A Practical Tool for Leisure-Time Reading and Deep Reading
Summer is here, a season for pleasure reading, slower mornings and time away from everyday pressures. Whether by the beach, in the garden or on a shaded balcony, it is the perfect opportunity to catch up on books long postponed. Yet with more time often comes more distraction. This is where speed reading can help. When used intentionally, it enables readers to engage with more material without sacrificing depth. It allows one to preview multiple texts, select those worthy of deeper investment and structure reading sessions in a way that feels both productive and pleasurable.
The Challenge of Deep Reading in a Distracted Age
In an age saturated with digital noise, short-form content, and AI-generated summaries, deep reading, the immersive and focused engagement with a text, has become an endangered skill. Yet rather than viewing speed reading as its adversary, when used strategically, speed reading can in fact support and reawaken the capacity for deep comprehension.
Speed Reading as a Cognitive Primer
Contrary to the common misconception that speed reading is inherently superficial or opposed to serious learning, research shows that many of its techniques, such as previewing, skimming for structure, and pattern-based eye movement, can serve as powerful preparatory tools. These methods prime the mind, reduce cognitive load, and make it easier to engage deeply with meaningful content once the reader has identified what deserves more attention (Zierock, 2024; Fu & Hiniker, 2025).
