PhotoReading Paul R. Scheele, M.A.
Exciting N e w 3rd Edition • Double your reading speed immediately • A b s o r b c o m p l e t e b o o k s in m i n u t e s
• R e m e m b e r m o r e of what you read • Excellent
• Q u i c k l y r e a d e m a i l , w e b p a g e s , a n d e l e c t r o n i c files
Over 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 in print!
for t e c h n i c a l m a t e r i a l
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System Read this B o o k in 25 Minutes
T h i s b o o k is uniquely d e s i g n e d so that y o u can easily read it in w h a t e v e r a m o u n t of time y o u can c o m m i t right n o w . 2 5 M i n u t e s ( L e v e l 1 ) - G e t t h e gist o f t h i s b o o k i n j u s t 2 5 m i n u t e s . First, page through the entire b o o k and read the table of contents, chapter titles, and subtitles. Page through t h e b o o k t h e s e c o n d t i m e a n d s c a n for i c o n s o f E i n s t e i n r i d i n g a bicycle. R e a d the p a r a g r a p h next to each b i c y c l e icon. If y o u have more time, continue to Level 2. 30 Additional M i n u t e s (Level 2) - Absorb the core concepts of this b o o k well enough to discuss t h e m in just thirty m i n u t e s m o r e . P a g e t h r o u g h the b o o k again. This t i m e s c a n for i c o n s o f E i n s t e i n j o g g i n g . R e a d t h e p a r a g r a p h next to each j o g g i n g icon. 4 5 - 9 0 A d d i t i o n a l M i n u t e s (Level 3) - Fully >\ / u n d e r s t a n d the P h o t o R e a d i n g skills by s p e n d i n g up to < n i n e t y m o r e m i n u t e s . P a g e t h r o u g h t h e b o o k s c a n n i n g for icons of Einstein w i t h a light b u l b . R e a d the p a r a g r a p h n e x t t o e a c h i c o n . A s y o u s e a r c h for i c o n s , r e m e m b e r w h a t y o u h a v e read before by r e v i e w i n g titles and subtitles. A
-B
W h e n i c o n s a r e c o n n e c t e d b y l i n e s , r e a d all t h e p a r a g r a p h s . O c c a s i o n a l l y a n o t e u n d e r a n i c o n m a y say " R e a d B u l l e t s ; " t h i s m e a n s y o u s h o u l d r e a d u p c o m i n g t e x t t h a t start w i t h a b u l l e t ( • ) . R e s i s t t e m p t a t i o n t o r e a d all p a r a g r a p h s n e x t t o all i c o n s d u r i n g t h e first t i m e y o u s c a n t h r o u g h t h e b o o k . C o m p r e h e n s i o n will be higher if y o u go through the b o o k m o r e than once. Y o u m a y d e s i r e t o r e a d t h i s b o o k w o r d - f o r - w o r d t h e first t i m e . T h a t i s all r i g h t . Y o u m a y c h o o s e different l e v e l s for s u b s e q u e n t r e a d i n g s t o h e l p y o u get m o r e o u t o f y o u r i n v e s t m e n t .
What Authors
Say A b o u t
PhotoReading..
PhotoReading combines all the most efficient reading strategies— proven in university studies over many years—with what is now known about the phenomenal perceptive capabilities of the human brain It is undoubtedly the best accelerative reading improvement program available today A n d , it is presented so that the average person can benefit immediately, and for a lifetime Dr
J
Michael Bennett, author of Efficient
University of Minnesota Reading
for Managers
This is the best book for reading improvement ever written Finally, one written by someone w h o truly understands the learning process Eric Jensen,
author of The Learning Brain and Super Teaching
By following the PhotoReading Whole M i n d System, you can enhance your learning and greatly reduce the time you spend regular reading You can automatically single out the information you value and mentally highlight those passages you want to savor Charlotte
Ward writing in Simply Live It UP
PhotoReading has helped many, including myself, to blast through materials at rates up to 25,000 words a minute Bryan
Mattimore
writing in
Success Magazine
It's not just the fact that PhotoReading can transform your life in unexpected ways that excites me It's also that Paul Scheele's book serves as a model for how to present new ideas well and forge new territory Peter Kline,
author of The Everyday Genius
PhotoReading is a gem It contains powerful tools for excelling in life I thoroughly recommend it David McNally,
author of Even Eagles Need a Push
PhotoReading appears to be a natural step forward in the evolution of human reading skills Win Wenger, Ph D, PhotoReading is literally eye-opening
writing in The Einstein Factor
The goal Let your unconscious
take a snapshot, imbibing a whole page in a glimpse
It may well be the
standard equipment for 21st Century SuperLearners Sheila
Ostrander and Lynn
Schroeder writing in
SuperLearning 2000
PhotoReading has amazing potential for helping people use more of their brain to accelerate learning Paul McKenna,
Ph
D,
author of The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna
W e live i n t h e a g e o f t h e a c c o u n t a n t , not the
in the age of the politician, administrator, not the explorer
poet...
not the singer,
in the age of the
We thus live in an unbalanced w o r l d
Any
development which redresses this imbalance is to be welcomed and applauded The PhotoReading Whole Mind System, initially developed by and now presented in written form by Paul R Scheele, represents an excellent advance in redressing this imbalance aspects to it
Paul's contribution has a number of noteworthy
In particular, his w o r k represents
• a practical system for achieving an important class of accelerated learning skills • a significant refinement in the extremely important and ubiquitous activity of reading — in particular, continuum of choices
Paul has decomposed reading into a
By so doing he has, in effect, identified and charted a
continuum of cooperation between the two cerebral hemispheres
This places
within the grasp of the well intentioned and disciplined practitioner a set of choices which are the natural (and largely unrecognized) heritage of every member of our species • the presentation of a highly learnable system which both delivers what it proposes and simultaneously opens a huge door to achieving a new balance between unconscious and conscious processes within the user Well done, Paul Scheele
1
John Co-Developer,
I
received the
Grinder
Programming
highest grade on every t e s t !
I w a n t e d to get my master's degree months ago
Neuro-Linguistic
I tried taking a course eighteen
I was not able to complete it, because it took so much time and
my grades were not good (C or D before I dropped the course) I tried the PhotoReading method on some Navy correspondence courses, and it seemed to w o r k well
I needed to test it for real, t h o u g h
I enrolled in
t w o courses at the local junior college in business law and marketing I used only the PhotoReading whole mind system The results were astounding
With no more effort than just going to
class, I received not just A's, but I received the highest grade on every test in both classes
The best part w a s that I still had plenty of time w i t h my family People at work and my family all say that what I am doing is impossible
I w o u l d have agreed w i t h them one year ago, but instead I show them the transcripts to prove my progress
A n d still they do not believe
I certainly am impressed Randy Now North
Highlands,
California
I u s e d P h o t o R e a d i n g to b e c o m e a s p e c i a l i s t in rheumatology
and
physiotherapy
I had thousands of pages to study for a critical e x a m . I PhotoRead and activated daily over a m o n t h , and I mind mapped the rheumatology textbook. W h e n I took the written test, I both knew and felt the correct answers. My score was the second highest. I also did very well in the three-day, practical part of this medical exam, and I was the top student on the oral exam. Ildiko Kiss,
M.D., Zalaegerszeg,
W h a t used t o t a k e m e t w o I can
Hungary
hours,
n o w do in t e n m i n u t e s
As a tax consultant, I use PhotoReading to slash the time it takes to dig information from the 33-volume IRS code. I find the section I want in the index. Then I PhotoRead that section—30-40 pages. Immediately the answers appear to j u m p off the page. Fred Fredricks, I'm
more
Hong Kong
productive at w o r k
I PhotoRead my software manuals. Now, w h e n I program, the code seems to come out of my head, and I hardly ever stop to look in the manuals as before. I intuitively know the program will w o r k , and it does. Previously I w o u l d have written a bit, tested it, tweaked it, referred to the manual... Lou Wilson, I got a 100%
Middlesex,
England
salary increase
After learning PhotoReading, I lowered my reading backlog by 40 books in the next 28 days.
I applied the PhotoReading techniques to a business
presentation and got a job offer with a 1 0 0 % salary increase. Joan Jimenez,
General Council of Education, My
business
Rio Piedras,
Puerto Rico
doubled
As a business owner, I am always looking for ways to increase my sales. I PhotoRead marketing books that I hadn't found time to read, and then put together a new sales piece that yielded twice what I had done before. John DuCane, St. Paul,
Minnesota
I w r o t e 20 pages of notes without opening
the
book again
Yesterday I PhotoRead a law book. This morning I activated it. I then dedded to make just a few notes...
I am a s t o u n d e d ! Ray Simons, Las Vegas, Nevada
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System by Paul R. Scheele
Published by Learning Strategies Corporation 900 East Wavzata Boulevard Wavzata, Minnesota 55391-1836 USA 952-476-9200 • FAX 952-475-2373
[email protected] www.LearningStrategies.com Learning Strategies Corporation is a Private Vocational School licensed by the Higher Education Services Office of the Minnesota Department of Education. Board of Directors and Corporate Officers: Paul R. Scheele, Chairman; Peter Bissonette, President; William J. Erickson, General Counsel, Secretary; David A. Heit, CEO, Treasurer "PhotoReading," "Paraliminal," "Personal Celebration," "EasyLearn," "Natural Brilliance" and "Accelements" are worldwide trademarks of Learning Strategies Corporation. "Mind Mapping" is a trademark of Tony Buzan Cover design by MartinRoss Design "The whole mind is represented on the cover. The analytical left brain is depicted in the 19th Century French diagram of the planets revolving around the sun and by the eyes of Albert Einstein. The creative right brain is expressed in Michaelangelo's eye of David. Einstein's eyes suggest a want to look upward, to search further. The type going off in space reflects the new learning strategies of the PhotoReading whole mind system." Photograph of Paul R. Scheele by Sonia Katchian / Photo Shuttle: Japan Copyright 1996 Illustrations by Jillian Walz Library of Congress Catalog Number: 99-066760 ISBN 0-925480-53-3 Third Edition Copyright 1999 by Learning Strategies Corporation (First Edition: Copyright 1993) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
PhotoReading
Table of Contents
R e a d this B o o k in 25 M i n u t e s • F o r e w o r d Acknowledgments
• About the Author
1 - Increase Your Choices 1. T h e O r i g i n s of P h o t o R e a d i n g 2.
2
Old R e a d i n g Habits or N e w Reading Choices
10
2 - Learn the PhotoReading Whole Mind System 3. Prepare
24
4.
Preview
32
5. P h o t o R e a d
40
6.
