Hey Alex,

I was searching through some old posts on the forum, and I noticed something.

You said you went through Howard Berg's Mega Speed Reading, right? I went through the audio portion of it, didn't have access to the video tape or work book. I found that it was ok, but most of it was wasted on Kevin Trudeau spilling false information on everything he could. He's good at that.

If you didn't like it, I recommend something I took recently and enjoyed (and had success with) by Howard Berg, called "Maximum Speed Reading." It's based on the same principles, but it's organized much better and I found it much more helpful. The drills really help too.

Understanding that you're a photoreading instructor, you probably wouldn't really approve of it, and don't get the wrong idea. I still love photoreading.

The only thing is, I find Howard's method more practical for reading inside of libraries and book shops. I wanted conscious information right away, so that I don't have to buy the book, but the only reason I pick it up is because I want the information, so I find that just photoreading the book in the store isn't enough. Even if it merits activation, I would want to do it there, but I don't want to wait for incubation, or come back the next day.

Stuff that I have at home, though, I wouldn't mind photoreading. I have all the time in the world at home at my age, and fortunately for my family, who's very learned, I have a wide selection of every kind of book to choose from.

I also found that Howard's method is practical for when you're waiting, be it standing on a line at a store, being driven somewhere, or just sitting around at a park or something.

Although my speed was much slower (averages being about 23,000 while photoreading, and between 2000-4000 with Howard's method), I just find it practical for using in certain situations and I wanted to know what you're thoughts were on it, and you might even want to try it someday, unless you have a better method.

But don't worry, I'm very open to suggestion right now, and remember, I still support photoreading 100%.

Thanks for the opinions.

-JackTuff13

I use the PhotoReading system with a postview in bookshops. I have also got a number of books not just Howard Bergs stuff. I've learned useful information.

The method that Howard teaches on the video is nothing like his book.

I find that just using and superreading and dipping I get what I want in the bookshop or library.

I fully activated 5 books in an hour in the library. Just use the system and you'll eliminate the need to buy books with a simple PhotoRead.

Also from experience. People who know speed reading take the longest to click with full benefits of PhotoReading. They seem to miss out on the direct learning benefit. Expect themselves to be be moved into overdrive in a matter of days. They cannot step down from speed reading because they won't superread faster than their speed reading speed. So I don't recommend learning speed reading which is pushing your eyeballs faster across the page, if you want to learn PhotoReading.

If you learn the system and USE it, you'll move toward faster reading naturally.

AlexK

Hey Alex,
Just a few questions:

1)How do you get what you want with a simple photoread? You still can't discuss the book after only photoreading.
Activating, though, I understand.

But then again,
2)How long are you really letting it incubate before activating in the library?

And also
3)By "fully activated", do you mean got what you wanted out of it? Or that you could discuss the full contents of the book?

I learned Photoreading before learning speed reading, simply for being able to use a quick system at a library or bookstore. Photoreading I mainly use at home.

And,
4)What video and what book are you talking about, when you say Howard teaches something which is nothing like his book?

If you mean the infomercial and course as the video and book, then it actually is the same thing. He's just worked at it more and has adjusted to going faster. He still uses schema and everything he teaches in the course on the infomercial.

Unless you mean something else, then by all means please correct me.

Take care!

-JackTuff13

Hey Alex,

Sorry, just one more thing I forgot to add.

I'm starting to get that sort of feeling where I want the information right after I'm done reading it, which is why I'm starting to get closer with speed reading. After photoreading, I hate waiting to activate.

Anything you can say that might help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-JackTuff13

Jack

2. I don't need to discuss every book I have read. I'd be forever yakking and not doing anything with the books that I've read. If I PhotoRead a book on a subject that I have encountered before I know I haven't learned anything new from the PhotoRead. Whether the book is for me or not is what I'm interested in obtaining from the PhotoReading step. There is just too many books out there and I have to make a decision whether it's worth my time. And PhotoReading and trusting my gut serves me well. Many times I've been encouraged by others to have a look at a book that I had PhotoRead and thought okay maybe I was wrong and checked it out. My intimal decision had always been confirmed. That book is of no use to me.

Conscious comprehension is a funny thing. We have to forget something in order to remember something else.

2. PhotoRead, put the book on the shelve, next one. While PhotoReading the next incubating is taking place. So when I then sit down with the books I PhotoRead the first one again, then the next and next. So by the time I postview (which is a start to activation.) I've had plenty of incubation time for my purpose. If the book isn't making sense I can always drop it and let it incubate longer.

3. Both. I got what I wanted and could tell you about the book.

The Mega Speed reading course came with a video.

