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Ever wondered how many pages you can actually read in an hour? Maybe you feel like a slow reader, or maybe you think you’re flying through books at lightning speed. But how fast are you really?
Some people can read 10 pages an hour, while others can fly through 50 or more. The difference? It all comes down to what you’re reading, how focused you are, and a few tricks that can help you speed up.
Reading isn’t a race, but let’s be honest—who doesn’t want to get through books faster without missing the good stuff? For example, you just started with Vampire Diaries. There is no need to rush, it’s a series that will take a lot of time, and you will surely enjoy it. But on the other side, there are pages you want to skip as fast as you can, and that’s where fast reading gets very important.
Get ready to find out how fast you really are, what affects your speed, and how you can read more pages in less time.
Are You a Slow or Fast Reader? Let’s Find Out!
Ever feel like you’re taking forever to get through a book? Or maybe you think you’re zooming through pages but can’t remember anything?
The average adult reads at about 200 to 300 words per minute, which means roughly 40–50 pages per hour for a normal book.
But speed depends on what you’re reading and why you’re reading it. A fun novel? Easy. A complicated science textbook? Slower.
How Many Pages Can You Read in an Hour?
The number of pages you can read in an hour depends on what kind of reader you are and what you’re reading. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- Casual readers: 30–50 pages per hour (fiction, light non-fiction)
- Students studying textbooks: 10–25 pages per hour (heavy material, lots of notes)
- Fast readers with good comprehension: 50–70 pages per hour
- Speed readers (trained, but might miss details): 100+ pages per hour
Some people try to read faster by skimming or scanning, but that doesn’t always work. The trick is finding the right balance between speed and actually remembering what you read. Want to read more pages in less time? Keep going—we’ll show you how.
What Affects Your Reading Speed?
Some of these are within your control, while others naturally affect how your brain processes words. The good news? Once you understand what’s slowing you down, you can adjust your approach and start reading more efficiently. Let’s break it down.
1. The Type of Book Matters
Not all reading is the same. The kind of material in front of you has a huge impact on speed.
Fiction is usually the easiest to read quickly. The story flows naturally, sentences are written to be engaging, and most of the time, you don’t need to analyze every little detail. Your brain can process familiar storytelling patterns quickly, which helps you breeze through pages.
Non-fiction requires more effort. Facts, explanations, and arguments often need deeper thought. Even if the topic interests you, you might slow down to take in important details or rethink what you just read.
Textbooks and research papers are the slowest. These are packed with new vocabulary, complex ideas, and references that require deeper analysis. You might need to pause, look things up, or reread sections just to fully understand them. Even professional readers and academics take longer with dense material.
2. Your Focus Level
Your brain needs full attention to read efficiently. A wandering mind slows you down more than you think.
- Tired? Distracted? Expect to lose your place, reread sentences, and struggle to retain information. Your reading speed can drop by half if your focus isn’t sharp.
- Fully engaged? You’ll process words faster and remember more. Your brain will stay on track, making reading feel effortless.
Want to speed up? Read in short bursts with full concentration instead of dragging through pages when you’re tired. Try a 20-minute reading sprint, take a short break, then go again. This keeps your focus sharp and stops your brain from zoning out.
3. Your Familiarity With the Topic
Ever notice how some books feel easier to get through than others? That’s because your brain processes familiar information faster.
- If you’re reading about a topic you know well, your brain quickly connects new details to what you already understand. This makes reading feel smoother and faster.
- If you’re reading something totally new, your brain works harder to make sense of it. You’ll likely pause more often, reread parts, or look things up—all of which slow you down.
For example, if you’re into history and pick up a book on World War II, chances are you’ll fly through it because the names, events, and concepts make sense to you. But if you try reading a physics textbook without prior knowledge, it’ll feel like every sentence takes extra effort.
The trick? Start with an overview before diving into complex texts. Skim through the introduction, look up key terms, and get a general sense of the topic. That way, when you start reading properly, you won’t feel lost.