Activate
*.
7. Rapid R e a d
53 71
3 - Develop and Integrate Your Skills 8 . M a k e P h o t o R e a d i n g P a r t o f Y o u r D a i l y Life
80
9.
91
Share Information Through Group Activation
10. E n r i c h Y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g E x p e r i e n c e
98
1 1 . U s e S y n t o p i c R e a d i n g for L i f e - L o n g E x p l o r a t i o n
109
12. Q u e s t i o n s a n d A n s w e r s for t h e B e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r
118
1 3 . D i s c o v e r Y o u r G e n i u s P o t e n t i a l w i t h D i r e c t L e a r n i n g ...
135
14. T h e S e c r e t o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g W h o l e M i n d S y s t e m ....
142
Q u i c k Reference Guide.
146
Bibliography
150
Index
154
B o o k s , Tapes, & Courses by Learning Strategies Corporation...
159
S p e c i a l Offer C e r t i f i c a t e
166
Foreword
W e l c o m e to the most innovative reading p r o g r a m available. PhotoReading goes b e y o n d mere speed reading. It is an educational experience that taps y o u r m i n d ' s vast r e s o u r c e s . It explores and expands your o w n potential. W e l i v e i n a n a g e w h e n t o o little t i m e a n d t o o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n c o m p e t e . I f w e a r e t o s u c c e e d , w e r e q u i r e n e w s k i l l s for p r o c e s s i n g and learning from information. P h o t o R e a d i n g is about w o r k i n g with the greatest information processing device k n o w n to mankind: the h u m a n m i n d . I n t h i s b o o k y o u w i l l l e a r n t e c h n i q u e s for u s i n g t h e p o w e r s o f your whole mind. PhotoReading will teach y o u notjust how to read f a s t e r b u t learn a t s p e e d s m a n y t i m e s f a s t e r t h a n b e f o r e . W h e n y o u learn P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u will experience w h a t might sound impossible. Y o u will P h o t o R e a d the written page at rates exceeding a page per second, directing information into the expanded
processing
capabilities
of your brain.
There
the
i n f o r m a t i o n c o n n e c t s t o y o u r prior k n o w l e d g e and b e c o m e s useful to a c c o m p l i s h i n g y o u r p u r p o s e s . Y o u get y o u r reading done in the time y o u have available, at a level of c o m p r e h e n s i o n you need. W i t h the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d system, y o u will develop extraordinary c o m m u n i c a t i o n with the y o u r brain. P h o t o R e a d i n g b y p a s s e s the limited capabilities of the conscious m i n d and helps y o u find y o u r p e r s o n a l g e n i u s . The book contains three parts. In Part One, y o u will overview the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d system and the n e w choices y o u have available as a reader. Part T w o guides you step-by-step to learn the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d system. Part T h r e e helps y o u i n t e g r a t e y o u r n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d skills s o y o u c a n successfully use them every day. P h o t o R e a d i n g i s a t r i u m p h o v e r i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d for t h o u s a n d s P h o t o R e a d i n g course participants w o r l d w i d e . N o w , the details of this s y s t e m are e x p l a i n e d in an easy-to-read format.
Acknowledgments
As
this
Third
Edition
of
The
PhotoReading
Whole Mind
System g o e s t o p r e s s , P h o t o R e a d i n g c o n t i n u e s t o e v o l v e t h a n k s t o the c o n t i n u i n g w o r k of o v e r a h u n d r e d d e d i c a t e d p e o p l e .
T o them,
I dedicate this book. I a c k n o w l e d g e the spirit a n d c o m m i t m e n t of the certified P h o t o R e a d i n g instructors. T h e y are today's p i o n e e r s , forging a n e w form of e d u c a t i o n . T h e y significantly influence P h o t o R e a d i n g by creatively exploring new w a y s to teach and use PhotoReading. The most important contributor to P h o t o R e a d i n g is the P h o t o R e a d i n g student, w h o s e insights and b r e a k t h r o u g h s are invaluable to PhotoReading's continued evolution. K u d o s to the people of Learning Strategies Corporation and o u r w o r l d w i d e m a r k e t i n g a s s o c i a t e s for t h e i r d i l i g e n t w o r k i n helping spread the w o r d about P h o t o R e a d i n g . Thanks to them, we have tens of thousands of additional PhotoReaders around the w o r l d . I s a l u t e all t h o s e w h o c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e e a r l y d e v e l o p m e n t of PhotoReading.
T h e n a m e s of these talented and insightful
associates are on p e r m a n e n t r e c o r d in the First a n d S e c o n d Editions of this b o o k . I also thank Dr. J. M i c h a e l Bennett, Professor E m e r i t u s from the University
o f M i n n e s o t a D e p a r t m e n t o f R h e t o r i c for h i s
excellent contributions.
H i s insightful
additions
of rhythmic
perusal and skittering to the P h o t o R e a d i n g whole m i n d system h a v e p r o v e n v a l u a b l e a c t i v a t i o n t o o l s for t h e m a n y P h o t o R e a d e r s now using them. F i n a l l y , I a c k n o w l e d g e y o u , t h e r e a d e r , for r e c o g n i z i n g y o u have the p o w e r within to a c c o m p l i s h most anything y o u desire. Y o u make breakthroughs such as P h o t o R e a d i n g a reality. Please write me of your successes. Paul R.
Scheele
About the A u t h o r Paul R. Scheele, M.A., co-founder of Learning Strategies Corporation,
is the principal developer of the P h o t o R e a d i n g
whole mind system. His education has focused on adult learning, psychology, biology, neuro-linguistic programming, preconscious
processing,
and
accelerative learning,
educational kinesiology.
He
received his B a c h e l o r of Science degree from the University of M i n n e s o t a and his M a s t e r s of A r t s d e g r e e from St. T h o m a s University. Paul is the developer of Paraliminal and Personal Celebration tapes. These audio programs use advanced recording technology to access the whole brain and enhance personal performance. P a u l a l s o d e v e l o p e d Natural Brilliance,
a f o u r - s t e p m o d e l to
h e l p p e o p l e m o v e f r o m f e e l i n g s t u c k t o r e l e a s i n g g e n i u s for achieving success. Natural Brilliance is key to Direct Learning, an application of P h o t o R e a d i n g that involves learning behaviors directly from printed p a g e s . Paul authored the highly acclaimed teacher development course
t i t l e d Accelements.
innovative, PhotoReading, He
is
self-study, Natural
And
for l e a r n e r s
personal
Brilliance,
an insightful
learning
Ideal Mindset,
public
speaker
of all
ages,
courses
his
include
and
Decisive Action.
and
consultant to
companies and organizations worldwide. Paul lives w i t h his wife L i b b y and their three sons, B e n , John, a n d Scott, in a suburb of M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n e s o t a . He
may
be
reached by
writing
Learning
Strategies
Corporation, 900 East W a y z a t a Boulevard, Wayzata, Minnesota 55391-1836 or email
[email protected] Paul
lovingly dedicates
his
work to
his family.
Their passion for reading and zest for life inspires and motivates
him
every
day.
Part One: Increase Your Choices
1 The Origins of P h o t o R e a d i n g
PhotoReading at 25,000 words per minute means you could "mentally p h o t o g r a p h " this b o o k in fewer t h a n three m i n u t e s . A l t h o u g h this m a y sound like a radical n e w idea, the concept existed hundreds of years before I coined the term PhotoReading. Y o u c a n find e v i d e n c e t h a t s u c h m e n t a l p r o c e s s i n g i s p o s s i b l e and has b e e n u s e d in diverse settings from military training and m a r t i a l arts to a n c i e n t religious t r a d i t i o n s . The challenge is not in deciding whether PhotoReading is possible. The challenge is how to teach you, as an individual r e a d i n g this b o o k , to effectively transfer this natural ability into d a i l y a p p l i c a t i o n s for r e p o r t s , j o u r n a l s , n e w s p a p e r s , b o o k s , w e b pages, or whatever you want to read. My
background
in
neuro-linguistic
programming
and
accelerative learning gave me a w a y to m e e t that challenge. T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g whole mind system has b e e n learned by others a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a n d n o w t h e t i m e i s r i g h t for y o u t o l e a r n i t t o o . T h e s t o r y t h a t f o l l o w s e x p l a i n s h o w i t all s t a r t e d . S e v e n y e a r s after g r a d u a t i n g w i t h a s c i e n c e d e g r e e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y of M i n n e s o t a , I t o o k a s p e e d r e a d i n g test. I s c o r e d 1 7 0 w o r d s per minute at 70 percent comprehension. I w a s embarrassed w h e n I r e a l i z e d m y 1 6 - p l u s y e a r s i n p u b l i c s c h o o l s left m e b e l o w average
in
reading
skills
and
an
expert
at
putting
off
reading. I t h o u g h t t h a t t o r e a d p r o p e r l y I m u s t s t a r t o n t h e first w o r d of a text and slog t h r o u g h to the end. I m u s t concentrate on seeing all t h e w o r d s c o r r e c t l y , m a k e s e n s e o f t h e m a s I w e n t a l o n g , a n d r e m e m b e r w h a t they said. I also b e l i e v e d the u l t i m a t e m e a s u r e of
The
Origins
of
PhotoReading
3
my reading effectiveness w a s total recall and critical analysis of meaning. I d i d n o t q u e s t i o n m y d e f i n i t i o n o f r e a d i n g . I felt s t u c k a t slow
s p e e d s . I k n e w that the faster I read, the w o r s e my
c o m p r e h e n s i o n b e c a m e . A f t e r s e v e n y e a r s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l life as a h u m a n resource d e v e l o p m e n t consultant, I h a d m a d e no i m p r o v e m e n t in my reading skills. In 1984, the logical solution m e a n t enrolling in a speed r e a d i n g c o u r s e . A f t e r five w e e k s o f t r a i n i n g , m y s p e e d r e a d i n g scores
averaged
5,000
words
per
minute
at
70
percent
comprehension. D u r i n g one of the class sessions, a y o u n g w o m a n sitting next to me l a m e n t e d b e i n g stuck at
1,300 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e
t h r o u g h ten w e e k s of c l a s s e s . I s u g g e s t e d to her, " I m a g i n e w h a t it w o u l d be like if y o u could b r e a k t h r o u g h to h i g h e r speeds n o w . " On her next book, her speed reading reached over 6,000 w o r d s per minute w i t h h i g h e r c o m p r e h e n s i o n test scores than ever before. As great as that sounds, speed reading did not appeal to m e . P u s h i n g m y eyeballs d o w n the p a g e soon b e c a m e u n r e w a r d i n g d r u d g e r y . T h r e e m o n t h s after l e a v i n g t h e c o u r s e , I r a r e l y u s e d t h e techniques but remained intrigued about the mind's potential for p r o c e s s i n g w r i t t e n w o r d s . I b e g a n r e a l i z i n g m y p r o b l e m — I felt t r a p p e d b e t w e e n t w o o p p o s i n g belief s y s t e m s . O n e belief c a m e from the elementary education m o d e l of reading. An opposing belief c a m e from k n o w i n g t h a t t h e h u m a n m i n d c a n a c h i e v e far m o r e m a g n i f i c e n t results. T h e same trapped and confusing feeling grabbed me once during private pilot's training. I
r e m e m b e r w h e n my
instructor took me
up to
eight
t h o u s a n d feet a n d t o l d m e t o fly a t a m i n i m u m a i r s p e e d j u s t a s I w o u l d w h e n l a n d i n g . To do so, I s l o w e d d o w n the e n g i n e and pulled back on the control y o k e to maintain my altitude. Soon, the nose of my plane pointed almost straight up. The w i n d f l o w i n g o v e r m y w i n g s n o l o n g e r c r e a t e d e n o u g h lift t o h o l d u p t h e a i r p l a n e . I t c o u l d n o t fly s o i t d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e s k y like a rock, diving straight d o w n t o w a r d the g r o u n d . Terrified, I i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n pulling b a c k on the control y o k e , t r y i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o g e t t h e n o s e u p a n d fly t h e p l a n e .
