Top reviews about SPEED READING FASTER by Jan Cisek & Susan Norman from United Kingdom and the rest of the world (Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble)
4.9/5 *****
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2025, Verified Purchase
Lynn Parsons, Broadcaster
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2025, Verified Purchase
I’m a book lover, always adding to my collection, but let’s be honest – I never have enough time to read everything. My shelves were starting to look like a museum of unread books, and I worried I was falling into tsundoku, that Japanese habit of stacking up books without actually reading them. Then a friend recommended ‘Speed Reading Faster’ to me, and wow– this book changed everything!
What I love most is how clear, practical, and easy to follow it is. Even halfway through, I could already picture myself breezing through books and articles in no time, without losing comprehension. The exercises and informative articles about reading and memory? Super simple and actually fun, making the whole process feel natural rather than forced.
Now, I finally feel in control of my reading list instead of buried under it. If you love books but struggle to find the time, do yourself a favour and grab this book – delivers exactly what it promises, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. Seriously, I only wish I’d found speed reading sooner!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2025, Verified Purchase
I learnt speed reading some time ago and wanted to refresh my skills. I was sceptical at first about whether this book could add anything new, but it completely changed my mind. It’s great! The techniques are simple, practical, and easy to apply, and I have even picked up some new ones (eg rhizomapping, syntopic processing, and thin slicing). Within just the first hour, my already strong reading speed doubled, making it much easier to stay on top of business reports, emails and industry research. More importantly, I feel even more confident in retaining key information, giving me a real edge in meetings and decision-making. Really helpful in helping me prepare to lead meetings and ask great questions.
I was surprised by how adaptable these techniques are. I can apply them to everything from business reports and personal development books to complex technical content without losing comprehension.
It feels like fine-tuning a high-performance engine – the power was always there, but now it runs even more efficiently. I recommend this book to novice and experienced speed readers – everyone can learn from it.
TJ
7 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2025, Verified Purchase
This book is a powerful companion for anyone who wants to truly engage with knowledge and love of wisdom, whether that knowledge is philosophical, scientific, personal or practical. It’s not just about speeding through texts. It’s about opening up more space for understanding, reflection and synthesis (the syntopic is a great sleep reading technique for that).
If you ever felt held back by time or overwhelmed by the amount what you want to read, Speed Reading Faster offers a real, grounded way forward. For thinkers, seekers and endlessly curious, this book is a gift. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2025, Verified Purchase
Reading has always been one of my greatest joys, a doorway into new worlds, ideas, and endless discoveries. Over the years, I have gathered a lifetime of books, each one a companion on my journey. But sometimes, I wished I could read more, absorb more, and keep up with the ever-growing list of stories and knowledge calling my name. Speed reading has been a revelation, showing me how to read faster while still savoring every word.
The techniques are practical, simple to apply, and most importantly, they work. I find myself moving through pages with ease, yet retaining more than ever before. The strategies for focus and comprehension have made reading feel effortless again, like a dance with words instead of a struggle with time. Whether it is a novel, a history book, or something entirely new, I now approach each read with renewed confidence and excitement. Speed reading has given me a fresh perspective on learning and enjoying books in a way I never thought possible. I only wish I had learned these skills earlier because I could have read so much more.
Amazon Customer
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 March 2025, Verified Purchase
Lou de V
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2025, Verified Purchase
flame8882
Top reviews from other countries

Reviewed in Canada on 17 March 2025, Verified Purchase
As an author deep in research, I constantly sift through countless books, articles, and studies. This book has been a lifesaver, making my reading not just faster but more effective. The techniques are straightforward and powerful, especially for quickly grasping overviews, pinpointing key arguments, and synthesizing information from multiple sources. The ability to process large amounts of material without losing comprehension has transformed how I work.
Purpose-driven reading, overview and syntopic processing are the top techniques I use. Being able to connect ideas across different texts with speed and clarity is invaluable for any researcher. If you want to take your research to the next level, give these techniques a try. This book is not just helpful—it is essential for anyone who needs to absorb and integrate knowledge efficiently.
Ian R. Clayton
5.0 out of 5 stars A designer’s eye on Speed Reading Faster
Reviewed in Poland on 25 March 2025, Verified Purchase
But it is not just about looks. The content is solid and very useful. The techniques are practical and well-explained. You can tell it is made to be used, not just read. I appreciate that. The knowledge from this book is useful in my work too. I liked the explanation of how your eyes and brain work together. Also, plenty of tips on how to make your reading easier and faster – real wisdom for me as a designer. I deal with the readability and clarity of the text every day.Smart design meets smart content. Highly recommended.
