How to Absorb Books 3x Faster in 7 Days (from a Med Student)

Salim Ahmed
21 Oct 202305:31

TLDRMed student Salim shares his 'Triforce Method' to triple reading speed in 7 days. Key strategies include eliminating internal monologue with tools like Spreeder, using a visual tracker for smoother eye movement, and applying the 80/20 rule to focus on key information. He emphasizes summarizing and consolidating knowledge for better retention and applying it to change behavior.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Improve your baseline reading speed by removing your internal monologue and using tools like Spreeder.
  • 👀 Use a visual tracker to maintain a smooth and consistent eye movement while reading, reducing regression and improving speed.
  • 🔍 Apply the 80/20 rule to identify and focus on the 20% of the book that contains 80% of the valuable information.
  • 💡 Slow down when you encounter key advice or important information to ensure better comprehension and absorption.
  • 📖 Adapt your reading techniques based on the type of material you are reading to optimize both speed and understanding.
  • 🧠 Summarize each page in one or two lines to enhance comprehension and retention of the information.
  • 📈 Take action on what you've learned, especially with non-fiction books, to truly consolidate the knowledge.
  • ⏰ Practice reading at different speeds using a visual tracker to increase your reading speed by up to 100 words per minute.
  • 📈 For non-fiction books, focus on the actionable advice and implement it in your life to see real change.
  • 🔗 Understand the difference between reading for learning and reading for enjoyment, and adjust your reading strategies accordingly.

Q & A

  • What is the main goal of the video presented by Salim, the med student?

    -The main goal of the video is to teach viewers how to absorb books 3 times faster in just 7 days using a method called the 'triforce method'.

  • What is the 'triforce method' mentioned by Salim?

    -The 'triforce method' is a strategy Salim developed to increase reading speed, which includes improving baseline reading speed, having a reading strategy, and focusing on summarizing and consolidating information.

  • How does Salim suggest removing the internal monologue to improve reading speed?

    -Salim suggests using a website like Spreeder to train the brain to see words instead of hearing them in the head, which allows for faster processing and understanding of the text.

  • What is the purpose of using a visual tracker while reading according to Salim?

    -A visual tracker helps maintain a consistent eye movement rate, reducing the tendency to double back on sentences and improving reading speed by preventing regression.

  • What is the 80/20 rule in reading as explained by Salim?

    -The 80/20 rule in reading suggests that 80% of the knowledge comes from 20% of the book. Salim uses this rule to quickly skim through most of the pages and focus on the key information.

  • How does Salim apply the 80/20 rule to non-fiction books like 'Atomic Habits'?

    -Salim applies the 80/20 rule by speeding through most of the pages and slowing down only when encountering valuable advice, allowing for better comprehension and absorption of key information.

  • Why is summarizing at the end of every page important according to Salim?

    -Summarizing at the end of every page is important because it helps engage the brain more with the text, leading to better retention of information and improved comprehension.

  • What is the role of consolidation in the 'triforce method'?

    -Consolidation in the 'triforce method' involves taking action based on the information read, which is crucial for learning and changing behavior, ensuring that the knowledge gained is not just theoretical but practically applied.

  • How does Salim differentiate between reading for learning and reading for enjoyment?

    -Salim acknowledges the difference between reading for learning, where the 'triforce method' is most effective, and reading for enjoyment, like poetry or fiction, where the focus might be more on the experience than on speed or retention.

  • What additional skill does Salim discuss improving in another video?

    -In another video, Salim discusses how to triple typing speed in only 7 days, indicating that the principles of efficiency and skill improvement can be applied to various areas beyond reading.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Triforce Method for Speed Reading

Salim, a medical student, shares his strategies for increasing reading speed, which he calls the 'Triforce Method.' The first strategy focuses on improving baseline reading speed by eliminating the internal monologue and using a visual tracker. He recommends using the free website 'Spreeder' to train the brain to read words visually rather than audibly, which can significantly increase reading speed. Salim also explains the importance of a visual tracker to maintain a smooth and consistent reading pace, preventing regression and improving comprehension. The second strategy involves adopting a reading strategy that leverages the 80/20 rule, which posits that 80% of the knowledge can be gained from 20% of the book. This approach is particularly useful for non-fiction books, where the reader can quickly skim through examples and focus on the core advice. The final strategy emphasizes the importance of summarizing and consolidating information to ensure retention and understanding. Salim suggests summarizing each page in one or two lines and taking action based on what is read, which is crucial for learning and applying new knowledge.