The
PhotoReadittg
Whole Mind
System
This made things m u c h worse. My instructor s e e m e d to enjoy w a t c h i n g my panic. Why wasn't it working? Why w o u l d n ' t the plane fly? D i v i n g t o w a r d the g r o u n d at an accelerating rate, my instructor
calmly
said,
"Push
forward." I k n e w he did not h a v e a clue a b o u t o u r p r o b l e m . W h i l e I t r i e d t o lift the plane up by the control y o k e , he w a s telling me to dive d e e p e r into the g r o u n d ? Clearly he h a d lost his m i n d . T h e p l a n e e n t e r e d a tail spin, and the earth b e c a m e a spinning blur rushing toward us. Every part of me resisted his c o m m a n d as he insisted m o r e firmly, " P u s h into the spin!" Finally, my instructor broke my white-knuckled grip and p u s h e d the control
yoke
forward.
This
push
i m m e d i a t e l y s m o o t h e d out the w i n g s and elevator section of the t a i l , w h i c h c o r r e c t e d t h e a i r f l o w o v e r t h e m a n d g e n e r a t e d lift. The plane stabilized and slowly he pulled b a c k the control y o k e to regain altitude, leaving my heart in my throat. W o w . W h a t connection does this have to reading? T h r o u g h o u t m y life I r e a d o n l y a s fast a s I c o u l d c o m p r e h e n d t h e w o r d s o n t h e p a g e . E v e r y t i m e I w e n t t o o fast t o c o m p r e h e n d , I g r a b b e d c o n t r o l a n d p u l l e d b a c k as a fear r e a c t i o n . I w a s afraid I w o u l d fail as a r e a d e r if I did not u n d e r s t a n d everything. My a t t e m p t e d strategies to read b e t t e r a n d faster only m a d e t h i n g s w o r s e . I w a s c a u g h t in the spin,
a n d r e a d i n g felt l i k e n o s e d i v i n g m y a i r p l a n e i n t o
the ground. H a v e y o u e v e r w i s h e d for a m e n t o r t o c o m e a l o n g a n d p u l l y o u o u t of a n o s e d i v e ? I d i d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , I d i d n o t r e a l i z e a larger, m o r e powerful capacity of m i n d could solve my reading p r o b l e m . Fortunately, miracles h a p p e n . Several events in the n e x t f e w y e a r s s h a p e d a n e w d i r e c t i o n for m e . I n t h e fall o f 1 9 8 4 , 1 e n t e r e d g r a d u a t e s c h o o l t o s t u d y a d u l t
The
Origins
of PhotoReading
5
learning and h u m a n development technologies.
I wanted to
k n o w h o w p e o p l e learn m o s t effectively. M y c o m p a n y , L e a r n i n g Strategies Corporation,
w a s over three years old with m a n y
clients w h o c o u l d benefit from my studies. I w a s also strongly m o t i v a t e d to i m p r o v e my o w n skills as a learner. W h i l e a t t e n d i n g different s e m i n a r s a n d c o u r s e s , I h e a r d about an instructor from a speed reading school in P h o e n i x , Arizona. The instructor had suggested a bizarre experiment to one
of his
backwards
classes. to
After flipping p a g e s
learn eye-fixation patterns,
upside he
d o w n and
instructed the
s t u d e n t s t o t a k e a c o m p r e h e n s i o n t e s t o n t h e b o o k , j u s t f o r t h e fun o f it. T h e i r s c o r e s t u r n e d o u t t o b e t h e h i g h e s t t h e c l a s s h a d e v e r achieved. W a s it a fluke? T h e instructors at the school h y p o t h e s i z e d that m a y b e they w e r e turning the page into a stimulus that is processed subliminally. A b o u t the same time I heard that hypothesis, I attended a workshop with Peter Kline, an expert in accelerative learning. W h e n I told h i m about my interest in researching b r e a k t h r o u g h s in r e a d i n g , he offered me a c h a l l e n g e . A client of his, I D S / American Express,
wanted
a
speed reading
application of
accelerative learning. Suddenly, a consulting j o b , my master's d e g r e e w o r k , a n d m y p a s s i o n for l e a r n i n g l a n d e d i n o n e n i c e package on my lap. I n t h e fall o f 1 9 8 5 , 1 b e g a n b a c k g r o u n d r e s e a r c h i n t o s t u d i e s of subliminal perception and preconscious processing. Significant research evidence
suggested humans possess
a preconscious
processor of the m i n d that can absorb visual information without involving the conscious mind. I experimented with using the eyes and the p r e c o n s c i o u s processor in special w a y s on written materials. I dubbed this concept of "mentally p h o t o g r a p h i n g " the
printed
page
PhotoReading.
I d e v o t e d m y full t i m e t o d e s i g n i n g a s e m i n a r b a s e d u p o n the accelerative learning m o d e l , expert strategies of rapid reading, the
human
development
technology
of
neuro-linguistic
p r o g r a m m i n g , and studies on preconscious p r o c e s s i n g . S o o n the PhotoReading seminar was born. O n e of my experiments involved returning to the speed r e a d i n g s c h o o l I h a d a t t e n d e d . I a s k e d t h e t e a c h e r for s e v e r a l b o o k s a n d t e s t s . After P h o t o R e a d i n g o n e o f the b o o k s a t 6 8 , 0 0 0
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
6
words per minute, I demonstrated 74 percent comprehension on the s a m e t y p e of w r i t t e n test I h a d u s e d a few y e a r s earlier. Too good to be true? M a y b e . C o m p a r e d to reading or speed reading, it w a s too good to be true. P h o t o R e a d i n g , however, w a s neither.
Something powerful w a s happening,
and the school
confirmed the results. I n J a n u a r y a n d F e b r u a r y o f 1 9 8 6 , I t a u g h t t h e first s i x e x p e r i m e n t a l s e m i n a r s — o n e t o I D S a n d five t o c l i e n t s o f m y c o m p a n y . Participants stood up during class to describe many immediate
payoffs
including
reduced
stress,
startling
i m p r o v e m e n t s i n m e m o r y , fluid r e a d i n g s k i l l s , t o p g r a d e s o n s c h o o l t e s t s , i n c r e a s e d w i n s for s a l e s p e o p l e a n d t r i a l a t t o r n e y s , and m o r e . Inspired by participants' excitement, I w o r k e d on refining the curriculum design and teaching materials with my business associates. On May
16,
1986, the M i n n e s o t a D e p a r t m e n t of
E d u c a t i o n licensed Learning Strategies Corporation as a private vocational
school
after r e v i e w i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r
curriculum and our business practices. W h e n the President of the United States of A m e r i c a declared the 1990s the " d e c a d e of the brain," he invited an explosion of new research in cognitive science. The resulting breakthroughs in our understanding of how the brain processes information have
offered
unprecedented
s u p p o r t for t h e
pursuit of new
approaches to learning. PhotoReading has earned international r e c o g n i t i o n for its i n n o v a t i o n s t o e d u c a t i o n . Instructors
specially
trained
and
certified by
Learning
Strategies Corporation, continually u p g r a d e P h o t o R e a d i n g into a
life-transforming
human
development
experience
that
incorporates the latest in b r a i n r e s e a r c h to help achieve success. I t i s offered w o r l d w i d e t h r o u g h l i v e s e m i n a r s a n d a s e l f - s t u d y course, and is supported with telephone and online coaching. P h o t o R e a d i n g h e l p s y o u a c q u i r e n e w skills t o i n c r e a s e reading
efficiency.
PhotoReading
As
most PhotoReaders
transforms
more
than
admit,
reading
however,
skills.
The
P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m directs y o u to " p u s h into the spin" and discover the natural genius residing within y o u . This m e a n s y o u fly s m o o t h l y t h r o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n i n s t e a d o f s p i n n i n g out of control. This b o o k will help deliver the system to y o u in
The
Origins
PhotoReading
of
7
clear, step-by-step instructions.
