7 Speed Reading Books Steven Goldstein and Experts Use to Accelerate Learning

Trader performance coach Steven Goldstein and other thought leaders recommend these Speed Reading Books to enhance reading speed and comprehension.

Steven Goldstein
Updated on June 26, 2025
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What if you could double your reading speed without losing track of what matters most — comprehension? Many assume speed reading means skimming and sacrificing understanding, but that’s far from the truth. The real skill lies in balancing pace with retention to unlock knowledge faster and smarter.

Steven Goldstein, a trader performance and executive coach with 25 years in investment banking, has faced intense reading demands himself. His endorsement of Katya Seberson’s "Essential Speed Reading Techniques" highlights how mastering both speed and comprehension can transform professional and academic success.

While these seven expert-curated books offer proven frameworks to enhance your reading, if you’re looking for strategies tailored to your unique background, goals, or reading habits, consider creating a personalized Speed Reading book that builds on these insights and fits your specific needs.

Best for serious students and professionals
Steven Goldstein, a trader performance and executive coach with 25 years in investment banking, emphasizes the importance of comprehension alongside speed in reading. He recommends this book for anyone facing heavy reading demands in school or work, noting that Katya Seberson's mastery offers invaluable guidance. "Speed-reading means nothing unless you not only comprehend what you are reading but also retain the information," he explains. This book shifted his perspective by combining speed with retention, making it a practical tool for serious learners and professionals alike.
SG

Recommended by Steven Goldstein

Trader performance and executive coach

Speed-reading means nothing unless you not only comprehend what you are reading but also retain the information. Anyone who must read, retain, and comprehend vast amounts of material for their schooling or profession must let Katya Seberson guide them along the way. She has studied and mastered her craft and her knowledge never ceases to amaze me. This book should be required reading for every serious student and professional.

2019·152 pages·Speed Reading, Self-Learning, Self Learning, Reading Comprehension, Eye Movement

Katya Seberson overcame her own reading challenges, which fueled her dedication to developing effective speed reading strategies. In this book, you learn to tailor your reading techniques to your unique strengths and challenges, using exercises that enhance both speed and comprehension. The book covers everything from setting realistic progress goals to minimizing eye strain during screen reading, with practical tests to track your improvement. Whether you tackle complex textbooks or leisure novels, this guide helps you maintain comprehension while accelerating your pace. It's especially useful if you want to read more efficiently without losing the essence of the material.

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Best for boosting memory with speed
Joseph Milano is a success mentor and best-selling author with over two decades of coaching experience in skill and study improvement. His approachable style has enabled thousands to unlock potential they once thought unreachable. This book distills his expertise into accessible techniques that help you read faster while remembering more, making it a valuable tool for anyone seeking to improve their learning efficiency.
2021·92 pages·Speed Reading, Memory Improvement, Learning, Reading Efficiency, Comprehension

Joseph Milano challenges the common belief that speed reading sacrifices comprehension. Drawing on two decades of coaching, Milano reveals how you can actually increase reading speed while boosting memory and understanding simultaneously. His book breaks down techniques to expand your visual intake, sharpen focus, and track progress, with exercises designed to build these skills quickly. For instance, he explains how altering reading habits can prevent information loss and improve recall, making this particularly helpful if you face dense or technical material regularly. If you want to read more efficiently without losing depth, this guide offers practical methods tailored to your pace and goals.

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Best for personalized speed plans
This AI-created book on speed reading is tailored to your skill level and specific learning goals. By sharing your background and the topics you want to focus on, you receive a book that matches your interests and helps you progress efficiently. Personalizing this book means you get clear guidance that aligns with how you learn best, making it easier to double your reading speed without losing comprehension. It offers a focused path through complex expert content, designed just for you.
2025·50-300 pages·Speed Reading, Reading Comprehension, Eye Movement, Retention Techniques, Cognitive Training

This tailored book explores customized techniques to master speed reading efficiently, focusing on your unique interests and current skill level. It examines the key elements of increasing reading speed while maintaining comprehension, providing a pathway that matches your background and addresses your specific goals. The content reveals how to balance rapid eye movement, cognitive processing, and retention strategies in a way that aligns with your learning style. By offering a personalized synthesis of expert knowledge, this book fosters a deeper understanding of speed reading principles and practical exercises. It creates a tailored experience that guides you through mastering techniques suited to your preferences, making the journey to doubling your reading speed both achievable and engaging.

