Read and Analyze Reports and Books Quickly

One of the best resources for reading and analyzing reports and books is:

Wise Up, by Guy Claxton

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One of the hardest assignments at school, work or even in our private life is to read effectively and quickly. Sometimes, we even find ourselves reading the same page over and over again because we can't concentrate. The mind needs to have questions to look for to maintain attention. You can improve your concentration and read more effectively if you use the following system.  I call it coding.

Whenever you are assigned to read some non-fiction work by either a teacher or supervisor, you must try to ascertain what it is you are looking for.  If you are choosing to read something non-fiction for your own needs, you must also first determine if what you are reading will answer any questions important to you.  This first step in coding is called scanning. The second step is to raise questions you need answered from the text.  If the introduction to the book and the chapter headings don't indicate anything you want answered you shouldn't waste your time with the book.

The third step is to look only in the chapters that indicate an answer to your questions. Each time you find an answer write it down or bookmark the page.  Review the answer mentally. This process is called registration.  After you have reviewed the answers, wait about two hours and see how much you have retained. This is called retention.  The next day, check to see how much you can recall. My workbook  Be a Brilliant Communicator will help make you a powerful communicator.