Jim Kwik explains why adults read slowly: subvocalization, the habit of pronouncing words silently in your head at 150-200 wpm, when your brain can process over 900 wpm. Two fixes: chew gum or hum while reading to occupy your mouth, and use a visual pacer like a finger to guide your eyes and stop backtracking.
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Why is reading so difficult? Why is it hard for so many people? Because most people never learned how to read as adults. They're still reading like they did in elementary school, the last time they were taught, word by word. This is called subvocalization. This is the habit of pronouncing words in your head while you read. And while it might feel comforting, It slows you down. When you read out loud or in your mind, you're limited to the speed of your internal voice, which happens to be about 150 to 200 words per minute. But did you know your brain can process upwards of 900+ words per minute? That's a massive gap. Here's a quick experiment to show you how your voice is holding you back. Count from 1 to 10 in your mind. Do it silently. Now try reciting the alphabet out loud at the same time. Notice how you can't do both at once. Here are a couple of quick tips. One thing that works for some people is chewing on gum or maybe humming while reading. This keeps your speech-related muscles Slightly occupied, which helps quiet your inner narrator. The second quick tip is to use a visual pacer. It could be your finger, it could be a pen, it could be a highlighter, it could be the mouse on your computer or a ruler to guide your eyes. So when you're using your finger as an example to go across the page, your attention's being pulled through the information as opposed to your attention being pulled apart. And this keeps your eyes moving smoothly and reduces the chances of what? Backskipping. Backskipping.