Jacek Utko
5.0 out of 5 stars A great tool for lifelong learners
Reviewed in France on 22 March 2025, Verified Purchase
I’m big on anything that feeds the mind and soul, like personal growth, spirituality, learning something new. I’ve always got a pile of books nearby, whether it’s for work or just feeding my curiosity. So when I picked up Speed Reading Faster, it honestly felt like a gift.
It’s not just about flipping through pages faster. It’s about reading with purpose. The techniques are super clear, easy to try, and they work. They help you focus, take in more, and actually enjoy your reading more. For someone like me, always juggling ten books at once, this felt like unlocking a whole new level of learning, and still having time to do everything else I love.
This book really deserves a spot in every bookshop, especially Shakespeare and Company in Paris, which is hands down my favourite place to get lost in books. If more people knew these tricks, they could read more deeply, learn more, and still have time to live, think, and create.
If you’re into books, wisdom, or just want to get through your reading list without rushing, give this a go. Totally worth it.
Annick Buiron
4.0 out of 5 stars speed reading – pretty handy stuff
Reviewed in the United States on 21 March 2025, Verified Purchase
speed reading – pretty handy stuff ….. so yeah – i read a lot – mostly technical manuals, specs, research papers, circuit diagrams – the fun stuff (if you’re into electronics). but it’s dense and takes forever. i stumbled across speed reading faster on kindle during a late night rabbit hole scroll – figured why not.
honestly? wasn’t expecting much – but it kinda worked. i tried a few of the techniques right away – overviewing, chunking, that slicing thing – and suddenly i wasn’t slogging through paragraphs like they were wet concrete. it’s weirdly satisfying when your brain clicks into gear and the info just flows in.
it’s not about racing through stuff – it’s more like clearing out the mental static. i still re-read stuff when needed (some tech docs are brutal) but overall? way smoother. it’s like getting a software upgrade for your brain – not flashy, but solid. worth the download.
Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Game changer for all
Reviewed in Poland on 21 April 2025, Verified Purchase
Weronika Dorajczyk
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2025, Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2025, Verified Purchase
A very simple and well- structured self-help guide, giving a lot of easy to follow tips and plenty of simple, practical quizzes and exercises to help the user find out what is most useful in the text on any subject matter so that the user has a good idea what information the text contains without the necessity to read the entire work.
To start with the clear and detailed list of Contents down to the very helpful Glossary/Index, this concise Guide helps to learn how to spot the key massage in a paragraph with the use of one’s peripheral vision moving the eyes in patterns so that the brain can retain the core information.
It explains and teaches how to read in chunks and how to correctly concentrate on the text to get the gist of the information.
The Guide is simple, east-to-follow and apply. The step-by-step instructions given with a touch of smile.
Many thanks to the authors for such a clear and practical aid to become a fast reader.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2025, Verified Purchase
I’m really into living a healthy lifestyle-good food, movement, mindfulness, rest—all the things that help me feel my best. But one thing I always wished I had more time and energy for was reading. I’ve got so many books on wellness, nutrition, and mindset stacked up, just waiting. So when I came across Speed Reading Faster, I thought, why not give it a try?
Honestly, I was surprised by how easy it was to get into. The techniques are super doable, and I started noticing a difference pretty much straight away. I was reading quicker, but not just skimming—I was actually taking it all in and remembering it, which felt amazing. It didn’t feel like work, more like giving my brain a boost.
Now, reading has become part of my self-care routine. I’ll curl up with a book on complementary therapies and no longer am I overwhelmed, but can gain the info I need. It just fits into my flow now. This book has made such a difference – and is becoming a wellness tool for my mind.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2025, Verified Purchase
LL
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2025, Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2025, Verified Purchase
This book saves me so much time.
As a busy professional, I no longer need to read an entire book
just to find out what is useful.
Now I can do that in minutes.
I can read four books faster than it used to take me to finish one.
Amazing. Simple as that…..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2025, Verified Purchase
Brendan
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2025, Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2025, Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 March 2025
I avoided books all my childhood… found them difficult to process especially suffering from dyslexia. But in adulthood reading blossomed for me and this book has helped with moving that joy forward.
I found “Speed Reading Faster” a concise and practical guide in improving my reading speed and efficiency.
