How to Absorb Books 3x Faster in 7 Days (from a Med Student), by Dr Salim Ahmed on YouTube. 5 min 32 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 32 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes a day for 7 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose one non-fiction book and block out 20 minutes a day for the next seven days. Use the same time slot each day so the habit sticks.
Preview the chapter first. Read the title, subheadings, first and last paragraphs and any summary box. This gives your brain a map before you start.
Read with a pointer, such as your finger or a pen, moving it slightly faster than feels comfortable. Your eyes follow it and stop drifting backwards.
Quiet the inner voice by humming or counting 1, 2, 3 as you read. Subvocalising caps your speed at roughly speaking pace.
Work in short blocks: 15 to 20 minutes of focus, then a 2 to 3 minute break. Faster reading uses more concentration, so rest sooner.
After each section, close the book and write three to five bullet points from memory without looking back. This recall is what makes the material stick.
Read your notes the next day before continuing, then again at the end of the week. Spaced review moves the ideas into long-term memory.
Measure your pace on day one and day seven. Count the words on a page, time one minute of reading, then multiply to get your words per minute.
Tips and common mistakes
If you cannot explain a section out loud in your own words, drop back to normal speed and reread it.
Speed reading works best on argument-driven non-fiction, not on dense formulas, code or legal text.
Turn off notifications before you start, because every interruption costs you the thread of the argument.
Use large, clear text, either a big-font ebook or good lighting, since small print slows your eyes down.
Questions
How much faster will I read after one week?
It varies from person to person. Most people notice a clear gain in pace and focus within a week, but the bigger improvement comes from keeping the routine going for several weeks.
Does reading faster ruin comprehension?
Only if you skim everything. Slow down or reread whenever a passage is unfamiliar or technical, and keep the recall notes as your check that you understood it.
Do I need an app or a course to do this?
No. A book, a timer and a notebook are enough. Apps can track your pace, but the daily habit is what does the work.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