A preview of what is to come T h e five s t e p s t o t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m include preparing, previewing, PhotoReading, activating, and rapid
reading. T h e s y s t e m a p p e a r s a s a set o f s t e p s i n s e q u e n c e , a l t h o u g h
i t i s a c t u a l l y a set o f o p t i o n s t h a t c a n b e u s e d i n a n y o r d e r appropriate to y o u r n e e d s . It m o d e l s the strategies u s e d by highly skilled readers. The secret p o w e r in the system is not in the techniques, but i n t h e shift i n p e r s p e c t i v e t h e t e c h n i q u e s e n g e n d e r . T o u s e t h e system and achieve y o u r goals, y o u must confront the c o m p u l s i o n to h a b i t u a l l y apply inefficient strategies. In the p a g e s that follow, y o u will e x a m i n e the limitations that bind y o u to y o u r present capacities. Y o u will gain w a y s to b y p a s s the limited p r o c e s s i n g capabilities of the conscious m i n d and connect w i t h the e x p a n d e d processing capabilities of y o u r brain in which y o u r natural genius resides. The simple behaviors y o u learn can be u s e d right a w a y . Right Throughout this book I refer to the other-than-conscious mind I use this term
interchangeably
now,
you
can
only
i m a g i n e the g o o d that can take place as you
use
more
of your innate
nonconscious
talents. Over the years of teaching
mind, inner mind, paraconscious mind, preconscious mind, more-
P h o t o R e a d i n g to t h o u s a n d s w o r l d wide, I have witnessed many
with
the
terms
than-conscious expanded
brain.
mind,
and
Also,
sub¬
conscious mind or unconscious
p e r s o n a l and professional transform¬ ations. H e r e are a few e x a m p l e s : •
A
high
school
student
P h o t o R e a d the dictionary repeatedly and dramatically improved her vocabulary score on S A T e x a m s . • An attorney uses P h o t o R e a d i n g to quickly locate vital facts i n h u g e l a w b o o k s . N o w , i n s t e a d o f s p e n d i n g h a l f - a n - h o u r i n a t y p i c a l v i s i t t o t h e l a w l i b r a r y , h e s p e n d s five m i n u t e s . • A technical writer P h o t o R e a d a client's software s y s t e m s m a n u a l before his initial m e e t i n g w i t h the project e n g i n e e r s . He w a s able to talk k n o w l e d g e a b l y
about the
fifteen m i n u t e s o f p r e p a r a t i o n t i m e .
system with only
The PhotoReading •
Whole Mind System
8
A computer service technician consistently locates key
information in reference manuals within seconds. • An attorney took three m i n u t e s to read a three h u n d r e d p a g e legal m a n u a l from the D e p a r t m e n t of Transportation. He instantly turned to the one p a r a g r a p h in the text that included the information he n e e d e d to w i n a case. The state's expert witness, w h o h a d b e e n u n a b l e t o find this p a r a g r a p h w a s s t u n n e d a s h e s a w the attorney p e r f o r m this feat. • A w a s t e w a t e r s p e c i a l i s t for E . I . D u p o n t h a d t o r e a d a three-inch stack of federal regulations from O S H A in p r e p a r a t i o n for a m e e t i n g . D u r i n g a 3 5 - m i n u t e f l i g h t t o t h e m e e t i n g , h e P h o t o R e a d the documents. D u r i n g the meeting, he correctly stated that O S H A w o u l d no longer accept w a t e r treatment data that w a s more than three years old—a technical point buried in the regulations he had just P h o t o R e a d . • A b u s i n e s s c o n s u l t a n t v i s i t e d t h e city l i b r a r y t o P h o t o R e a d industry
trade journals
before
the
initial
meeting
with
a
p r o s p e c t i v e corporate client. H e r k n o w l e d g e on industry trends, key problems, and innovative practices gave her the edge over other consultants b e i n g interviewed. She w o n the contract. • A c o l l e g e s t u d e n t u s e d P h o t o R e a d i n g to successfully c o m p l e t e h i s d e g r e e , g a i n e m p l o y m e n t a t a h i g h - t e c h firm, t h e n rise in the ranks of n e w hires. He c l a i m e d he o w e d his s u c c e s s to the a d v a n t a g e s P h o t o R e a d i n g gave him. • A g r o u p of h i g h school students from Puerto R i c o u s e d PhotoReading to win medals in an international Mental Olympics contest. • In his a c c e p t a n c e s p e e c h for t o p h o n o r s , a short story writer a n n o u n c e d that P h o t o R e a d i n g w a s the secret ingredient for h i s e x c e l l e n c e i n c r e a t i v i t y a n d w r i t i n g s t y l e . These e x a m p l e s only b e g i n to e x p r e s s the benefits. O u r clients also say that P h o t o R e a d i n g h e l p s t h e m to w r i t e r e p o r t s , p a s s c r i t i c a l e x a m s , e x c e l i n s c h o o l c o u r s e s , f i n i s h d e g r e e s , sail through meetings, earn promotions, and do more of the reading t h e y r e a l l y w a n t t o d o for e n j o y m e n t . T h e o n l y r e q u i r e m e n t s for P h o t o R e a d i n g a r e a w i l l i n g n e s s t o e x p e r i m e n t , u s e n e w i d e a s , r e l a x , a n d p l a y . T h e n t h e full g e n i u s within y o u will be released. B e c o m e like a child naturally curious, wondering, experiencing, discovering—and a whole new world
The
Origins
of
PhotoReading
9
of easy reading will unfold. Reading
will
become
a
new
source
of personal
and
professional power. Y o u will explore written materials with new levels of effectiveness.
T h e b e n e f i t s offered b y t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g
w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m w i l l h e l p y o u c r e a t e a q u a l i t y o f life t h a t w i l l delight and surprise you.
T h e n e x t c h a p t e r g e t s y o u set a n d r e a d y t o g o .
A student improved his high school math grade from a D to a B in one semester. He said that PhotoReading math books must have given him ways to do problems better. Another student PhotoRead a variety of books before preparing a theme paper. The teacher wrote on her paper,
"A+ Your writing style
improved overnight. What did you d o ? ! " Several musicians have reported uses of PhotoReading music. They find that PhotoReading musical scores a day before first playing the music makes the first run through much easier—as if they have already practiced the piece. A doctor of psychology from Mexico was asked to present her twenty-page research paper to a conference in California. Because it was written in Spanish, she w o u l d have to translate the paper as she spoke. Although she was bilingual, she had always f o u n d it difficult to speak English from Spanish w r i t i n g .
She
PhotoRead the Spanish-English dictionary several times the day and night before her presentation.
During her speech, she spoke fluently w i t h o u t any
confusion whatsoever. She reported being relaxed and completely comfortable the entire time. A gardener found it easier to recognize plants after PhotoReading a guide. A high school English teacher used the PhotoReading whole mind system to prepare for an American literature unit on Hemingway. She PhotoRead all the commentaries on Hemingway's w r i t i n g , plus all books he wrote including the two the class unit w o u l d cover. In addition, she rapid read the two books. She surprised herself as the material activated spontaneously during her lectures. Her knowledge of the subject contained rich examples giving the class depth that surpassed any unit she had ever taught.
2 Old R e a d i n g Habits or N e w R e a d i n g Choices
T a k e a m o m e n t to paint a vivid m e n t a l picture of the kind of reading
materials you
encounter regularly.
A m o n g the
possibilities are: • W e b s i t e s a n d e l e c t r o n i c files • M a g a z i n e s or trade j o u r n a l s •
Newspapers
• Mail and email •
Memos
•
O w n e r ' s m a n u a l s or reference guides
• Training materials •
Reports
• P r o p o s a l s or s a l e s literature •
Specification sheets
• Nonfiction books • Novels, poetry, and short stories Quickly answer the following questions in y o u r mind: • H o w well do y o u comprehend what y o u read? • H o w well do you r e m e m b e r what y o u read? • W h a t are y o u r strong points as a reader? • W h a t is the one t h i n g y o u w o u l d m o s t like to change about the way y o u read?
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices
11
P l a y w i t h t w o p o s s i b l e s c e n a r i o s for y o u r f u t u r e , b a s e d o n how you read today. H e r e is one we call the plight of the e l e m e n t a r y reader: You enter your office greeted by stacks of unread memos, reports, manuals,
and journals.
Thosepiles of paper feel like a reprimand. Rather
than face them, you stash them. But you cannot help worrying that you have buried a vital idea or fact—some critical insight that could lead to a promotion or help you avoid an embarrassing mistake.
As you plod through your daily round of
meetings
and phone
you
calls,
will get to all
you
tell yourself that
that reading...tomorrow.
The situation at home is similar. untouched
magazines,
newspapers,
Piles of
and
mail
clutter your living space. The prospect of hacking your
way
How
about
your
biographies,
and
special
through
day?
that comes The
it
seems
chance
to
motivational
That
day just
distant, read
at
for
books keeps
best.
pleasure—to you
have
retreating
enjoy been
behind
those
novels,
saving for everything
a else
along. idea
make sense.
of further professional
training
You get excited thinking about
or the
education
seems
career advances
to and
extra income that you stand to gain. A question that stops you cold: How would I ever get all
that reading done?
Even if, by some miracle, you conquered all of those unread stacks, you
still face
the
challenge
of remembering,
explaining,
and
applying
what you read. So, you put off reading another day and live in a state of confusion,
chaos,
and quiet
desperation.
Is this scenario familiar to y o u ? A r e y o u trying to c o p e in the i n f o r m a t i o n age u s i n g r e a d i n g skills l e a r n e d in e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l ? N o w c o n s i d e r scenario n u m b e r t w o , w h i c h w e will call the joy of the PhotoReader: You begin each work day feeling on top of the information needed to make effective and timely decisions.
Whenever you
with a sense of effortlessness and relaxation. approval by
for
your
solid evidence.
proposals
because
your
read, you do so
You find it easier to recommendations
are
win
backed
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind
Reading technical nozv
requires
System
reports,
a
12
task that
only minutes per document.
At
used
to
consume hours,
the end of your day you
look at a clear deskfeeling ready for the following day. This quality extends to your home life as well. of untouched books,
magazines,
your living space.
You keep
minutes a day. * c
your
P\f\
f
newspapers,
"to
up with
Gone are the piles
and mail that once crowded
the latest daily news in
10-15
In a single sitting you pare down or eliminate
be
read" piles.
consistently complete
And
the
with
the
top-priority
extra
tasks
time,
on your
you to-do
lists. Your courses, expand general Now
reading
you
which
advanced
reading
complete degrees, your
knowledge,
curiosity. create go
abilities
The
ease
time for
beyond
the
enable you
gain promotions,
learn
and of it
novels, immediate
all
to
satisfy makes
magazines, demands
take
new skills, your
learning fun. and
pleasure
of your
job.
In the process, you create free time to play as well. H o l d t h i s s c e n a r i o i n m i n d for a f e w m o r e s e c o n d s . S a v o r the resulting feelings of mastery and pleasure. Enjoy the extra time,
money,
and pleasure
that reading adds
t o y o u r life.
Isn't that nice?
Decide your future
now
O n e m e s s a g e I h o p e y o u w i l l t a k e f r o m t h i s b o o k , a b o v e all o t h e r s , i s t h a t y o u c a n c h o o s e w h i c h s c e n a r i o i s t r u e for y o u . Y o u can place yourself on a path to either of these worlds in a m o m e n t . Y o u already possess the p o w e r to create either scenario, a n d it is i m p e r a t i v e to d e c i d e a n d s h a p e the future y o u w a n t . If this appeal to shape y o u r destiny as a reader seems o v e r l y d r a m a t i c o r silly, t h e n c o n s i d e r a s t a t i s t i c : f e w e r t h a n t e n p e r c e n t o f t h e p e o p l e w h o b u y a b o o k e v e r g e t b e y o n d t h e first c h a p t e r . ( C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! Y o u a r e a l r e a d y i n t o C h a p t e r 2.) M a n y p e o p l e w h o e n r o l l i n o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r say they typically never make it b e y o n d the cover of the b o o k s they buy.
