My take on rapid reading is that it is basically speed reading. You are moving your eyes quickly over every line in the book. The idea is that, having gone through the other PR steps, you're speed reading much more rapidly than would otherwise be possible. I think that's why it is downplayed a bit as an activation technique. For a book from which you're just trying to get the essential content (non-fiction), it shouldn't be necessary because the other steps help you focus on the relevant content. However, it's the ideal way to get through a novel much faster than you would through normal reading or even through speed reading. Have you ever rapid read a novel after PRing it first? It's amazing how quickly you can go through it without missing anything.
