Scientific Speed Reading: How to Read 300% Faster in 20 Minutes

(Photo: Dustin Diaz) How much more could you get done if you completed all of your required reading in 1/3 or 1/5 the time? Increasing reading speed is a process of controlling fine motor movement—period. This post is a condensed overview of principles I taught to undergraduates at Princeton University in 1998 at a seminar called the “PX Project”. I have never seen the method fail. The PX Project The PX Project, a single 3-hour cognitive experiment, produced an average increase in reading speed of 386%. It was tested with speakers of five languages, and even dyslexics were conditioned to read technical material at more than 3,000 words-per-minute (wpm), or 10 pages per minute. If you understand several basic principles of the human visual system, you can eliminate inefficiencies and increase speed while improving retention. First, several definitions and distinctions specific to the reading process: You do not read in a straight line, but rather in a sequence of saccadic movements (jumps).

Learn python in Y Minutes Python was created by Guido van Rossum in the early 90s. It is now one of the most popular languages in existence. I fell in love with Python for its syntactic clarity. Note: This article applies to Python 3 specifically. Free Online Got a suggestion? How to hack your body language for better interviews Research interviews go best when participants feel comfortable and confident — they’re more verbal, more willing to explore, and more willing to play along. So when an interview isn’t going well, I check for signs of low status in the person I’m interviewing and adjust my body language to make them feel more in charge. (These techniques come from improv theater classes I took many years ago in San Francisco. In addition to learning about “yes and,” listening, and teamwork, I was introduced to the important concept of status — and how body language communicates high and low status.) How to spot signs of low status If you’re interviewing someone (for research purposes or otherwise) and see these symptoms, the other person is probably feeling low status and not giving you their best possible participation. Some techniques to boost status and confidence Lower your own status If you come across as a confident expert, some people are less willing to offer up their opinions. Smile! Be grateful

Habit Changes & Rules: Two Keys to Improvement | ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia Self-Help By Bruce Campbell A woman in our program says that she has switched her idea about jobs around the house from "work until done" to "stop when tired." She made the switch when she realized that continuing to do things as she had in the past was making her symptoms worse. The change she describes is a good illustration of one of the challenges of having ME/CFS or fibromyalgia. The Four Steps of Habit Change Habit change has four parts. At this stage, the goal is not habit change, but rather awareness of the consequences of continuing old habits. The second step is the creation of alternative behavior. Key to success in this step is to plan a response ahead of time, so that when the situation intensifying symptoms begins, you can do something different than in the past. You might say to yourself something like, "No, I don't have to continue; I have an alternative" or "I'm going to be good to myself and take a break." She used to tell herself she was weak for lying down during the day.

My Year of TED: How 54 talks changed a life Kylie Dunn embarked on a mission to change her life by emulating TED Talks. Here, illustrations of her “30 days of drive” and “30 days of fashion” activities. Illustrations: Matthew Dunn By Kylie Dunn What do you get when you cross a 39-year-old perfectionist with 54 TED Talks and far more honesty than any person probably needs to experience? I’ve been inspired by TED Talks for years, and felt the urge to do something noteworthy and challenging to ring in my fortieth year on the planet. Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days Inspiration struck when I watched Matt Cutts’ talk, “Try something new for 30 days.” How did it work? I also decided to contact each of the speakers whose talks inspired my activities, to let them know just how much their talk resonated with me. Jessi Arrington: Wearing nothing new Carl Honoré and Sheena Iyengar tweeted about the project, which gave the blog a massive boost; David Logan had a lengthy email chat with me about leadership.

Life Skills | College Info Geek High school and college are only the beginning of the journey, and once you graduate, there are still a ton of questions: How do you budget your money and get out of debt? What about buying a house? And how can you make sure you stay fit and healthy for the rest of your life? This collection of articles will help you optimize the aspects of your life outside of school and your career. Protect Your Health Learn, Grow, and Be Happy Manage Your Money Our Best Podcast Episodes on Optimizing Your Life High school and college are only the beginning of the journey, and once you graduate, there are still a ton of questions: How do you budget your money and get out of debt? This collection of articles will help you optimize the aspects of your life outside of school and your career. Protect Your Health Learn, Grow, and Be Happy Manage Your Money Our Best Podcast Episodes on Optimizing Your Life