Howard Berg has written some books for students. The book I have doesn't promise to help you learn to read 25,000 wpm. It does explain how to read more effectively and faster using his method. Takes a different approach to Tony Buzan's speed reading books. Although both use a WPM approach which I think is perfect for creating frustration. Not all roads can be travelled at the same speed even though you get into the same car. You have to adjust your speed according to a number of external factors. This applies to reading. How familiar you are with the subject will influence your speed through the material.

If you get the feeling you want to access certain information straight away Postview for 12 minutes that helps you locate where the information you are itching to know is located. If you're ready to activate, activate. If not the book needs to incubate. That's why I always plan at least 20 minutes in a book shop. It allows me to do a quick postview on a few books to find what has me itching to know more.

AlexK

Hey Alex,

You talk about frustration and how the speed reading courses cause it. But what about certain people on the forum who have been discussing their frustration with photoreading non-stop?
I haven't felt frustrated with any course except Ed Strachar's so far.


Anyway, the more important stuff I wanted to talk about:

Howard's method teaches you to skim a book so that you know whether or not to read the book. You don't have to really go with your gut, since you consciously know that what you want isn't in the book.

He also emphasizes purpose, which is mainly why you skim first. You also skim to see the layout and the "50,000 foot view" as he calls it.

Since they both worked so well, I can't decide which to use, and knowing that you're a photoreading instructor, can you help me either get back with photoreading or just to stay with speed reading?

Thanks!
-JackTuff13

Alas the frustration people experience with PhotoReading is impatience. They want to know it all in one activation and when I suggest as a beginner they apply 4 to 6 activation to get the conscious comprehension they desire (about 2 hours with a book) That's not good enough so they go back to their old reading habit and spend 9 to 12 hours with a book and hope to know everything.



What a shame. There is information available to us almost instantaneously and it's not good enough. How much more effective as human beings we could be if we had that trust and listened more to the information that is available to us from our own body and mind?

You can satisfy the conscious comprehension to know whether the book suits your purpose with a 3 to 12 minute postview.

For me PhotoReading wins hands down because there is no way I could speed read 40 books in an hour and enjoy spontaneous activation it 4 or more of them. There is no way with speed reading I could PhotoRead 100 or more books in a bookshop and then select 10 books that are informative and useful to me and for others. It also gave me the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with a book that I would never have skimmed based on it's title. Since I was PhotoReading every book on a shelf I included that book even though the cover and information on the cover left me with a no. When I came to selecting the books that one demanded a postview which I gave 20 minutes to.

I'd have never developed certain skills if I had activated material by speed reading. Instead I had the benefit of Direct Learning through PhotoReading. That for me was the second biggest evidence that something happens when I PhotoRead. It proved to me we don't always need conscious comprehension.

For personal reasons I don't say much about how PhotoReading changed my life but change it did. In ways that leave me awestruck. I am teaching PhotoReading because I know how much it can change the lives of people who use the system. I am not a PhotoReading instructor for the money. That isn't where the money is. So when people get frustrated I dig up some more patience because I know once they get it they have found a tool that can change their life.

AlexK

Hey Alex,

Well, if I'm reading at 2000-4000 words a minute, then to stop photoreading and go back to other reading habits would take nowhere near as long as 9-12 hours. More like 1 to 3, 4 at most.

And also, when I said I wanted conscious comprehension right away, I didn't mean as to whether or not I should read the book or not, which is what you stated the postview will help with. That's why Howard teaches you to skim the book. To see whether or not it fits your purpose.

And the patience thing I can start understanding now, since they want to get reading done faster. Whenyou say you'll be photoreading at 25,000 words a minute, that's great. That hooks them in. Then when you say you'll "process" a book in 1/3 the time, it starts getting to the point where they WANT to have conscious comprehension after 25,000 wpm part.

And also, the direct learning part. That's not to say that if I "speed read" a self help book in some subject, I can't integrate the skills I learned into my life. That's not true at all. And I'll consciously do it, so I'll KNOW that I changed because of the book.

Any other thoughts?

Take care!

-JackTuff13

P.S.
Thanks for responding to all my posts!

Interesting ideas!

It seems that much hinges on 'conscious comprehension'. Maybe this need be expanded or re-invented.

The fore-conscious mind must forget to remember. So passing all the material through it might not be all that advantageous.

A keen intuition, well prepared by having PhotoRead the whole Library so to speak would seem to me more efficient and effective.

In my affairs (run my own businesses etc.) I rise or fall by what I know, need pay attention to and do.

