin twice as fast, then i studied up on the innernet a bit and I finds this one. Why would you buys a book on reading 2 times as faster when theres a 3 time as faster book? I will say this is a perty book to look at. Got a real nice feeling cover with a good smell to it. It's got lots of big words. I likes to sit around and sound them out on the Lord's day. From reading it I bet that that Wade Cutler is a real nice guy because he made book to hep the people. I say I never been much on learnin and fancy talk but I reckon it aint Christian of me not to pass the good word on bout this here book. Got me reading bout 7 or more pages per an hour and I used to read only 2 so I figure that now i'm reading aproxmitly much faster than before.

Top Notch Speed Reading Method
I have taken several speed reading courses with a variety of styles, or methods.This method identifies common slow-reading problems and presents easily applied techniques to overcome them.I did triple my reading speedin just 3 weeks and can now see the possiblity of doing that again andagain.If you are interested in increasing your speed and are willing tospend a few minutes a day working at it, the information in this book willpay dividends you never thought possible.I strongly recommend it.

Just mechanical pratice without detailed instructions
It may be especially useful to fix the eyes to the center of column while you read a book in a bus or train rather than hand-moving style speed reading.However, this book doesn't guide detailed instructions for betterunderstanding. Just checking stopwatch while reading lots of practiceportion repeatedly, and most of them are novels. Speed reading for fiction?That's stupid! ... Read more