Instead,
they
simply
accumulate
or circulate books,
magazines, brochures, mail, m e m o s , and reports. The information i n t h e s e m a t e r i a l s c o u l d j u s t a s w e l l b e w r i t t e n i n d i s a p p e a r i n g ink.
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices
13
As y o u go b e y o n d the o p e n i n g of this b o o k , y o u will d i s c o v e r a set o f t o o l s for g a i n i n g a n e w e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g . U s e the tools, a n d y o u will find i t w i t h i n y o u r p o w e r t o m a k e the i d e a l r e a d i n g s c e n a r i o c o m e t r u e for y o u . I f y o u d o n o t g o b e y o n d this c h a p t e r , y o u r e x p e r i e n c e of r e a d i n g w i l l stay t h e s a m e as it is today.
Break
old reading habits
I k n o w y o u w a n t results, a n d y o u will p r o b a b l y try m a n y of the techniques I suggest. H o w e v e r , achieving n e w results m e a n s more than trying new reading behaviors. Y o u must adopt an alternative view of what reading can be. Take everything you know about reading and you have just defined the barriers to getting n e w results. Elementary s c h o o l r e a d i n g i m p r i n t s u s all w i t h a m o d e l o f r e a d i n g t h a t l i m i t s our minds. This m o d e l or "paradigm" exerts t r e m e n d o u s p o w e r over y o u r actions and y o u r potential results. E l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g i s a fairly p a s s i v e affair, o f t e n d o n e without a clear sense of purpose.
H a v e y o u ever spent ten
m i n u t e s r e a d i n g a n e w s p a p e r article to d i s c o v e r it w a s a w a s t e of time? That happens w h e n you read passively. O n e - s p e e d fits all i s t h e e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g m a x i m ; g e n e r a l l y we plow through every type of reading material—from comic b o o k s to t e x t b o o k s — a t the s a m e rate. It m a k e s m o r e sense to get the facts from a t r a d e j o u r n a l w i t h a different s p e e d t h a n we w o u l d u s e r e a d i n g a n o v e l for p l e a s u r e . W e f e e l p r e s s u r e t o g e t i t r i g h t t h e first t i m e w i t h e l e m e n t a r y reading.
We expect to
c o m p r e h e n d everything in one pass
t h r o u g h t h e m a t e r i a l . I f w e d o n o t , w e feel i n a d e q u a t e a s r e a d e r s . M u s i c i a n s do not pressure t h e m s e l v e s to play m u s i c from a s c o r e p e r f e c t l y t h e first t i m e . W h y m u s t w e b e p e r f e c t a s r e a d e r s ? T h i n k a b o u t all the t a s k s w e are s u p p o s e d t o a c c o m p l i s h i n that single pass t h r o u g h a d o c u m e n t : c o m p r e h e n d the structure, grasp the key terms,
and follow the m a i n a r g u m e n t s or plot
e v e n t s . O n t o p o f t h a t , w e m u s t r e m e m b e r i t all, c r i t i q u e it, a n d quote it accurately. Faced with these kinds of d e m a n d s , the conscious m i n d often b e c o m e s o v e r w h e l m e d a n d c a n literally shut d o w n . T h i s is
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
14
c o m p o u n d e d w h e n w e feel a n x i e t y , w h i c h h a p p e n s w h e n w e c o m e to the end of a p a r a g r a p h and have no idea w h a t we j u s t read. H a s this h a p p e n e d to y o u ? B e c o m i n g o v e r w h e l m e d by too m u c h information is easy in this age of information overload. H a v e y o u ever found y o u r eyes m o v i n g d o w n t h e p a g e w h i l e y o u r m i n d w e n t off t o a far a w a y l a n d ? It is as if the lights are on, b u t n o b o d y is h o m e . This leads to
document shock—a
short-circuit in y o u r
interna] connections. Too m u c h current c o m i n g over the lines sends the w i r i n g up in smoke. This b r e a k d o w n at the c o n s c i o u s level s l o w s the flow of i n f o r m a t i o n to a trickle w h e n we read. T h e m o r e facts, details, a n d o t h e r d a t a w e t r y t o c r a m in, t h e l e s s w e r e c a l l . I n t h i s a g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d , i t i s e a s y t o feel l i k e a starving person with a can of soup but no can opener. e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g skills,
w e often l e a v e h u n g r y .
With
We plow
t h r o u g h b o o k s , p e r i o d i c a l s , m a n u a l s , a n d m a i l , only t o find that w e are c r a v i n g s o m e t h i n g w e c a n n o t s e e m t o get.
Anything
useful from t h e s e piles of i n f o r m a t i o n r e m a i n s sealed from us. Will elementary reading habits deliver what we need? If y o u r answer is "no," y o u k n o w the p r o b l e m exists—and that is great. Y o u have entered a powerful place, one w h e r e y o u are p o i s e d for c h a n g e .
Embrace new reading choices R e a d e r s w h o thrive t o d a y t a k e a different a p p r o a c h t h a n the e l e m e n t a r y school m o d e l of reading. T h e y are flexible in their reading. T h e y adjust their s p e e d to the t y p e of material at hand. They
know
what they
w a n t from the
written piece.
They
c o n s i s t e n t l y find g e m s o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t d e l i v e r r e a l b e n e f i t . A c t i v e , p u r p o s e f u l , q u e s t i o n i n g , a n d fully e n g a g e d — t h a t describes the b e s t readers.
T h e s e effective r e a d i n g strategies
b e c o m e a part of y o u r repertoire as y o u learn the P h o t o R e a d i n g whole m i n d system. In the process, y o u will discover e n h a n c e d retention, recall, and enjoyment. PhotoReading
shifts
you
away
from
the
prevailing
e l e m e n t a r y reading m o d e l into w h o l e m i n d reading and m a k e s
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices
15
you a b l a s p h e m e r of traditional reading theory. As such you will encounter many people w h o will
say
PhotoReading cannot
possibly work. T h e next story illustrates w h a t I m e a n . A colleague at L e a r n i n g Strategies Corporation discovered that With the PhotoReading PhotoReading whole mind system, you use the creative-intuitive mind
as w e l l
as the
critical-logical mind to
even college
professors
resist
new
p a r a d i g m s . Faculty m e m b e r s at a college in M i n n e s o t a tried to b l o c k us from offering the P h o t o R e a d i n g seminar on the grounds that PhotoReading is impossible.
accomplish your goals.
The
P h o t o R e a d e r a g r e e d to
offer a
demonstration. A v o l u m e of U . S . patent law w a s projected, page by page, onto a video monitor. My colleague P h o t o R e a d this material as it w a s displayed at a p p r o x i m a t e l y 30 pages a second (over 690,000 words per minute). Afterwards, he scored
75
percent
comprehension.
In addition,
he
drew
a p p r o x i m a t i o n s of six p a t e n t illustrations and correctly identified their numeric sequence. T h e p a r a d i g m h a d shifted right b e f o r e t h e i r e y e s . D o y o u suppose they supported the seminar? N o . Seeing is not believing. T o shift y o u r p a r a d i g m y o u m u s t b e l i e v e i t b e f o r e y o u s e e it. T h i n k o f P h o t o R e a d i n g a s a p a r a d i g m shift, a n d y o u w i l l d o t h e "impossible."
You cannot "read" at 25,000 words per minute Before learning PhotoReading,
many people hear such
stories as above and respond with, "That is nuts! There is no w a y y o u c a n r e a d t h a t fast." T h e y are right. No o n e ' s " c o n s c i o u s m i n d " c a n read that fast. P h o t o R e a d i n g i s n o t " r e a d i n g " a s w e k n o w it. T h i s k i n d o f information processing is possible only w h e n we temporarily b y p a s s the critical, logical, analytical mind. We do not P h o t o R e a d with the conscious mind. Instead, we draw on vast layers of the m i n d that r e m a i n largely u n u s e d during conventional reading. This literally m e a n s u s i n g the b r a i n in a n e w w a y . W e still h a v e t o f a c e e v e r y d a y r e a d i n g c h a l l e n g e s , s o let u s employ an approach to
reading that uses b o t h hemispheres
of the brain.
left h e m i s p h e r e
F r o m the
we
draw u p o n the
abilities to analyze, s e q u e n c e information, and reason logically.
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
16
F r o m the right h e m i s p h e r e we obtain the abilities to synthesize, comprehend, create internal images, and respond intuitively. W h e n y o u learn to mentally p h o t o g r a p h a b o o k at a rate of one page a s e c o n d — a b o u t 2 5 , 0 0 0 w o r d s per m i n u t e — y o u are taking a new approach to processing information. At such rates, the
old left-to-right,
elementary
reading
word-by-word, cannot
line-by-line
operate.
Instead,
method of
you meet the
printed p a g e using abilities ascribed to the right h e m i s p h e r e of the brain. After P h o t o R e a d i n g a b o o k , the next step is to stimulate a n d a c t i v a t e y o u r b r a i n . T h i s s t e p o f " a c t i v a t i o n , " a s w e c a l l it, lets
you
extract
information you
need
from
the
book
to
a c c o m p l i s h y o u r g o a l s for r e a d i n g . A c c e p t i n g that y o u can process the written w o r d at an o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s l e v e l shifts t h e r e a d i n g p a r a d i g m . M a k e this
shift,
and you
can make your experience
of reading
powerful, effective, a n d easy.
Take an unexpected path to success S o m e a s p e c t s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g m a y s e e m w h i m s i c a l a t first. Instead of learning the expected techniques of speed reading, y o u learn about the tangerine lucid dreaming, guide
you
technique,
cocktail weenies,
and other unusual processes.
through
experiences
that
you
I purposefully have
not
had,
possibly do not want, and m a y not think y o u need. Sound odd?
It is
no
more
odd than discovering the
p r i n c i p l e s o f p h y s i c s b y l e a r n i n g h o w t o d o w n h i l l ski. W h y n o t d o i t t h a t w a y ? T o h e l p t h e p a r a d i g m shift, w e m u s t t a k e a n unusual, u n e x p e c t e d path.
Otherwise, we tend to
solve our
r e a d i n g p r o b l e m i n w a y s t h a t fit o u r c u r r e n t v i e w o f t h e p r o b l e m . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n we h a v e a lot to read, we t e n d to s p e e d up—but our comprehension drops.