Tailored Guide
Cognitive Enhancement
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for dedicated daily practice
The Mesosphere Mindset is a leading authority on speed reading, dedicated to helping individuals unlock their reading potential through effective techniques and strategies. With a focus on practical exercises and cognitive training, they aim to enhance comprehension and reading speed for students, professionals, and lifelong learners alike.
2023·128 pages·Speed Reading, Cognitive Training, Comprehension, Reading Techniques, Brain Exercises

The Mesosphere Mindset challenges the usual approach to speed reading by focusing on brain training exercises designed to boost both your reading speed and comprehension. This book delves into why most people read at around 250 words per minute and offers practical methods to push that number well beyond 400 or even 600. You'll find chapters that bust common myths, outline five core speed reading techniques, and provide targeted exercises for different text types—from academic papers to corporate emails. If you want to improve how quickly and effectively you process written information, this book offers straightforward strategies, though it suits those willing to invest daily practice rather than expecting instant results.

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Best for structured speed drills
Peter Kump, a seasoned rapid reading expert and Director of his own consultancy for over twenty years, has taught speed reading to diverse groups including White House staff. His extensive experience forms the foundation of this book, where he distills the principles of Evelyn Wood into practical exercises. Kump’s expertise offers you a trustworthy guide to enhancing your reading ability through structured practice.
Breakthrough Rapid Reading book cover

by Peter Kump··You?

276 pages·Speed Reading, Reading Techniques, Retention Improvement, Learning Strategies, Cognitive Skills

Peter Kump, with over two decades directing his own rapid reading consultancy, offers a practical approach grounded in the methods pioneered by Evelyn Wood. This book guides you through graded drills designed to boost your reading speed while enhancing retention, rather than simply pushing you to read faster. For instance, specific exercises in later chapters focus on minimizing subvocalization and expanding peripheral vision to increase comprehension. If you’re serious about transforming how you process written content—whether for work or study—this book provides clear techniques that develop both speed and understanding. Casual readers may find some of the drills rigorous, but those committed to skill improvement will benefit greatly.

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Best for mental performance enthusiasts
Kam Knight is a coach, writer, and author of a dozen bestselling books focused on human and mental performance, including memory, concentration, and productivity. Known for challenging traditional ideas, his fresh insights have made his work the gold standard in these areas, helping over 250,000 people globally. Drawing from his extensive travels to nearly 100 countries and his deep research, this book distills powerful speed reading techniques that enable you to read faster while understanding and remembering more.
2018·129 pages·Speed Reading, Studying, Memory Improvement, Education, Mental Performance

Kam Knight's extensive experience as a coach and author specializing in mental performance shines through in this book, which offers a distinct approach to speed reading that goes beyond mere skimming or scanning. You’ll explore techniques that harness your brain and eye capabilities to naturally increase your reading speed while improving comprehension and retention. The book breaks down how to double or even triple your reading pace in minutes, with practical chapters on enhancing focus, building vocabulary, and maintaining eye health for long-term reading ability. This makes it especially useful if you’re a student, educator, or professional aiming to absorb information faster without sacrificing understanding.

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Best for rapid reading gains
This AI-created book on speed reading is crafted based on your unique background, skill level, and specific goals. By sharing which aspects of reading speed and retention you want to improve, you receive a tailored guide focused exactly on your needs. This approach helps you move through expert knowledge efficiently without overwhelming generalizations. Instead, you get a clear, personalized path that accelerates your learning and retention over 30 days.
2025·50-300 pages·Speed Reading, Reading Comprehension, Retention Techniques, Eye Movement, Subvocalization Reduction

This tailored book explores targeted actions to rapidly boost your reading speed and retention, focusing on your unique interests and goals. It examines essential techniques, such as efficient eye movement, minimizing subvocalization, and enhancing comprehension, all presented in a way that matches your background. By concentrating on what matters most to you, this book reveals a personalized pathway through the complex landscape of speed reading knowledge, helping you build skills quickly and effectively. The book covers practical exercises and cognitive approaches designed to accelerate your progress over a 30-day period. This personalized guide ensures you develop lasting reading habits that balance pace with understanding, making your learning experience both efficient and enjoyable.

