Tip: Speed read

To read really fast can help you learn faster. Speed reading is really a matter of connecting your eyes to your brain directly without taking the detour of vocalizing.
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Reading aloud

Chris Mann explains in a short instruction video how the eyes takes in the word, then your larynx forms the sounds which then, in turn is translated by the brain into a picture. This takes time.

What you can do to improve, is this - read a text while saying 1-2-3, repeatedly. You will not understand the text but you will start to train your mind to ignore the larynx and eventually your reading speeds will go up to at least the double.

Take short-cuts

When reading for pleasure you might be after the author's expert use of phrases and exquisite choice of words, work can be another thing. In a work situation you might be looking for a specific answer, a solution, for this type of reading there are more productive ways of treating the text.

I suggest that you first read the first sentences of the chapter, if you understand the message or it is something you already know - skip to the next chapter.

If the first paragraph is not enough to understand the message, read the last couple of sentences and see if you get the message, if not go through the chapter looking for sub-headings and bullet points and see if it's enough. If not, there is no other solution than going back and read it all - it is possible but unusual.

Make mental models

JD at Sources of Insight suggest that you make mental models. That you skim the text from end to end to get familiar with the material.

Other authors suggest that you look through the index of the book, to get the same kind of feeling before you dive into the areas you don't understand. This is an extreme way of taking shortcuts, if you think you get the message by reading the index, that is enough you will not even look at most of the chapters, skipping directly to the chapters that you think will bring you something new.

What do you think about this way of reading, is it possible, or even desirable?