We then slow d o w n and
overload the c o n s c i o u s mind. T h e net result is no increase in speed or comprehension but an enormous increase in internal conflict. This conflict r e c r e a t e s the p r o b l e m s we a t t e m p t e d to s o l v e . A n d w e still h a v e a l o t t o r e a d .
Old Reading Habits
or
New
Reading
Choices
17
It takes away our excuses It t h e t h o u g h t of z i p p i n g t h r o u g h a b o o k at a p a g e a s e c o n d sounds unlikely, r e m e m b e r that a n e w approach always seems outlandish w h e n we v i e w it t h r o u g h the lenses of the old m o d e l . W h e n a p a r a d i g m shifts, e v e r y t h i n g b e g i n s a g a i n . O l d r u l e s m a y n o l o n g e r apply. E v e n so, p r o f o u n d c h a n g e s c a n h a p p e n painlessly, i n a n i n s t a n t , a n d h a v e f a r - r e a c h i n g effects. I like the w a y one of o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g g r a d u a t e s ,
a
m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r , p u t it: "It i s s c a r y t o t h i n k t h a t o u r m i n d s a r e u n l i m i t e d . I t t a k e s a w a y all o u r e x c u s e s . " I f y o u feel u n e a s y w i t h t h e p r o s p e c t o f a p a r a d i g m shift, c o n s i d e r t h e w o r d s o f a n o t h e r graduate:
" S t e p i n t o t h e u n k n o w n . D o n ' t b e afraid. Y o u w i l l
either find solid g r o u n d , or y o u will be t a u g h t to fly." W e m u s t try n e w attitudes a n d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h n e w a c t i o n s . Otherwise, h o w can we produce n e w results in our lives? A p e r s o n i n o n e o f o u r s e m i n a r s o v e r c a m e his fear o f s u c c e s s a n d said, "I finally u n d e r s t a n d . T h i s s e m i n a r c a n t r a n s f o r m my l i f e — but I have b e e n acting as t h o u g h I can do it without c h a n g i n g any of my beliefs or my behavior!"
What you have to give up To master PhotoReading you must give up: • l o w s e l f e s t e e m as a l e a r n e r •
self-defeating habits like p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n a n d self-doubt
• perfectionism,
"all or n o n e "
thinking that dwells on
failure rather t h a n feedback and learning • distrust in the other-than-conscious m i n d and intuitive abilities • the need to k n o w everything right a w a y • performance anxiety • a s t r e s s f u l s e n s e of u r g e n c y M o r e than anything else, y o u m u s t give up negative attitudes that get in the w a y of y o u r success. F o r e x a m p l e , one participant in a P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r never considered himself m u c h of a reader, and his belief b e c a m e a personal barrier:
"I j u s t don't
think I am going to be able to learn this." A n o t h e r participant in the s a m e s e m i n a r also
c l a i m e d p o o r reading skills, b u t her
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
18
approach was more open to giving up her limitations: "I am just going to do w h a t e v e r it takes to master this." B o t h p e o p l e l e a r n e d t o P h o t o R e a d . T h e first o n e , w h i l e c l i n g i n g t o a n e g a t i v e belief, f o u n d i t m u c h m o r e difficult t o discover the true abilities he p o s s e s s e d . W h e n he m a d e the important internal change, the P h o t o R e a d i n g whole mind system h e l p e d c h a n g e h i s r e s u l t s i n life. A s p r o f o u n d a s P h o t o R e a d i n g c a n b e t o y o u r life, t h e r e i s a n added reassurance: y o u do not have to give up any pleasure in r e a d i n g . I n fact, y o u g e t t o k e e p y o u r r e g u l a r r e a d i n g s k i l l s . A woman who
loved
reading
novels
exclaimed
after t a k i n g
PhotoReading, "I've rediscovered the joy of reading!" H e r pleasure r e a d i n g b e c a m e a r i c h e r , fuller e x p e r i e n c e .
Here is the system The d e m a n d s placed on y o u as a reader in our age of i n f o r m a t i o n are t r e m e n d o u s .
The PhotoReading whole mind
system can help y o u meet any challenge. It w o r k s w i t h any subject m a t t e r a n d flexibly a d a p t s to different p u r p o s e s , print formats, rates of speed, and levels of c o m p r e h e n s i o n . T h e five s t e p s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m u s e the abilities of y o u r w h o l e m i n d with p o w e r and effectiveness. L e t u s o v e r v i e w t h e s t e p s n o w . I n t h e n e x t five c h a p t e r s y o u w i l l d e v e l o p skills to apply e a c h step effectively.
Step 1: Prepare R e a d i n g e f f e c t i v e l y b e g i n s w i t h a c l e a r s e n s e o f purpose. Read t o
T h i s m e a n s c o n s c i o u s l y s t a t i n g a d e s i r e d o u t c o m e for r e a d i n g ,
end o f F o r e x a m p l e , w e m i g h t w a n t a b r i e f o v e r v i e w o f m a i n p o i n t s . W e Chapter m i g h t w a n t t o g a i n c e r t a i n d e t a i l s s u c h a s t h e s o l u t i o n s t o s p e c i f i c problems. Perhaps we want to complete a task and seek only the ideas that will h e l p us do so. P u r p o s e acts like a radar signal to the inner m i n d a l l o w i n g it to p r o d u c e the results we seek. E m p o w e r e d with a clear purpose, enter
a
state
of
relaxed
alertness—the
we
then
accelerative
learning state. W h i l e in this state, neither b o r e d o m
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices
19
n o r a n x i e t y e x i s t . W e a r e e x e r t i n g effort, b u t w e a r e n o t w o r r i e d about results. H a v e y o u ever w a t c h e d y o u n g children as they play? They m o d e l the
s a m e r e l a x e d y e t purposeful state w e
seek here.
Step 2: Preview P r e v i e w i n g i s b a s e d o n a n i m p o r t a n t p r i n c i p l e : effective l e a r n i n g o f t e n t a k e s p l a c e " f r o m w h o l e t o p a r t s . " T h a t is, w e s t a r t with
the
big
picture
and
proceed
to
the
smaller,
more
detailed parts. F i r s t w e survey t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l . O u r a i m i s n o t t o g r a s p t h e c o n t e n t i n d e t a i l , b u t t o g e t a s e n s e o f its s t r u c t u r e . T h e n w e g a t h e r a list o f k e y t e r m s , o r trigger words, w h i c h e m b o d y t h e c o r e c o n c e p t s or events. T r i g g e r w o r d s alert our m i n d s to the details w e m i g h t w a n t t o e x p l o r e m o r e t h o r o u g h l y later. W h e n d o n e effectively, p r e v i e w i n g is short a n d s w e e t — a b o u t five m i n u t e s for a b o o k , t h r e e m i n u t e s for a r e p o r t , a n d a s little a s 3 0 s e c o n d s for a n a r t i c l e . D u r i n g t h a t t i m e , w e clarify a n d r e f i n e o u r p u r p o s e , review t h e t r i g g e r w o r d s , a n d d e c i d e w h e t h e r to c o n t i n u e r e a d i n g or call it quits. If we c h o o s e not to read s o m e t h i n g that d o e s n o t m e e t o u r n e e d s o r i n t e r e s t s , i t i s all r i g h t . P r e v i e w i n g is like x-raying a b o o k — g e t t i n g a b r o a d sense of its
underlying
structure.
Understanding
s o m e t h i n g that learning theorists
call
a
structure schema,
gives a
us
set of
expectations about w h a t i s c o m i n g u p next. W h e n w e k n o w the structure of w r i t t e n text, we b e c o m e m o r e a c c u r a t e at p r e d i c t i n g its
content.
As
a
result,
our comprehension
and
reading
p l e a s u r e soar. In summary, previewing gives us the skeleton of a b o o k or a r t i c l e first. D u r i n g t h e n e x t s t e p s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e mind system, we add b o d y to the skeleton.
Step 3: PhotoRead The PhotoReading technique begins with placing ourselves m o r e fully i n t o t h e r e l a x e d , a l e r t s t a t e o f m i n d a n d b o d y c a l l e d t h e
The PhotoReading accelerative
Whole Mind System
learning
state.
20
In this
state,
d i s t r a c t i o n s , w o r r i e s , a n d t e n s i o n s s e e m t o fall f . away. Then
we
adjust
our
vision
for
A
the
PhotoFocus s t a t e . H e r e t h e a i m i s t o u s e o u r e y e s * * in a n e w w a y : instead of b r i n g i n g individual w o r d s into sharp focus, we soften our eyes so that our p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n e x p a n d s and the w h o l e printed page c o m e s into view. PhotoFocus
creates
a physical
and
mental window—
allowing direct exposure of the i n c o m i n g visual stimuli to the brain. In this state, we mentally p h o t o g r a p h the entire p a g e , exposing it to the preconscious processor of the mind.
The
exposure of each page stimulates a direct neurological response. The
brain
performs
its
function
of pattern
recognition,
u n e n c u m b e r e d by the critical/logical thought process of the conscious mind. At a rate of o n e p a g e a second, we c a n P h o t o R e a d a w h o l e b o o k i n t h r e e t o five m i n u t e s . T h i s i s n o t t r a d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g . A f t e r P h o t o R e a d i n g , we m a y h a v e little if any of the m a t e r i a l in conscious awareness, which means we may consciously know nothing. T h e n e x t steps create the c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s we need.
Step
4: Activate
During activation we restimulate the brain— probing
the
mind w i t h q u e s t i o n s
and
exploring
p a r t s o f t h e t e x t t o w h i c h w e feel m o s t a t t r a c t e d . W e t h e n super read t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p a r t s o f t h e t e x t b y scanning quickly d o w n the center of each page or c o l u m n of type. W h e n w e feel i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e , w e dip i n t o t h e t e x t f o r m o r e focused reading to c o m p r e h e n d the details. In dipping, we allow o u r intuition to say, " H e y , t u r n to the last p a r a g r a p h on p a g e 147! Y e s , that is the one. T h e ideas y o u w a n t are right there." Other activation techniques d e v e l o p e d while reading this b o o k i n c l u d e rhythmic perusal,
skittering,
and
mind mapping.
These
also help us gain access to the d e e p e r i m p r e s s i o n s established by PhotoReading. W h e n we activate, we involve our whole brain, c o n n e c t the text w i t h our conscious a w a r e n e s s , and achieve our g o a l s for reading.
