What is intelligence and how to enhance it with speed reading

Defining Intelligence

Intelligence, in its simplest form, can be described as the ability to represent information in the mind and to manipulate that information in a useful, effective and efficient way. This working definition, drawn from cognitive science and AI research, views intelligence as having two core components: the capacity to represent information and the capacity to manipulate it effectively.

These capacities are sometimes referred to as cognitive primitives. They are the building blocks of thought, enabling individuals to take in, hold, and transform knowledge to solve problems, create ideas, and make decisions. In this view, intelligence is not just about what you know, but how flexibly, effectively and efficiently you can use that knowledge.

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The average adult in the UK will get through 11 books a year (696 over a lifetime) suggests a poll (OnePoll for eBay UK). But why not 365 books a year. It’s only one book a day. It sounds a lot of books, doesn’t it? Not really, if you apply speed reading techniques. Here’s how to get through 365 books a year – starting from super easy and quick speed reading techniques to more advanced ones.

Warren Buffett was asked about his secret to success. Buffett pointed to a stack of books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will…”

speed reading 365 books/year

Easy and fast speed reading techniques
1) Read summaries of the books. Yes, it’s a valid way of getting through books. According to research, people who read summaries remember more for longer. Summaries are a valid way to get overviews and specific details. Most people who read a book from cover to cover, forget 90% after two days! Forgetting rate is huge is you don’t use speed reading techniques. Reading summaries you’ll remember more and for longer. It takes usually a few minutes to read a summary of a book or less than 10 seconds if you’re reading only micro-summaries. Check for collections of summaries here

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Spd Rdng = State + Purpose + Download + pReview + Detail + Notes + Gist

STATE

• Get in a good state for reading. Take a deep breath. Smile and open your peripheral vision – so you can take in more information at one time
• Change your mindset from reading to information gathering. Don’t worry about how many books you’ve read (you can do the 5-minute preview) – just look for information you need now (eg to prepare for a lecture or seminar, or to write an essay).
• Speed up your brain and eyes. Sit back from the text and look through it much faster than you can consciously comprehend – follow your finger with your eyes. After a few pages when you begin to see words and phrases, you are ready to start reading ‘at your best comprehension speed’. 

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