quote:
Originally posted by jl3goat:
Frankly, I have not noticed any difference whatsoever between speedreading and photoreading in terms of practical results. Speeding reading books have you make multiple passes through the material, and so does photoreading. I haven't experienced any edge at all in exposing the information to my "other-than-conscious-mind." For me, the most important steps have been to preview, and generate a list of questions and keywords before going into the text and either speedreading or activating. I've tried the whole mind system without the photoreading step, as an experiment, and didn't discern any difference in comprehension whatsoever. Your mileage may vary.
Your lack of differentiation between the levels in comprehension between actually using the PhotoReading step and not using it are understandable. Why? Because the benefit of the PhotoReading step is not entirely conscious, or actually maybe even not conscious at all. The difference, you'll find, is in the application. Try learning a new skill, try experimenting and trying different things in an area you're not familiar with, but have used PhotoReading to gain some expertise through your inexperience. Watch carefully, and you may find yourself noticing things you didn't know you knew!
I remember when I had first starting using PhotoReading, I didn't have much time to spend time consciously getting information. As a fun experiment, I'd give myself little time limits, and set goals within those time limits using PhotoReading. I remember I was in 8th grade, and PhotoRead my science textbook a few times, once right side up, again upside down, and then one more time right side up, flipped through with a post-view, and then had my mom quiz me on vocabulary words and the key concepts of the chapter. I passed with flying colors. One of the vocabulary words I hadn't actually read, I just somehow knew it. Could have been learned from the past, true, but could it be possible that PhotoReading would aid any previous knowledge to the surface? I'd say it's possible. 
Just as in some of the most important pivotal moments of life, we go off our "gut feeling," or our 'instincts.' When we're troubled, sometimes sitting down with ourselves and giving words to feelings we have a hard time explaining will unleash powerful solutions to problems we didn't think we could solve, or at times, didn't even realize were there. The key, I think, is to remain open. Drop your expectations, completely, and just let go. Throw away your cares, your stresses, just let whatever happens happen with your thoughts & feelings regarding the material. You might be surprised.
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I've been working on music, yes. As a musician, I'm still a very active learner and am still attempting to find my own creative style in song writing and performance of both guitar, percussion, vocals, and other areas. The free album that's on my site is allowing you to hear my progress and various transitions of styles as I attempt to find my musical niche.
-youngprer
[This message has been edited by youngprer (edited August 12, 2005).]