Old Reading Habits
or
New
Reading
Choices
21
Step 5: Rapid Read T h i s final step o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e mind system is closest to conventional reading and speed reading. While rapid reading, we m o v e o u r eyes quickly t h r o u g h the text, starting at the b e g i n n i n g and going straight through to the end. We take a s m u c h t i m e a s w e n e e d , f e e l i n g free t o a d j u s t o u r r e a d i n g s p e e d depending
upon
the
complexity,
prior
knowledge,
and
importance of the material. Flexibility is key. R a p i d r e a d i n g is significant, b e c a u s e it d i s p e l s the p r i m e fear of many beginning PhotoReaders
Reading is really learning from written pages. W h e n first learning to play a
that they will forget w h a t they
new piece of music or a new golf
have
course, you do not expect to do it
read,
or that they
never
a b s o r b e d any of the text in the firstplace. R a p i d reading directly
perfectly the first t i m e . You will learn as you go through each part several times. The "multiple r e a d " approach
involves the conscious m i n d and
of the
satisfies
system duplicates the appropriate way
our
need
for
clear
c o m p r e h e n s i o n of the content.
PhotoReading whole
mind
to learn anything new.
R e m e m b e r , this step takes p l a c e after t h e o t h e r s t e p s o f t h e s y s t e m . T h o s e s t e p s m a k e u s increasingly familiar w i t h the text. T h e r e will b e t i m e s w h e n w e c h o o s e n o t t o r a p i d r e a d , b e c a u s e w e h a v e a l r e a d y fulfilled o u r needs. W i t h t h i s o v e r v i e w i n m i n d , y o u a r e r e a d y t o d o it.
An executive said that PhotoReading dozens of books on
management
principles has improved his job performance. Another received an unusually large pay raise a year after the PhotoReading class—she said she developed such an increased understanding of the industry through PhotoReading that it dramatically improved her productivity.
The
PhotoReading
Whole
Mind
System
22
A salesperson from London PhotoRead a selection of books on self-esteem and confidence building, because his sales were low.
He noticed an immediate
change in his confidence, attitude, and sales. A graphic artist routinely PhotoRead design books. He said it heightened his creative ability. A mother PhotoRead her children's homework to better help them with their studies. A proofreader discovered that, after PhotoReading documents first, she missed fewer mistakes. A public relations specialist found himself in a toy store after learning to PhotoRead.
He said, "I became very playful after learning PhotoReading."
A 13-year-old PhotoRead his mom's college text book hoping to help her w i t h her homework.
He immediately understood the problem. His mom then
pledged to learn PhotoReading. An amateur chef found himself creating delicious new recipes after PhotoReading his library of cook books. A PhotoReader PhotoRead 23 books on Shakespeare over a several week period hoping to build a foundation so that he could appreciate Shakespeare. Then he sat back with one of Shakespeare's plays. For the first time in his life he understood why so many people have enjoyed Shakespeare's work. He found the play easier to read, fascinating, and enjoyable. A new homeowner PhotoRead all the home-improvement books he could f i n d . Friends who helped him on his projects were amazed at how much he knew and began calling him for advice. A high school defensive football coach repeatedly PhotoRead football play books prior to the start of the season. He discovered during game situations he could predict the opposing team's offensive strategy and respond w i t h the ideal defensive play. His thinking speed and mental alertness were dramatically improved. A PhotoReader lost his job after learning PhotoReading.
He credits his higher
paying, new job to PhotoReading and learning a new industry quickly. An entrepreneur had difficulty understanding the advice of his legal counsel. He PhotoRead several books on the subject in a bookstore. As he was leaving, a flash of insight streaked through his m i n d , drawing him back to the books. He intuitively grabbed one from the shelf, and opened the book automatically to the page that offered a clear explanation of the advice.
Part Two: Learn the PhotoReading Whole Mind System
lAole T*lm«l System
3
Step 1: Prepare
I perform better at any activity, from public s p e a k i n g to fishing, if I am well p r e p a r e d . Y e t , I u s e d to p i c k up a b o o k or m a g a z i n e a n d j u s t start r e a d i n g w i t h n o p r e p a r a t i o n a t all. N o w I treat r e a d i n g as a g o a l - o r i e n t e d activity. P r e p a r i n g for a f e w m o m e n t s i n c r e a s e s m y c o n c e n t r a t i o n , c o m p r e h e n s i o n , and retention of w h a t I read. P r e p a r i n g may s e e m simple, but it i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f effective r e a d i n g . A l l s t e p s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e mind system actually revolve around preparation. Being prepared to P h o t o R e a d is m u c h more than getting the b o o k o u t t o r e a d it. I t i n v o l v e s s t a t i n g y o u r p u r p o s e a n d f i x i n g y o u r p o i n t of attention to e n t e r the ideal state of mind.
25
Prepare
1.
State your purpose
Establishing p u r p o s e is hardly a n e w idea. Francis B a c o n , the sixteenth-century E n g l i s h p h i l o s o p h e r , said it well,
"Some
b o o k s are to be tasted, others to be s w a l l o w e d , and s o m e few to be c h e w e d and digested; that is, s o m e b o o k s are to be r e a d only in parts, others to be read b u t not curiously, and s o m e few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention." All reading ultimately serves a purpose, either consciously or unconsciously. Example
of
purpose
A
human resource consultant went
to
the
library
PhotoRead the
to
corporate
W h e n we
state o u r
purpose explicitly, we greatly increase the
odds
of attaining
it.
Purpose
u n l e a s h e s ability. A l m o s t a n y t h i n g can
report on a prospective client
be a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h a strong sense of
before their initial meeting
purpose. Purpose is the engine that drives
Her purpose for the eight
the P h o t o R e a d i n g whole mind system.
minutes she invested was to get a feel for the trends of the
company where they
Establishing purpose which
can
be
felt
is
power
emotionally
and
had come from and where
physically. R e a d e r s w i t h a firm sense of
they were headed
purpose acquire n e w feelings about the
Her goal
was to get in sync with the corporate
executives and
relate her skills effectively to their
present
and
future
a c t o f r e a d i n g . T h e y sit a s i f t h e y m e a n business. W h e n y o u have strong purpose, y o u r b o d y b e c o m e s s t r o n g a n d alert. Set
needs
your
purpose
by
asking
questions such as: Example
of
purpose
A
banker w a n t e d to interface his new computer w i t h his new printer After hours of trying,
he
unsuccessful
remained Before going
to bed, he PhotoRead both manuals to
let
His purpose was his
other-than-
conscious mind work out the
•
What is my ultimate application of
this material? W h a t will I e x p e c t to do or s a y d i f f e r e n t l y after r e a d i n g it? M a y b e I simply want to pass time or savor the experience of reading. • How
important is
this
material
to
me? I n t h e l o n g r u n , h o w w o r t h w h i l e i s it? D o e s r e a d i n g t h i s m a t e r i a l c r e a t e v a l u e
details of the problem and
for m e ? I f s o , w h a t s p e c i f i c a l l y i s t h a t
solve
value?
it upon awakening
Within the first
half-hour
after awakening, he had the printer working perfectly
•
What
level
of detail
do
I
want?
Do I w a n t to e m e r g e from reading it with the big picture? Do I w a n t to understand only the m a i n points? Do I w a n t to recall
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
26
specific facts a n d o t h e r d e t a i l s ? Is r e a d i n g the entire d o c u m e n t relevant to my p u r p o s e ? C o u l d I gain w h a t I w a n t by r e a d i n g a single chapter or section instead? •
How much time am I willing to commit right now to satisfy my
purpose? M a k i n g a t i m e c o m m i t m e n t g e n t l y f o r c e s a t t e n t i o n o n the task. I am increasing the i m p o r t a n c e of reading, b e c a u s e it is the only thing I c h o o s e to do right now. In summary,
do y o u want a general understanding of
information, or do y o u need subtle details? Do y o u w a n t to study something, or just gain pleasure and relaxation? T o o m a n y p e o p l e are on a trip w i t h no destination. T h e y a p p r o a c h reading with no sense of w h e r e they w a n t to go. If I do not get value from w h a t I am reading,
I ask,
" W h a t is my
p u r p o s e ? " Invariably the a n s w e r is a r e s o u n d i n g " H u h ? " If I do n o t h a v e p u r p o s e , m y r e a d i n g i s p a s s i v e a n d often wasteful. Purpose
and time
information age,
m a n a g e m e n t are inseparable.
we can no
In the
longer presume to read every
d o c u m e n t at the same speed or level of c o m p r e h e n s i o n . N o t only is this impossible given the a m o u n t of material we need to read, i t i s n o t e v e n d e s i r a b l e . A s F r a n c i s B a c o n p u t it, s o m e t h i n g s a r e w o r t h r e a d i n g in great detail; others are not w o r t h r e a d i n g at all. K e e p in m i n d that y o u r p u r p o s e can be quite inventive. F o r i n s t a n c e , y o u r m a i n p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g i n t h e d e n t i s t ' s office may be distraction: y o u simply w a n t to avoid thinking about the s o u n d of the drill in the n e x t r o o m . T h a t is a l e g i t i m a t e p u r p o s e and p r o m p t s a distinctive experience of reading. State y o u r p u r p o s e e v e r y t i m e y o u read. This habit e n g a g e s the m i n d and increases concentration. W h e n y o u establish y o u r p u r p o s e , t h e full p o w e r o f y o u r m i n d c o m e s i n t o p l a y . In addition, p u r p o s e l o o s e n s the grip of guilt, a w o r d that frequently arises w h e n people talk about their reading habits. M a n y o f u s w e r e i m p r i n t e d w i t h strict rules a b o u t h o w w e w e r e " s u p p o s e d to read." O n e m a n said, "I b o u g h t the d a r n m a g a z i n e , so e v e n if I d o n ' t w a n t to r e a d all the articles, I am c o m p e l l e d to finish the w h o l e t h i n g . " W i t h a sense of purpose, y o u can justify putting aside the material y o u do not n e e d to read. Simply w e e d out the publications t h a t fail t o c r e a t e v a l u e for y o u . E s t a b l i s h i n g p u r p o s e t a k e s a s little a s t w o s e c o n d s , y e t t h e
Prepare
27
payoffs can save y o u h u n d r e d s of hours over the course of y o u r lifetime. This technique is so far-reaching that it c a n instantly and permanently change the effectiveness of y o u r reading.
