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Re:Ask HN: Do you guys use speed reading techniques? by tom_rath on Monday January 05, 2009 @01:34AM (#420083)
For understanding, repetition and context will help more than speed.

Read a number of articles on the subject. Write out the definition in your own words or explain it to a friend. Complete a few textbook exercises to calculate the values you want to understand.

Taking the time to internalize a subject is significantly more helpful than quickly scanning words you do not yet understand.

Re:Ask HN: Do you guys use speed reading techniques? by yummyfajitas on Monday January 05, 2009 @10:16AM (#420529)
Understanding isn't the issue for me. I have a solid math background, so I'm understanding things about as fast as I can read them. My main issue is the terminology, there is just lots of it.

A more traditional programming example is this; if you learn Java you need to understand, but learning the libraries is more a matter of remembering than understanding.

Some subjects are broad, not simply deep. Speed reading (or whatever) could help with the breadth.