I think PhotoReading need be balanced with proving skill well accessing ones supra-mind where the Holographic imaging is stored. Not in translating or downstepping to words that crawl at 200-300 wpm via sub-vocalization. Unless those words be power and magick such as found in affirmations, mantras, and mantric poetry that convey ideas clearly.

Just some thoughts.

Jack you're not reading at 2000 to 4000 wpm you're skimming. That's not even reading. The maximum possible reading speed given the capability of the conscious mind is 560 wpm. No one teaching reading is allowed to claim they can teach you to read more than 800 wpm The danger there is missing the cues that the author has changed direction.

Preview / postview helps you determine if the book meets your purpose.

The biggest advantage of PhotoReading is you start at a sonic speed and slow down. It carries with it natural repeated exposure to the text.

It also goes into the long term memory first. Something processing with the conscious mind prevents. In fact last week I encountered a research paper that points to information being put into middle term memory. This appears to be where all conscious reading winds up.

While you get what you get from skimming I get a through insight into the text because I go over it more often than once through that speed readers do.

I have used the PhotoReading system on books and can still talk about the content 5 years later. And I had read many books the old fashioned way and a week later was couldn't tell you much about the book.

And direct learning spontaneous activation. A brilliant way to learn without conscious comprehension of the book. Because activation hinders it. It's an interesting experience One that impressed me. To learn a new skill without conscious effort and just be doing it as a result of PhotoReading a stack of books that even today I haven't activated.

AlexK

Hey Alex,

Thanks for the info. The only problem is that both methods have worked for me brilliantly.

It's impossible to understand the chaos my mind is going through, even for me. Every ten minutes, I think "Ok, so I'll stick with photoreading and drop speed reading." Then in the next ten minutes I think of all the reasons why I should use speed reading instead and then I start thinking, "Ok, now I'll use speed reading, and drop photoreading."
This is going through my mind ALL the time now. I think I shouldn't have even taken the Maximum Speed Reading course.

Since you're a photoreading instructor, could you help me get back with photoreading? I don't know how to do it, but I want to stick with either one, it really doesn't matter which to me. I just NEED to get out of this frame of mind which changes constantly every 10 minutes.

I know that phrase, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right," but the thing is I CAN do both of them, so I'm in a state where I don't know WHAT to think. Both systems worked well enough for me, and the pro/con list between both of them is pretty balanced.

If you could help me out, I'd be forever grateful.

Thank you!

-JackTuff13

I have been reading this with interest. I though Howard Berg's method was Evelyn Woods with new yorker accent. It was essentailly the same thing. I too have had my frustration with Photoreading. I found Reading Genius better, though definitely not perfect. I am seeking to know what else is out there. Will PhotoReading come out with a newer version with software anytime soon?

Hey George,

Howard Berg's method is similar, but not identical, to Evelyn Wood's method. I think it's better actually. He teaches you WHAT to look for in text, while Evelyn Wood teaches you to read every word during their "read" step.

I thought Reading Genius was good, until a week or two later when I went back to the books and realized I knew nothing of them. I kept doing it, thinking I'd see improvement but soon realized it was a joke.

Photoreading has worked extremely well with me, but as I stated in my prior post, so has Maximum Speed Reading. I can't decide which to use, and truly, I only want to go forward with one. I know photoreading is great, so I was hoping Alex could either motivate me to use photoreading or to help me decide which to use.

Then again, I only had the original Reading Genius, with no software. Just audio cassettes, and two video tapes. Maybe 2.0 is better, but I'm not ready to spend $300 to find out when I already am able to read fast. Or even photoread, fast.

He does have a Brooklyn style accent, but after a while you get used to it. At least, I did.

The biggest frustration I've had with Photoreading was it's "practicality" with reading in libraries, bookshops, and also when incubating. I want information available to me right away, which is what I was able to get with Howard Berg's method. But the information I got after activating was great too, so I'm really looking forward to any help I can get, especially from Alex.

Take care,

-JackTuff13

" In fact last week I encountered a research paper that points to information being put into middle term memory. This appears to be where all conscious reading winds up. "

Hi, ALex , I don't get the middle term memory and the conscious reading winds up bit. Could u explain to me middle term memory plx.

Hi, Jacktuff13. Thats no need to separate the two method, in stead, combine the 2 method together. If I 've u, I will combine the 2 method together, I will probably PR all the book I want in the Library, then without waiting to save time, use speed reading on the books that you are interested in, so u throw everything into inner mind first and consicous speed read the books, when you are at home, and u have plenty of time, use just PURE PR method on books, then it will be much more relax and not in hurry to know the book like u said in the library. Everything you learn is useful to u in someways.

