Time for reading

[faa2010]

Is the length of time really important when someone is reading a book?

Do you consider someone as a pro or an advanced reader if he or she can read a book in short time?

[fleetfingers]

I have a sister who reads like a rocket and boasts about her speed-reading skills. She will fly through book after book and loves it. I, on the other hand, like to savor every detail and spend time enjoying the books I read.

Another difference between us is that I can remember details and phrases and, in general, have a much better memory of the things I read than my sister. She rarely remembers what she reads. But she doesn't care - she enjoys the story while she's in it.

I'm not sure that either of us is a "better" reader; we just approach it in different ways. It's also important to consider the comprehension of what we read. I can read fast if I want to, but then I'm not understanding it all. I sometimes have to go back and re-read things to make sure it was digested. Are "speed-readers" really grasping everything they're reading? I argue that they are not, but it doesn't always matter. Perhaps it is a good skill to filter out the things that are trivial and pick up the important bits of information.