Let ’ s address the question of whether speed reading is even a desirable goal . I am an avid fiction reader. Consciously or unconsciously, readers of fiction appreciate the beauty in good writing. Occasionally I will read a passage or sentence over to be impressed by the opening sentences of Ernest Hemingway ’ s The Old Man and the Sea , the Dark , and Herman . If I was a determined speed reader, I would never have the time to appreciate these beautiful passages . And I ’ d never have the time to savor the development of a character like Rhett Butler, the Great Gatsby or Captain Ahab. Good writers must be read carefully and thoughtfully to be fully appreciated. To carry the question of the need for rapid reading a bit further, let ’ s consider the technical or educational material most of us must read for our jobs. If you work in a technical field - and most business and professional people do - you ’ d better read slowly and carefully. Almost all businesses today are subject to federal regulations to some degree. If you must read the Federal Register , the Code of Federal Regulations , the OSHA Handbook or other technical materials related directly to your job, I ’ d urge you to take your time. A misreading could be costly or damaging to your firm. On the other hand, newspapers, news magazines and other publications should be read with some degree of speed. Here ’ s where a general knowledge of speed reading techniques might be useful. Especially since that is the most common type of reading we do. Anyone can improve their reading efficiently. To do so, you must learn some basic techniques and then consciously apply them. Perhaps an expensive course would help you, but an inexpensive paperback and concentrated practice might provide as much long-term benefit. In any case, you lose nothing by trying the self-help approach.