Hope this will help u to break you from the stuck state

Hey Vincent,

I would but since the methods are sort of hard to break up, I'd be doing both of the WHOLE systems, not just parts, which would make my time reading an average 250 page book at least 2 times longer than just using one method.

And I want to be able to call myself either a "photoreader" or a "speed reader", nothing important and not really a big deal to me, but it's just something I would prefer.

-JackTuff13

Turn the books upside down and PhotoRead backwards/from back cover forward. That will take care of dipping down to speed reading!

Yukala,
The problem is not that I "dip down to speed read" while photoreading.

The problem is that I have had great success with both Photoreading and speed reading and now I don't know which one to use.

-JackTuff13

oh sorry, I figured you had decided that?

Seems like a personal decision to me?

I can give you my feelings so far as it concerns my understanding here now for me.

Nice disclosure huh? <smiles>

I think speed reading is abusive to the fore-conscious mind and I would abandon it forthwith. A little is one thing, but as a course of habit, no. I was exposed to it as an highschool course, and again from time to time with always the same feelings, too hard on the 'ram'.

The fore-conscious (I say it that way cause I believe all-Mind is conscious) need be at peace a lot to function at it's best, not crammed full of things all the time.

So, therefor I would PhotoRead the Library as it were daily and sit tight with it for several months and meanwhile focus consciously on ones meditation skills.

Then as 'inspired' one precious day go do your life. Get lost in doing and come for air in a few years.

That is my best over-all advice on the matter.

Middle memory is something they recently found in memory research. It's a medium term memory that holds the information for about 24 hours and then dumps it. Not storing it in the long term memory yet it's available longer than short term memory. It's like remembering someone's phone number of the day and then because you didn't do anything to store it in the long term memory it dumps it. A use it again or lose it. It feels to me that some books we read with traditional reading wind up in that part of the memory. If we don't do something with it like talk about it straight away it seems to disappear. That appears to happen even more with speed reading. Because we have it even less in our short term conscious memory. I'm looking forward to hearing more of this research it might go to explain why kids have so much difficulty learning at school not just in relation to reading.

Jack, Speed reading skills have their place move faster and you're superreading. If combining the skills is slowing you down then the problem isn't a choice of either PhotoReading or speed reading. The problem is being a passive reader only faster. Ask Mind probing questions. Turn chapter heading into questions. Trust your superreading to give you enough from dipping. As I tried to explain. The problem is that speed readers won't slow down for a moment to get the PhotoReading system working by establishing a clear purpose (how am I going to use this) and asking mind probing questions that they never really move beyond speed reading every book that has an inkling of interest to that body mind connection where you PhotoRead a book and know you don't or do need to "read it." And move onto the sections that holds the gems that the conscious mind needs to be aware of to work with.

The conscious mind only knows for a fraction of the moment. Then it jumps to other thoughts. The question is is this what you needed to know in the moment? How does it serve you even having had conscious awareness of the idea that you read?

I suggest you spend only 15 minutes with a few books. In that time prepare, preview, PhotoRead and postview the book.

AlexK

Hey Alex,

I haven't actually combined the skills. I have only used them separately.

The problem is that they both worked well for me, but I want to know if you will be able to help me get back with photoreading. I keep saying to myself, Ok from now on I'll photoread.
Then five minutes later I find some reason to go back to speed reading.

Please help.

-JackTuff13

wow, addictive behavior patterns are what make us and often can break us. I am with you to keep to your clarity; your reason for doing it the best way possible, as you can see it.

I am near daily challenging myself to find new ways to express and be inspired...

myriad blessings with your endeavors!!!

Thanks for explaining to me Alex :-)

Hi. JackTuff13, I note the post you put on... you say you want to be either Photoreader or Speed reader, which mean you like both method, then you ask Alex to help u get back to Photoreader, which also mean you prefer PR then.

If you very prefer PR, I think you should first convince yourself PR IS BETTER, and kind of state lot of Adv about PR and forget about disadv, and state TONES of disadv to speed read.

From all the post in here, I think there are already many point that are good to PR and BAD to speedread. Although I have already suggest to u that use both method flexible. It is quite rare to me that some people want to break the habit of a Skill, which all skill is useful in someways, but I guess it is kind of like smoking ( may be....).
I think the best thing to do at the moment is to convince youself first and I believe Alex has already give u lot of good point and advise about PR.

Jack, Get more books in front of you and set a timer. Allow yourself only a 7 minute postview for each book and then choose the book you want to comprehend more fully and that one you can superread to your hearts content. There is nothing wrong with combining the skills. It's just a question of purpose and being an active reader rather than a passive reader.

AlexK