How to Read Faster (For Real): Finishing Book Club Books Without Skimming

The Book Club Shame Spiral

For years, I dreaded the "Where did everyone stop?" question at book club. I was always behind. I'd fake it through discussions, nod along, hope nobody asked my opinion on the ending I hadn't reached.

I tried reading faster, but I'd get to book club having "read" the book without actually remembering what happened.

Eventually I figured out: speed reading isn't about zooming through words. It's about removing obstacles that slow you down.

What Actually Slows You Down

Before trying to read faster, understand what's causing slowness:

Subvocalization (saying words in your head)

Most people silently "speak" every word as they read. This limits reading speed to speaking speed.

Regression (re-reading)

Your eyes backtrack to words you've already read, often unconsciously.

Lack of focus

Distracted reading means re-reading. You cover pages but don't absorb.

Word-by-word reading

Processing individual words instead of phrases or ideas.

Unfamiliar vocabulary

Stopping to figure out words interrupts flow.

What Actually Works

Create Reading Sessions

Instead of random reading whenever, schedule specific reading time:

• 30 minutes with breakfast
• Lunch break reading
• 20 minutes before bed

Consistent sessions build rhythm and habit. You'll read more total pages.

Eliminate Distractions

The obvious but crucial step:

• Phone in another room (not just face-down)
• TV off, not just muted
• Notifications disabled
• Tell others you're unavailable

Focused reading is naturally faster because you don't lose time re-reading after distractions.

Read in chunks, not words

Practice taking in groups of words at once:

Instead of: "The | dog | ran | across | the | yard" Try seeing: "The dog ran | across the yard"

Your brain can process multiple words simultaneously. Train your eyes to move less.

Use a pointer

Sounds elementary school, but it works:

• Finger under the line
• Pen or pencil as a guide
• Card moving down the page

This prevents regression and guides your eyes at a consistent pace.

Set page goals

"I'll read for 30 minutes" often becomes "I'll read until I get bored."

"I'll read 50 pages" creates urgency. Finish the goal, then stop. Or keep going if you want.

Don't stop for every unfamiliar word

Context usually reveals meaning. Look up words after the reading session, not during.

Keep a running list if needed, but don't break flow.

Reduce subvocalization

You don't need to eliminate inner speech entirely, but you can reduce it:

• Focus on meaning, not pronunciation
• Practice reading faster than you can speak
• Count "1-2-3-4" in your head while reading (disrupts the voice)

This takes practice. Progress is gradual.

Reading Different Books Differently

Not everything needs the same approach:

Dense literary fiction

Slow down. These books reward careful attention. Speed isn't the goal.

Plot-driven novels

Speed up. You're following story, not savoring sentences. Perfect for book club deadlines.

Non-fiction

Strategic skimming is appropriate. Read intros and conclusions carefully, skim supporting examples.

Complex non-linear narratives

Slower reading prevents confusion. Keeping track takes processing time.

Second reads

You can read familiar territory faster. Re-reads naturally speed up.

The Audiobook Speed Hack

Audiobooks can actually help you read faster:

• Listen at 1.25x or 1.5x speed
• Your brain adapts to processing faster
• This trains comprehension at higher speeds
• Combine with text for turbo mode (read while listening at 1.5x)

Building Speed Over Time

Reading speed improves with practice. The more you read, the faster you get because:

• Your vocabulary expands (fewer unfamiliar words)
• Your pattern recognition improves
• You develop genre familiarity
• Your focus muscles strengthen

There's no shortcut substitute for just reading more.

What Doesn't Work

Speed reading courses that promise miracles

Claims of reading 1000+ words per minute with full comprehension are usually exaggerated. Be skeptical.

Skimming everything

You'll miss too much for book club discussion. There's a difference between strategic skimming and not really reading.

Sacrificing enjoyment

If faster reading makes books feel like chores, you've gone too far. The goal is efficient enjoyment, not joyless efficiency.

My Results

After practicing these techniques for six months:

• My reading speed roughly doubled
• I finish book club books with time to spare
• I actually remember and engage with what I read
• Reading feels less like a burden

I'm not speed-reading champion. But I'm not scrambling anymore either.

The Real Secret

The biggest reading speed improvement comes from one thing: reading more consistently.

Daily readers are faster than sporadic readers. Not because of technique—because of practice.

If you currently read 10 minutes a day, getting to 30 minutes will help more than any speed technique. Volume creates velocity.

Finish more books, have better discussions, enjoy reading again. Start tracking your progress on Readfeed, where we help you build consistent reading habits that naturally increase your speed.