4. Subvocalization (Reading in Your Head Like You’re Talking)
Most people read by “hearing” the words in their head as if they were speaking them aloud. This is called subvocalization, and while it helps with understanding, it can slow you down a lot.
- Saying every word (even silently) takes extra time because you’re processing it as if you were speaking.
- Fast readers don’t pronounce words in their head—instead, they see entire phrases and recognize their meaning instantly.
How to Reduce Subvocalization?
- Use a finger or a pen to guide your eyes along the text. This forces your brain to move faster and prevents you from mentally saying every word.
- Practice reading in chunks. Instead of focusing on single words, try grouping 3–5 words together and understanding them in one glance.
- Listen to audiobooks at faster speeds. This trains your brain to process words faster and helps break the habit of mentally sounding out everything.
Easy Tricks to Read Faster (Without Losing Focus!)
Speed reading isn’t just about going fast—it’s about reading smart. If you’ve ever felt stuck reading at a slow pace, these simple tricks can help you pick up speed without sacrificing comprehension.
1. Stop Rereading the Same Line
Your eyes naturally jump back sometimes, even if you don’t realize it. This habit, called regression, wastes time and makes you reread words you already saw. The more you do it, the longer it takes to finish a book.
The easiest fix? Use a bookmark, a pen, or even your finger to keep your eyes moving forward. This stops your brain from jumping back to previous lines. If you didn’t fully get something, don’t panic—push through to the end of the paragraph, then summarize the main idea in your head. Most of the time, you don’t actually need to reread.
2. Read in “Chunks” Instead of Word by Word
Your brain is capable of processing multiple words in one glance. Instead of reading like this:
The | quick | brown | fox | jumps | over | the | lazy | dog.
Try seeing groups of words together like this:
The quick brown | fox jumps over | the lazy dog.
Your brain naturally fills in the blanks and recognizes meaning without needing to process every single word separately. The more you practice, the easier it gets. If this feels difficult, try using your finger or a pen to guide your eyes across the page in small jumps rather than stopping at every word.
3. Use a Timer to Track Your Speed
If you don’t measure progress, you won’t know if you’re improving. One of the best ways to get faster is to set a timer for 10 minutes and see how many pages you finish.
Do this every day, and try to beat your own score. The goal isn’t just to go faster but to maintain comprehension while increasing speed. If you find yourself rushing and forgetting details, slow down slightly until you find the right balance.
Over time, you’ll notice that your brain adapts, and you’ll be able to read faster without feeling like you’re forcing it.
4. Practice With Easy Books First
If you struggle with reading speed, don’t start with difficult material. Fiction books or topics you’re already familiar with are easier to read quickly. When a book flows naturally, your brain doesn’t have to work as hard, and you can focus on building speed.
Once you get comfortable reading faster, gradually move on to more challenging material. Your brain will adapt, making it easier to process even complex texts at a quicker pace.
Skimming, Scanning, and Speed Reading – What Works Best?
But do they actually work? The truth is, different reading methods serve different purposes. If you’re trying to read fast while still understanding what you’re reading, you need to know when to use each technique. Let’s break them down.
Skimming – Good for Quick Overviews
Skimming means glancing over text to get a general idea of the content without reading every word. Instead of going line by line, your eyes jump across paragraphs, focusing on headlines, bold text, and key sentences.
This works great for:
But skimming is bad for deep reading. If you need to understand something fully, skipping too much will leave you with gaps in knowledge. It’s useful, but only in the right situations.
Scanning – Finding Specific Info Fast
Scanning is different from skimming. Instead of looking for general ideas, you hunt for specific details—dates, facts, names, or keywords—without reading everything else.
This works great for:
- Studying and research when you just need a fact or a quote.
- Looking up something quickly in a textbook, website, or document.
- Finding answers in a book when you don’t have time to read the whole thing.
But scanning won’t help with full comprehension. If you only scan, you’ll miss context and might misunderstand what you’re reading. It’s a great tool, but not something you can rely on for everything.
