Conference quokka::psychology

    I have one of those speed-reading courses in my home. I will find out
    the name of the guy who does it. It really is extremely effective.
    I would have to say 3 people in my household have used it.
    

    
    
    Thanx
    
    Ernie
    
    

    I THINK THE NAME OF THOSE SPEED-READING COURSES ARE BY A GUY NAMED 
    KEVIN TRIBEAU(SP?)THEY ARE SOLD ON A INFOMMERCIAL LATE AT NIGHT. I WILL
    TRY TO FIND THE # FOR YOU IF YOU ARE INTRESTED.

    
     Hi,
    
    	Can't help you with the specifics of the 'at home' course, but
    years ago I took the "Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics" course, with,
    from my opinion, very mixed results.   I loved to read and looked 
    forward to reading huge amounts of great stuff!
    
    	On the 'positive' side, I was 'tested' before and after for an
    increase in reading speed (with increase in comprehension score) 
    by a factor of more than ten. Something on the order of: 
    before = 600 words/per/minute;  after = 10,000 words/per/minute.    
    They insisted I could have finished with about a 20,000 words-per-minute 
    score if I had put in more time practicing during the weeks of the course.
    
    	However, a side effect developed, which was that I stopped reading
    for pleasure after I took the class!
    
    	That is, reading a such a fast rate I lost so much enjoyment 
    that I stopped reading for pleasure.  
    
    	I could, and did, read things like newspapers very fast, and would
    suggest that for one who HAS TO "review" huge amounts of written
    information that it would be useful.  But, as one who one enjoyed the
    word-craft and artistry of good writing, this "speed reading" pretty
    much eliminated that.   And certainly for things like mathematics and
    physics and chemistry it was of no real help.
    
    	So, as a "tool" to "get a job done" fine -- but as a "something to get
    more enjoyment by doing more reading" - no.
    
    	As usual, "your results may vary" and if one is reading at only 100
    words/per/minute or something such a course may be necessary to help
    one read what is required for school, job, etc.
    
    	A note: much of the course was really on learing to RECALL,
    as much as on READING.    That is, you cram the stuff in really fast, 
    but then you have to train your brain to recall it.  And, in my
    experience, "recall" does not equal "understanding", which takes some 
    thinking time!
    
    But... I can read 'notes' real fast!   As long as they're not too
    humorous!   :-)
    
    Dennis
    

    Thanks for all of the replies and info entered here.  I ended up
    ordering the mega-speed reading home study course and have been real
    pleased with it.  I'm nowhere near 20,000 words like one of the
    previous entries, but I have about tripled ( roughl 1500 wpm).  This is
    in a 5  hour period, not a long extended course.   It has some
    exercises to help you keep improving which I was doing pretty regularly
    until I had to go off to active duty for a couple of weeks.  I haven't
    gotten the routine back, but I am still reading fast yet still enjoying
    it.
    
    
    Ernie