Abandoned Forum

[Mysti]

For skimming or reading, the following steps are a good way to begin giving a book the once-over.

1. Look at the title page and preface and note especially the sub-titles or other indications of the scope and aim of the book or the author's special angle.
2. Study the table of contents to get a general sense of the book's structure; use it as you would a road map before taking a trip.
3. Check the index for the range of subjects covered or the kinds of authors quoted. When you see terms listed that seem crucial, look up the passage. You may find the key to the author's approach.

Now you are ready to read the book or skim through it, as you choose. If you vote to skim it, look at the chapters which contain pivotal passages or summary statements in their opening or closing pages. Then dip into a page here and there, reading a paragraph or two, sometimes several pages in a sequence. Thumb through the book in this way, always looking for the basic pulse beat of the matter.

One word of warning: If you use this approach and start to skim through a book, you may end up discovering that you aren't skimming it at all. You are reading it, understanding it and enjoying it. When you put the book down, it will be with the realization that the subject wasn't such a tough one after all.

[nil]

Here's the tips from a person who actually paid $90 for one of the speed reading course:

1) Read the keywords, skip the "he/she/it/a/an/the etc"
2) Read a sentence at a time instead of a word at a time.
3) Read with your finger, don't read the words in your mind.

and the last and most important:
The trick for great skimming is: Ask what you want to read from the book, don't ask what the book is going to read to you!

[Bomadeno]

Even better, ask someone who has read the book what you want to know about the book

[nil]

Yes, indeed that's the better idea...