05:03

🔑 Balancing Speed Reading with Enjoyment

In the second paragraph, Salim acknowledges the difference between reading for learning and reading for enjoyment, such as with poetry or fiction. He suggests that speed reading techniques are particularly useful for functional reading, like when typing. He also refers to another video where he discusses how to triple typing speed in just seven days, encouraging viewers to watch that video and apply the advice by taking action, thus consolidating their learning.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Triforce method

The 'Triforce method' is a term coined by Salim, the medical student in the video, to describe his three-pronged approach to increasing reading speed. It encompasses strategies like improving baseline reading speed, employing effective reading strategies, and ensuring comprehension and retention. The method is named after the 'Triforce' from the Legend of Zelda video game series, symbolizing its power to enhance reading capabilities. In the context of the video, Salim uses the Triforce method to explain how he was able to read hundreds of books efficiently during his academic journey.

💡Baseline reading speed

Baseline reading speed refers to the natural pace at which a person reads without any specific training or techniques. In the video, Salim emphasizes the importance of improving this baseline speed as the first step in his Triforce method. He suggests that by removing the internal monologue and using visual tracking, one can significantly increase their reading speed, which is a fundamental aspect of his approach to efficient reading.

💡Internal monologue

The 'internal monologue' is the voice in one's head that narrates the words being read. According to Salim, this internal voice can limit reading speed because it tends to process words one at a time. To overcome this, he recommends training the brain to see words visually without 'hearing' them, which can drastically increase reading speed. The video provides practical advice on how to eliminate the internal monologue to read faster.

💡Spreeder

Spreeder is a free online tool mentioned in the video that helps in training the brain to read faster by flashing words on the screen at an adjustable pace. It is used to suppress the internal monologue and train the eyes to take in more words at a time. Salim shares his personal experience of using Spreeder to increase his reading speed from 250 words per minute to over 500 words per minute.

💡Visual tracker

A 'visual tracker' is a technique or tool used to guide the eyes smoothly across the text, reducing the tendency to regress or double back on sentences. Salim demonstrates how using a finger or a pen as a tracker can lead to a more efficient and faster reading pace. The video explains that by using a visual tracker, readers can maintain a consistent reading speed and avoid the micro-adjustments that slow down the reading process.

💡80/20 rule

The '80/20 rule', also known as the Pareto Principle, is a concept used in the video to explain how 80% of the value comes from 20% of the effort. In the context of reading, Salim applies this rule to non-fiction books, suggesting that most of the key insights can be found in a small portion of the text. He advises readers to skim through the majority of the content and slow down only when encountering valuable information, which is a strategic approach to efficient reading.

💡Summarizing

Summarizing is the act of condensing information into a brief form. In the video, Salim stresses the importance of summarizing each page or section of a book to improve comprehension and retention. By forcing oneself to capture the essence of what has been read in one or two lines, the brain engages more deeply with the material, leading to better memory retention. This technique is part of the third strategy in the Triforce method.

💡Consolidating

Consolidating, in the context of the video, refers to the process of integrating new knowledge into one's existing understanding and taking action based on that knowledge. Salim gives an example of how, after reading 'Atomic Habits', he took the action of tracking his habits, which helped him to consolidate the learning from the book. This concept is crucial for ensuring that reading leads to actual behavioral change and is part of the final strategy in the Triforce method.

💡Comprehension

Comprehension in reading is the ability to understand and interpret the text. Salim emphasizes that increasing reading speed is not just about speed but also about maintaining or improving comprehension. The video suggests that techniques like summarizing and adapting reading speed based on the content can enhance comprehension, ensuring that the reader truly understands and can recall the material they have read.

💡Reading strategy

A 'reading strategy' in the video refers to a set of techniques and approaches one uses to read more effectively. Salim outlines the importance of having a reading strategy as part of the Triforce method, which includes knowing when to apply certain techniques and how to adapt to different types of content. The video suggests that a good reading strategy is as important as the techniques themselves for achieving efficient and meaningful reading.

Highlights

Finish a book in one day instead of months

Salim, a med student, shares strategies for reading hundreds of books efficiently

The Triforce Method for massively increasing reading speed

Improve baseline reading speed by removing internal monologue

Use Spreeder to train your brain to read visually, not audibly

Reading speed increased from 250 to over 500 words per minute

Utilize a visual tracker for smoother eye movement and reduced regression

Increase reading speed by 100 words per minute with a visual tracker

Adopt a reading strategy informed by the 80/20 rule

Apply the 80/20 rule to non-fiction books for efficient learning

Slow down to absorb key information, increasing comprehension

Adapting techniques based on the content is crucial for effective reading

The importance of remembering what you read for true learning

Summarize each page to improve comprehension and retention

Consolidate information by taking action after reading

Learning is about changing behavior, not just acquiring knowledge

Differentiate between reading for learning and reading for enjoyment

Tips for faster and better typing to complement reading efficiency