Speed Reading – Sounds Cool, But…
Speed reading promises to train your eyes to move faster across words, helping you read more pages in less time. Sounds great, right? The problem is, comprehension usually takes a hit.
Here’s what happens:
- Speed reading works best for simple texts where you don’t need deep focus.
- It fails for complex material—if you try to rush through something dense, you’ll miss key ideas.
- Most people who “speed read” end up forgetting what they read soon after.
The truth? Most speed-reading tricks don’t actually help with learning. They can make you feel like you’re reading faster, but if you don’t retain the info, what’s the point?
What’s the Best Method?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best readers mix techniques based on what they need:
- For deep reading: Read normally, but cut distractions and focus more.
- For reviewing: Use skimming to refresh memory.
- For quick info: Use scanning to find key details.
How Do Smart People Read So Fast?
Ever wonder how some people fly through books and actually remember everything? It’s not magic—it’s strategy.
They Know What They’re Looking For
Before they even start reading, they set a goal. Are they reading to learn something new, get a general idea, or find one key fact? Knowing this upfront helps cut out useless details and focus only on what matters.
Think about it—if you’re reading a novel for fun, you can read casually. But if you’re reading a textbook for an exam, you’ll want to zero in on key points and skip fluff. Smart readers adjust their approach based on the purpose of what they’re reading.
They Use Their Eyes Efficiently
Smart readers know that the key is to read in chunks instead of word by word.
Instead of seeing each individual word separately, they take in entire phrases at once. They also use peripheral vision to grab more words per glance, so their eyes don’t have to jump around so much. This makes reading feel smoother and faster.
If you’ve ever read a road sign without consciously sounding out every word, that’s the same concept. Your brain can process words faster than you think—you just have to train it.
They Don’t Waste Time Rereading
If something is unclear, they don’t stop—they finish the section first, then go back if needed. Most of the time, the meaning becomes clearer as they keep reading. Stopping every time you don’t fully get something kills momentum and slows comprehension.
They Read All the Time
Like anything else, practice makes you better. The best readers don’t just read occasionally—they read every day. The more you read, the more your brain gets used to processing words quickly.
Want to Read Faster? Try These Simple Hacks
Reading speed improves with small but effective changes. Training your brain to process text more efficiently leads to faster reading without losing comprehension.
1. Read at the Right Time
Your brain functions best when it is alert and focused. Reading at the right time makes a huge difference in both speed and retention.
2. Use a Tracker
Eye movements impact reading speed. Many people unknowingly slow themselves down by letting their eyes jump around the page. Using a guide keeps reading smooth and prevents unnecessary pauses.
- Move a finger, pen, or ruler under each line as you read. This keeps your eyes moving forward and stops them from wandering back to previous lines.
- Speed naturally increases because your brain follows a consistent rhythm instead of stopping at every word.
- Over time, you will process more words in one glance without needing to physically track them.
3. Challenge Yourself
Tracking progress helps improve reading speed. Setting small goals ensures you keep moving forward while maintaining comprehension.
4. Read in Sprints
Long reading sessions often lead to mental fatigue, which reduces focus. Breaking reading into smaller sprints keeps your brain fresh and engaged.
- Instead of pushing through 50 pages in one sitting, break it into 10-page sessions with short breaks.
- Short bursts of focused reading help you retain more while preventing burnout.
- Reading feels faster when your mind stays active instead of zoning out from fatigue.
Final Thoughts
Reading faster does not mean rushing through words without understanding them. It is about making small adjustments that allow the brain to process text more efficiently. The key is to develop habits that improve focus, eliminate distractions, and train the eyes to move smoothly across the page.
Improvement does not happen overnight. Just like any skill, reading speed increases with consistent effort. The best approach is to challenge yourself in small ways, track progress, and adjust reading techniques based on the material. Making reading an active and intentional process leads to better retention and a more enjoyable experience.