The author provides clear, actionable strategies to help eliminate bad reading habits (which I have) and includes various techniques, including exercises to improve comprehension and focus, as well as tips for overcoming distractions. Very impressive and will be well used going into my future.
The book was well-structured, making it easy for me to follow along and implement the techniques step-by-step.
A great book for everyone, I wish I had this book when I was a student, but it will definitely approve my professional reading skills and productivity.
Thank you to the authors!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2025
Speed reading = more Windows to the World
Reviewed in Poland on 31 March 2025, Verified Purchase
I have always believed that reading is a window to the world. Every book opens up a new view, a new perspective.
What I love about Speed Reading Faster is that it gives me more windows. I can explore more ideas, more stories, more knowledge in less time.
It is not about rushing. It is about opening up space to read more of what matters.
Magdalena Dzuewa
“Faster Reading and Comprehension” from Waterstons
I love reading books and have many hundreds in my personal library. Having been habitually reading every word slowly and dwelling on meanings, I attended one of Jan’s original workshops many years ago. It was an extremely interesting and educating time. The techniques helped me speed up my researches tremendously. Browsing in book shops took only minutes to eliminate books which I might have purchased and in the process finding the one I needed. My old books were now a new source of information which I had either forgotten or not previously comprehended. Also a sixth sense developed to a point where I would pick up a book and in many instances open it at an exact page with the information needed.
Jan’s new book goes deeper into the how and why we read with the science backing up the principles. It has a rather clever way of taking one in different directions depending on the ability and needs of the individual. I found the test were devised very well to see progress. Whilst I am still dipping in and out of the book, it reminded me of a buddy of mine who reads a paragraph at a time! I am getting there faster.
I would recommend attending one of Jan’s future workshops if not this book.
“Essential reading for students.”
“Life-Changing Reading Skills in One Book”
This is, without question, the best speed reading book I have encountered. As a psychologist and student mentor, working with students, I can confidently say that the skills presented in this book should be part of the education system. If these techniques had been introduced during my own academic years, they would have made a significant impact on my studies beyond secondary education.
Speed Reading Faster offers a comprehensive and highly practical system to enhance reading efficiency. One of the book’s strengths lies in its flexible layout: readers can follow the progression of techniques chronologically or dip into areas that are most relevant to them. The authors provide a helpful ‘map’ of the techniques, encouraging readers to build a system that works best for their individual needs.
The techniques are clearly explained, easy to apply, and genuinely effective. I have personally adopted the method of reading non-fiction in 20-minute focused sessions, maintaining a high level of comprehension and recall, while also saving hours of time overall. Like any skill, these techniques require practice, but the returns are worth the effort. I am currently exploring the syntopic processing and thin-slicing approaches with encouraging results.
The book includes practical exercises and brief readings, including a particularly interesting piece titled ‘How to Remember,’ which offers insight into the memory enhancements of the authors’ comprehensive system. For those seeking an overview of the Speed Reading Faster techniques, there are summaries of all the speed reading techniques. The authors are happy to provide a PDF summary of their previous book Spd Rdng Bible upon request, and I was grateful to receive helpful responses from Jan Cisek directly when I reached out with questions.
In conclusion, this book is an excellent resource for those who wish to:
Save time
Improve comprehension
Enhance study skills, particularly for exams
Become more purposeful readers
Increase reading speed (in the early chapters alone, one can easily double their speed)
Learn effective, research-informed speed reading techniques
I highly recommend this book to students, educators, and professionals alike.
Bo La
I have created many illustrations for book covers, editorial work about book reading and books in general. I was pretty curious about Speed Reading Faster. My world of an artist is, at times, a whirlwind of colors, shapes, and ideas flying at me from all directions. How does one keep up with it all? That is where this book comes in. It has totally changed the way I take in information—helping me read faster without losing the juicy details. Whether I am diving into art history, studying design principles, or mulling over my next big project, these techniques keep me in control.
But it is not just about speed—it is about soaking up the magic and making it stick, like capturing the essence of a masterpiece in one bold stroke. The memory tricks and reading strategies make even the densest art book feel like a breeze. And my go-to techniques—overview, thin slicing, and rhizomapping—are just perfect. They help me see the big picture, break down tricky details, and connect ideas that spark new creative paths. Now, with more time on my hands, I can go faster through books to explore their layers and nuances in a way I never could before. Honestly, this is not just a book—it is like having a secret weapon for thinking, creating, and staying inspired at full speed. This book is like a creative power-up! I highly recommend it to any curious soul!
- Inspirational, Quick Read, Couldnt Put It Down