2. Enter the ideal state for reading W h e n I r e a d m o s t efficiently, my b o d y is r e l a x e d and my m i n d is alert. If I m a i n t a i n r e l a x e d alertness, I am m o r e able to c o m p r e h e n d , retain, and recall w h a t I read. To h e l p y o u q u i c k l y a n d easily e s t a b l i s h the ideal state of relaxed alertness, y o u can use the "tangerine technique." This simple
technique
automatically
directs your
attention and
immediately improves reading performance. Studies
show
that b o t h
reading
and
memory
require
attention. Y o u can consciously attend to seven, plus or minus t w o , different bits o f i n f o r m a t i o n a t o n e t i m e . (That i s w h y M a B e l l originally m a d e p h o n e n u m b e r s s e v e n digits long.) In other words, you have approximately seven units of attention available at any m o m e n t . A
R e s e a r c h also indicates that fixing one unit of attention on a single p o i n t h e l p s y o u effectively focus y o u r other available units of attention w h e n reading.
W h e r e y o u fix y o u r p o i n t
o f a t t e n t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n d r i v i n g a car, t h e best point of attention is d o w n the
road—not on your hood
o r n a m e n t o r t h e b u m p e r o n t h e car i n front o f y o u .
F o r the
efficient r e a d e r , t h e ideal p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n i s j u s t b e h i n d a n d above the head. The tangerine technique helps locate and maintain the ideal
v A
point of attention a n d instantly creates the relaxed, alert state of body
and mind we
desire
for r e a d i n g .
Here
are the
steps
to follow: • Hold an imaginary tangerine in your hand. Experience the weight, color, texture, and smell of the tangerine. N o w toss it i n t o t h e o t h e r h a n d a n d c a t c h it. T o s s t h e t a n g e r i n e b a c k a n d f o r t h between your hands. • N o w catch the tangerine in your d o m i n a n t h a n d and bring it to the top b a c k part of y o u r head. T o u c h that area gently with y o u r hand. I m a g i n e feeling the tangerine resting there while y o u bring y o u r a r m d o w n and relax y o u r shoulders. Y o u can
Read A u
"
e
The
PhotoReading
Whole
Mind
System
p r e t e n d this is a m a g i c tangerine, and it will stay in p l a c e no m a t t e r w h e r e y o u p u t it. •
Gently close y o u r eyes and let
the tangerine balance on the back of your head.
Notice what happens to
y o u r p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l state a s y o u d o this. Y o u w i l l feel r e l a x e d a n d alert. W i t h y o u r eyes closed, imagine y o u r field o f v i s i o n o p e n i n g u p . • M a i n t a i n the relaxed feeling of alertness as y o u open your eyes and b e g i n reading. Here is an experiment you can d o n o w t o d i s c o v e r t h e p o t e n t i a l effects of the tangerine technique. Take any p a g e o f this b o o k y o u h a v e not y e t read. W i t h o u t the t a n g e r i n e i n p l a c e , read t w o o r three p a r a g r a p h s . A f t e r w a r d s , reflect o n y o u r experience. Then, put the tangerine in place, using the m e t h o d described above, and read two or three new paragraphs. Compare your experiences. D u r i n g the experiment, y o u m i g h t be overly self-conscious o f d o i n g s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t . I f s o , y o u m i g h t find t h e effect h a r d t o d e t e c t . M a n y p e o p l e r e p o r t a w i d e r v i s u a l field, fluid m o v e m e n t of the eyes w i t h less staccato or j u m p y m o v e m e n t s , a n d the ability to read w o r d phrases or e v e n w h o l e sentences at a glance. P l a y i n g w i t h this t e c h n i q u e lets y o u flow t h r o u g h r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l w i t h i n c r e a s e d speed a n d ease. Y o u r ability t o c o n c e n t r a t e on the information improves, and reading b e c o m e s more relaxing. A t first y o u w i l l c o n s c i o u s l y p l a c e t h e t a n g e r i n e o n t h e b a c k of y o u r head. S o o n it will b e c o m e a u t o m a t i c so that, w h e n e v e r you approach reading materials,
o n e u n i t o f a t t e n t i o n fixes
into place. T h i s p h y s i c a l l y relaxed a n d m e n t a l l y alert state is also p e r f e c t for o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a c t i v i t i e s . I t i s w i d e l y r e s e a r c h e d a s a state of p e a k h u m a n p e r f o r m a n c e .
This
state
is
similar to
c o n t e m p l a t i o n , meditation, a n d p r a y e r i n w h i c h y o u are a b s o r b e d in the present moment. W h i l e this is a state of relaxation, it is not the s a m e as g o i n g
Prepare
29
to sleep or b e c o m i n g d r o w s y . Rather, y o u focus y o u r m i n d w i t h a n i n n e r c a l m n e s s . Y o u h a v e a c c e s s t o all y o u r natural, i n n e r r e s o u r c e s .
Put it all together T h e f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e c a n h e l p y o u p r e p a r e for r e a d i n g i n 3 0 s e c o n d s . Y o u m a y w i s h t o h a v e a friend g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h it or r e c o r d it on tape so that y o u c a n play it b a c k later. • P l a c e y o u r r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s i n front o f y o u . D o n o t r e a d t
h
e
m
y
e
Read Bullets
t
• Begin to relax by closing your eyes. B e c o m e aware of y o u r s e l f from h e a d to toe. Y o u r spine is erect, y o u r p o s t u r e is comfortable, and your breathing is relaxed. • M e n t a l l y s t a t e y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g . ( F o r e x a m p l e , " D u r i n g t h e n e x t t e n m i n u t e s , I w i l l r e a d t h i s m a g a z i n e a r t i c l e for ideas to help me i m p r o v e my time m a n a g e m e n t skills.") • Place the imaginary tangerine at the top b a c k part of your head. • B e c o m e a w a r e of y o u r s e l f as r e l a x e d a n d alert. B r i n g a slight hint of a smile to the corners of y o u r eyes and the corners o f y o u r m o u t h t o relax y o u r face. E v e n w i t h y o u r eyes closed, y o u c a n i m a g i n e y o u r v i s u a l field o p e n i n g u p . Y o u h a v e a d i r e c t e y e mind connection. • N o w , at a rate that is c o m f o r t a b l e for y o u , m a i n t a i n i n g this
state
of relaxed alertness,
gently open your eyes
and
begin reading.
More on the tangerine technique T h e i d e a l s t a t e for r e a d i n g i s t y p i c a l l y i n s h o r t s u p p l y for m a n y people, especially at work. W h e n we read at work, the p h o n e is often r i n g i n g , s o m e o n e in the d o o r w a y is talking, we have to hurry to m a k e a meeting, and extraneous thoughts about g r o c e r i e s o r c a r r e p a i r s k e e p a traffic j a m i n o u r h e a d s . W i t h s u c h a morass of mental events, where does our attention end up? All over the place. R e a d i n g is next to impossible. I n c o n t r a s t , t h e i d e a l s t a t e for r e a d i n g i s t h e f l o w s t a t e , w h e n y o u are totally a b s o r b e d in the task at hand. That is w h e r e the t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e c o m e s into play.
The PhotoReading
Whole Mind System
30
In t h e m i d 1 9 8 0 s , I r e a d a f a s c i n a t i n g a r t i c l e in Brain/Mind Bulletin a b o u t R o n D a v i s , a r e a d i n g s p e c i a l i s t . D a v i s h a d d y s l e x i a , a r e a d i n g d i s a b i l i t y . W h i l e s e a r c h i n g for a s o l u t i o n t o t h i s p r o b l e m , he m a d e a discovery. People with dyslexia, he found, have a roving point of attention, one that w a n d e r s through space without c o m i n g to a fixed point. Skilled readers, on the other hand, h a v e a fixed point of attention located just b e h i n d and above the top of the head. By training himself to redirect his attention, he raised his reading, writing, and spelling skills from an e l e m e n t a r y to a college level in fewer than three years.
Today, Davis runs a
p r i v a t e clinic for p e o p l e w i t h l e a r n i n g disabilities. H i s e x c e l l e n t b o o k , The Gift of Dyslexia, d e s c r i b e s h i s m e t h o d in d e t a i l . H i s s e s s i o n s b e g i n by t r a i n i n g his clients to find the ideal p o i n t of attention, w h i c h he calls the " v i s u o - a w a r e n e s s epicenter." I tried his t e c h n i q u e m y s e l f and i m m e d i a t e l y noticed an increase in my concentration and ease in reading. If this technique h a d w o r k e d o n d y s l e x i c s , I s p e c u l a t e d , w h a t m i g h t t h e effect b e on a normal adult reader w h o has b e e n too scattered to read efficiently. Davis's w o r k had provided me with a creative leap. a c c o m p l i s h t h e effect o f h i s
"visuo-awareness epicenter,"
To I
d e v e l o p e d the tangerine technique. M o s t p e o p l e find that s e v e r a l b e n e f i t s flow i m m e d i a t e l y from the tangerine technique. To begin, they quickly and easily enter a r e l a x e d state of a l e r t n e s s . In addition, t h e y c a l m their m i n d s and automatically focus their attention. The result is an instant i m p r o v e m e n t in r e a d i n g skills. Historically, the tangerine technique has come d o w n to us in a variety of forms. The Chinese thinking cap, the wizard's cap, a n d e v e n t h e o r i g i n a l c o n c e p t for t h e " D u n c e c a p , " b e l i e v e i t o r n o t , w e r e all d e v i c e s for f o c u s i n g a t t e n t i o n . E a c h c a u s e s p a r t o f y o u r a t t e n t i o n to fixate at a p l a c e a b o v e a n d b e h i n d y o u r h e a d . E x p e r i m e n t w i t h this t e c h n i q u e . If the i m a g e of a tangerine d o e s n o t w o r k for y o u ,
t h e n try a n o t h e r w a y of fixing y o u r
attention to the place above and b e h i n d y o u r head.
Imagine
w e a r i n g a s o m b r e r o , w i t h a b i r d s i t t i n g o n t o p o f it. F e e l t h e s o m b r e r o resting on y o u r h e a d and focus y o u r attention on the bird. Another way is to imagine standing outside of your body,
Prepare
31
looking over the top of y o u r head, as y o u read. As y o u do this, n o t i c e t h e shift i n t h e w a y y o u feel. W h e n y o u fix y o u r p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n w i t h a n y o f t h e s e techniques
and
open your eyes,
a curious
thing happens.
S u d d e n l y , the m a t e r i a l y o u are r e a d i n g s e e m s m o r e m a n a g e a b l e . Y o u r v i s u a l h e l d enlarges, a n d y o u c a n e v e n see y o u r h a n d s h o l d i n g t h e p a g e s . I n t h i s s t a t e , y o u a r e p r e p a r e d t o t a k e i n far more visual information than before. A A
Adjusting y o u r state of m i n d is the goal. Y o u are not trying to hold the feeling of a tangerine the entire time y o u read. Getting
-