Tailored Content
Cognitive Acceleration
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for conceptual comprehension
David Butler is a best-selling author driven by a lifelong curiosity about how people learn. His unique perspective emerged from questioning traditional educational methods focused on memorization rather than understanding. In this book, he shares a right-brain approach that helped not only himself but also his children grasp concepts more deeply and learn independently. His method invites you to shift from reading words to reading ideas, promising a more engaging and efficient reading experience.
2017·247 pages·Speed Reading, Study Skills, Learning, Right Brain, Comprehension

Unlike most speed reading books that emphasize rapid word recognition, David Butler's approach centers on enhancing comprehension by engaging your right brain's visual and conceptual strengths. You'll learn to read ideas in phrases, not just individual words, through unique phrase-highlighted exercises that train you to grasp larger concepts faster. This method boosts both speed and understanding, making it suitable for anyone frustrated with traditional reading techniques or eager to deepen their cognitive engagement with text. Chapters guide you from basic principles to practical drills, helping you develop sharper focus and memory retention as you read.

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Best for practical retention strategies
Peter Hollins is a bestselling author and human psychology researcher with extensive experience coaching diverse individuals. His deep understanding of human cognition and peak performance underpins this book, which aims to transform how you approach reading through scientifically grounded methods. Based in Seattle, Hollins combines academic insight with practical strategies to help you read faster and remember more, making this a useful guide for anyone eager to maximize their reading efficiency.
2021·142 pages·Speed Reading, Reading Techniques, Memory Improvement, Visual Concentration, Cognitive Psychology

Drawing from over a decade of psychology research and coaching experience, Peter Hollins challenges common speed reading assumptions in this focused guide. You’ll learn how to train your eyes to skim and scan effectively, stop subvocalizing, and grasp concepts instead of individual words, enhancing both speed and retention. Chapters cover efficient text previewing, debunking myths, and exercises to boost visual concentration, making your reading time more productive. This book suits anyone overwhelmed by reading demands who wants to read faster without sacrificing understanding.

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Conclusion

Across these seven books, clear themes emerge: the importance of comprehension alongside speed, the value of consistent practice, and the need for techniques suited to your personal reading style. If you struggle with distractions or retention, starting with Katya Seberson’s guide can ground your foundation. For those eager to train their brain systematically, "What the Heck Did I Just Speed Read?" offers practical daily exercises.

Combining books like Peter Kump’s "Breakthrough Rapid Reading" with Kam Knight’s mental performance insights can accelerate your progress through structured drills and cognitive techniques. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Speed Reading book to bridge general principles with your own reading challenges and goals.

These books present reliable methods to help you boost reading efficiency and comprehension, empowering you to accelerate your learning journey and handle information overload with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which Speed Reading book should I start with?

Start with "Essential Speed Reading Techniques" by Katya Seberson. Steven Goldstein highlights its practical balance of speed and comprehension, making it ideal for learners facing heavy reading demands.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Speed Reading?

Not at all. Many books, like Joseph Milano’s "Learn Speed-Reading Fast," provide accessible guidance suitable for beginners eager to improve both speed and memory retention.

Which books focus more on practical application versus theory?

Peter Kump’s "Breakthrough Rapid Reading" emphasizes structured drills, while "What the Heck Did I Just Speed Read?" offers daily brain-training exercises, making both very hands-on.

Should I read these books in a specific order for best results?

It helps to start with foundational techniques, then explore specialized methods. For example, begin with Seberson’s book, then deepen practice with Kump and Knight’s mental performance strategies.

Do any of these books contradict each other on techniques?

While approaches vary, they generally complement each other, offering different angles on speed and comprehension. For instance, Butler’s right-brain focus contrasts with traditional methods but enriches your toolkit.

Can I get Speed Reading advice tailored to my specific goals and background?

Yes! While these expert books provide solid foundations, personalized books can tailor strategies to your unique needs, bridging expert insights with your situation. Explore custom Speed Reading books here.

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