How to read faster, understand better and retain information effectively

Problems why you read slow:
1. Fixation = focusing on one word for too long
2. Regression = repeating to read the whole paragraph or article
3. Subvocalization = audible mental reassurance (reading in your head)


Human Limitations:
Average speed of speaking --> 200 words per minute
Average speed of reading ---> 200 words per minute

How to read faster, understand better and retain information effectively

Speed Reading
- read first paragraph
- read last paragraph
- read the first sentences of each paragraph
- read the whole article
- time yourself --> 1/2 page per minute
- set deadlines, challenge yourself to read the page in lesser times


Concentrate, Focus
- eliminate distractions
- read group of words
- use hand or pen to point and pace while reading


"A picture is worth 1000 words"
- draw mental pictures
- create mental map where the pictures fit into place
- make outlines in case of sequential information
- visualize what is going on while you are reading
- after reading a paragraph, stop, get the main idea and paint mental pictures
- after reading a paragraph, stop, take notes in your own words


Use the SING technique to improve comprehension:
S - stop, get focus
I - identify main idea, main point
N - nevermind the details
G - get the gist


Use the POPCORN method to improve memory retention:
P - Positive attitude
O - Observation
P - Picture
C - Concentrate
O - Organize
R - Review
N - Natural association

Repetition helps in remembering information.


Top 3 most effective ways to retain information:
1. Teaching other people
2. Practice talking
3. Discussion, dialogues

Why Mental Photography Products 25,000 words per minute are Scam?

Reading Capability of Average Person

reading speed --> 200 words per minute
reading speed --> 4 words per second

reading comprehension --> 50 %

reading memory retention --> 10%

lecture information retention --> 5%

Why Mental Photography Products 25,000 words per minute are Scam?

Here is what these products claim:
 25,000 words per minute --> reading speed ('brain uploads')
 90% retention for life --> retained information throughout lifetime
 natural inborn ability of each person

REALITY CHECK

Letter size paper 8.5 x 11 inches can contain:
400 words
26 lines
16 words per line

if you 'read' at 25,000 words per minute speed:
1 page per second --> 400 words per second -- this is beyond human!
1 page per second --> 26 lines of words per second -- this is ridiculous!

If it sounds Too Good to be True --> it's most likely a SCAM

25,000 words per minute is imposible --> TEST YOURSELF - You can NOT do it
400 words per second is just physically not doable --> NOT practical

Every human being naturally blinks:
Blink of an eye average speed = 100 times every minute
Blink of an eye average speed = 2 times every second

Blinking just naturally prevents you from reading 25,000 words per minute.

Given for the sake of argument, you can read or 'mentally photograph' 25,000 words a minute:
reading comprehension < 1% --> you're basically looking at the page for 1 second then moving on to the next page

reading comprehension < 1% --> how can you understand 60 pages in 1 minute?

They claim you can retain 90% of the information for life:
you can NOT retain 90% of information that you did NOT understand --> this is essentially useless!

We are born with a natural ability to learn extremely fast especially during the ages 1 to 5
but NOT 25,000 words per minute
even a 5 year old child does NOT agree to this!

Conclusion:
DO NOT BE DECEIVED.
DO NOT BELIEVE.
DO NOT BUY.

SCAMS ARE COMPLETELY A WASTE.

Scams are waste of your time, energy, money and... ... your own life.

Sample Autobiography Format

An autobiography is a type of literary writing which encompasses a detailed account of the personal life of an individual. Autobiographies can be written by the person himself or herself or it can be authored by a third person on behalf of the said subject. Below is a simple format guide in point form on how to write an autobiography to help you author your own autobiography and easily start:
              

How to write an autobiography (sample format guide):  

                     

Family information and history:
-last name
-first name
-middle name
-nick names
-date of birth
-place of birth
-full name of parents
-education and profession of father
-education and profession of mother
-historical account of parents
-number of children in the family (siblings)
-education, profession, history of brothers and sisters
-childhood history (description of life as a child)

Education:
-kindergarten
-primary education (elementary school)
-secondary education (high school)
-college education (arts, trade school, etc.)
-university education (bachelor, masteral, doctorate degrees)

Employment (Work) history:
-names of employers
-addresses of employers
-length of employment (how many years, months employed)

Associations and Organizations joined:
-cub scouts
-student council
-professional organizations
-sports teams, associations
-other associations, leagues, organizations, memberships, etc.

Sports, Hobbies, Leisure, Social activities:
-favorite sports
-volunteer works
-hobbies
-social activities
-religious activities
-leisure and recreation
-other activities

Example of an Autobiography:
          
Below is a short and incomplete sample of autobiography (military): 
        
       I, Juan Cruz, was born on 1977 July 7 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My father, Jose Cruz, is a retired soldier in the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas). My mother, Maria Cruz, is a retired public school teacher at Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines. I'm the oldest of 3 children. I am very proud to be a Canadian. I was inspired by my father being a soldier in the army and since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a soldier in the Canadian Army of the Canadian Forces of Canada...