Customer Reviews

Rapid Reading Made E-Z

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Technically, this book and "PhotoReading" are the same book. However, this book is formatted in the style made popular by the "For Dummies" series. Combined with the dimensions of the book, this makes it much easier to follow. This version also has more details on syntopic reading.

This book isn't really about reading, or speed-reading. PhotoReading is vastly different, as it involves seeing the words with the peripheral vision and understanding their meaning on a preconscious level. Many have argued this makes "PhotoFocus" a useless activity which Paul Scheele uses to sell traditional speed-reading activities as previewing and skimming. However, events such as lucid dreaming, spontaneous activation, and increased intuitive capabilities prove that there is something going on at an other-than-conscious level.

Win Wenger, one of the most authoritative people in accelerated learning, sent out an e mail to his list recommending Paul Scheele's work. I know that there are tons of negative comments on the net regarding him and his Photo Reading and other programs.

However, since I respect Win and his work I got this book many years ago.

If you follow what the book teaches you will probably improve your reading speed and recall of the subject matter.

You can get a used copy for pretty cheap and check it out for yourself.

My philosophy with books is that even if I pick up only one new thing it is worth the effort and money.

Since I love to read and have so many books on my "to read" list, I am always on the alert for any method that will help me read faster while maintaining my comprehension and still enjoying the beauty of a "well-turned phrase". Naturally, when I saw RAPID READING in the library, I took a few minutes to investigate. The claims of "reading" 25,000 words/minute and comprehending 3/4ths of it sounds incredible...and ludicrous. IF that were possible, I don't believe it can be taught. If someone is able to look at each page in the "photo-focus state" and retain 75% of it I think they're born with that gift (lucky them!). However, since I had been attracted to the book, I spent some time skimming the whole thing. When I had reached the end I concluded that I had actually employed some of the steps author Paul Scheele suggests; I was relaxed, interested, was looking for key words, and skimmed each page. I don't know how many words are in RAPID READING, but after skimming the book from cover to cover and taking approximately 25 minutes to do so, I believe I wasted my time. I really didn't learn anything new, especially how to "photo-focus". Actually, if you know how to skim, you know how to "rapid read". Save your money and skim the book in the library. 75% comprehension at 25,000 words per minute, you can't go wrong.

Rapid Reading Made EZ is about the Photo Reading System. The system goes through five steps: Prepare to read by going into a relax state- Previewing and surveying what to read - Photoreading means going into a relax step and after visualization taking in a whole page at a time then waiting about 20 minutes to overnight before activating - Activate means to ask questions and find the purpose for reading the material - Rapid Reading is reading at a fast pace; speed depending on the amount of detail needed. The book uses Neuro-linguistic programming popularized by Anthony Robbins to read books and improve comprehension in a relaxed state.The time need to follow the steps takes as much time if not longer to get through the material compared to the traditional way of reading. The book seems to focus more on improving comprehension rather than speed. The author referenced many books that deals with alternative learning techniques as listed in the book's Bibliography. The book does it's best to promote and sell the system by advising the reader that when working in a group, to buy each member a copy of the book to get them on the program. The problem I have with this book and may other speed reading books is the defining and redefining of speed reading as PhotoReading or Rapid Reading etc is that it's mostly all the same system. Prereading and asking questions, previewing to understanding the structure of the book, reading the first sentence and the summary then reading at a fast pace finally finishing with a review by rereading the difficult sections for clearer understanding. My definition of speed reading is taking any book to read and reading it at a fast pace and comprehending 60% or more of information read. The way these speed read systems are set up; you are reading the material at least 3 times and the review is just saving all your rereading you would do until the end. This book is no good for speed reading and should be used as a companion book for another speed reading book. The idea of relaxation while studying is sound advice. That's all this book is bring to the table. Photoreading is not photographic reading and you are not going to read 100,000 to 1,000,000 words per minute as indicated on page 124.

This author doesn't exactly have a good reputation for delivering on his promises. read the other reviews for his products, (specifically PhotoReading) before you decide to get this.

i have not purchased this product but i have purchased natural brilliance and photoreading. both of which were a huge dissapointment. you've been warned.

This book is real good. It's about how to read a book, with more comprehension, and less time.

How is this possible? The system works with different ways to take up information. Normally you read in one way, but this system gives your total brain the chance to help you with understanding the book.

I read a lot of speed/rapid/smart reading books, but this one is the top!

Don't focus to much on the photoreading step, yes it is important, but to much people think they only have to do the photoreading step. No, use the whole system! Then you will notice the good results.

(Rapid reading made E-Z is the same book as Photoreading) There is a course about Photoreading, but I used 'only' the book, and have good results!

So: get this book!