50584018 Paul Scheele the Photo Reading Whole Mind System

PhotoReading Paul R. Scheele, M.A.

Exciting New 3rd Edition • D o u b l e y o u r r e a d i n g speed i m m e d i a t e l y • R e m e m b e r m o r e o f w h a t y o u r ead

• A b s o r b c o m p l e t e b o o k s in m i n u t e s • E x c e l l e n t for t echn ica l m a t e r i a l

• Q u i c k l y read e m a i l , w e b p a g e s , and e l e c t r o n i c files

O v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 in pr in t !

The PhotoReading Whole Mind System

Read this Book in 25 Minutes

T h i s b o o k i s u n i q u e l y d e s i g n e d s o tha t y o u c a n eas i ly r e a d

i t i n w h a t e v e r a m o u n t o f t i m e y o u can c o m m i t r i g h t n o w .

25 M i n u t e s (Leve l 1) - Ge t t he gist of t h i s b o o k in j u s t 25

m i n u t e s . F i r s t , p a g e t h r o u g h the en t i r e b o o k and r e a d the

t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s , c h a p t e r t i t l e s , a n d s u b t i t l e s . P a g e t h r o u g h

the b o o k t h e s e c o n d t i m e a n d scan for i c o n s o f E i n s t e i n r i d i n g

a b i c y c l e . R e a d the p a r a g r a p h n e x t t o e a c h b i c y c l e i con . I f y o u

h a v e m o r e t i m e , c o n t i n u e t o L e v e l 2 .

30 A d d i t i o n a l M i n u t e s ( L e v e l 2 ) - A b s o r b t h e co re

c o n c e p t s o f t h i s b o o k w e l l e n o u g h t o d i s c u s s t h e m i n j u s t

th i r ty m i n u t e s m o r e . P a g e t h r o u g h the b o o k aga in . T h i s

t i m e scan for i c o n s o f E i n s t e i n j o g g i n g . R e a d the p a r a g r a p h

n e x t t o e a c h j o g g i n g i con .

4 5 - 9 0 A d d i t i o n a l M i n u t e s ( L e v e l 3 ) - F u l l y > \ /

u n d e r s t a n d the P h o t o R e a d i n g ski l l s by s p e n d i n g up to < - B - A

n ine ty m o r e m i n u t e s . P a g e t h r o u g h t h e b o o k s c a n n i n g for

i c o n s o f E i n s t e i n w i t h a l ight b u l b . R e a d the p a r a g r a p h

n e x t t o e a c h icon. A s y o u s e a r c h for i c o n s , r e m e m b e r w h a t

y o u h a v e r e a d be fo re b y r e v i e w i n g t i t les and sub t i t l e s .

W h e n i c o n s are c o n n e c t e d b y l i nes , r e a d all t he p a r a g r a p h s .

O c c a s i o n a l l y a n o t e u n d e r an i c o n m a y say " R e a d B u l l e t s ; " th i s

m e a n s y o u shou ld r e a d u p c o m i n g t ex t tha t start w i t h a b u l l e t ( • ) .

R e s i s t t e m p t a t i o n to r e a d all p a r a g r a p h s n e x t to all i c o n s

d u r i n g the first t i m e y o u s c a n t h r o u g h t h e b o o k . C o m p r e h e n s i o n

wi l l b e h i g h e r i f y o u g o t h r o u g h the b o o k m o r e t h a n o n c e .

Y o u m a y d e s i r e t o r e a d th i s b o o k w o r d - f o r - w o r d the first

t i m e . T h a t i s all r ight . Y o u m a y c h o o s e different l e v e l s for

s u b s e q u e n t r e a d i n g s t o h e l p y o u get m o r e ou t o f y o u r i n v e s t m e n t .

W h a t A u t h o r s Say A b o u t P h o t o R e a d i n g . .

PhotoReading combines all the most efficient reading strategies—

proven in university studies over many years—with what is now known about

the phenomenal perceptive capabilities of the human brain

It is undoubtedly the best accelerative reading improvement program

available today

And , it is presented so that the average person can benefit immediately,

and for a lifetime

Dr J Michael Bennett, University of Minnesota

author of Efficient Reading for Managers

This is the best book for reading improvement ever wr i t ten Finally, one

wri t ten by someone who truly understands the learning process

Eric Jensen, author of The Learning Brain and Super Teaching

By fol lowing the PhotoReading Whole Mind System, you can enhance

your learning and greatly reduce the time you spend regular reading You can

automatically single out the information you value and mentally highlight those

passages you want to savor

Charlotte Ward writing in Simply Live It UP

PhotoReading has helped many, including myself, to blast through

materials at rates up to 25,000 words a minute

Bryan Mattimore writing in Success Magazine

It's not just the fact that PhotoReading can transform your life in

unexpected ways that excites me It's also that Paul Scheele's book serves as a

model for how to present new ideas well and forge new territory

Peter Kline, author of The Everyday Genius

PhotoReading is a gem It contains powerful tools for excelling in life I

thoroughly recommend it

David McNally, author of Even Eagles Need a Push

PhotoReading appears to be a natural step forward in the evolution of

human reading skills

Win Wenger, Ph D, writing in The Einstein Factor

PhotoReading is literally eye-opening The goal Let your unconscious

take a snapshot, imbibing a whole page in a glimpse It may well be the

standard equipment for 21st Century SuperLearners

Sheila Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder writing in SuperLearning 2000

PhotoReading has amazing potential for helping people use more of

their brain to accelerate learning

Paul McKenna, Ph D, author of The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna

W e l i v e i n t h e a g e o f t h e a c c o u n t a n t ,

no t t h e p o e t . . .

in the age of the politician, not the singer, in the age of the

administrator, not the explorer We thus live in an unbalanced wor ld Any

development which redresses this imbalance is to be welcomed and applauded

The PhotoReading Whole Mind System, initially developed by and now

presented in wri t ten form by Paul R Scheele, represents an excellent advance

in redressing this imbalance Paul's contribution has a number of noteworthy

aspects to it In particular, his work represents

• a practical system for achieving an important class of accelerated

learning skills

• a significant refinement in the extremely important and ubiquitous

activity of reading — in particular, Paul has decomposed reading into a

continuum of choices By so doing he has, in effect, identified and charted a

continuum of cooperation between the two cerebral hemispheres This places

within the grasp of the well intentioned and disciplined practitioner a set of

choices which are the natural (and largely unrecognized) heritage of every

member of our species

• the presentation of a highly learnable system which both delivers what

it proposes and simultaneously opens a huge door to achieving a new balance

between unconscious and conscious processes within the user

Well done, Paul Scheele 1

John Grinder

Co-Developer, Neuro-Linguistic Programming

I r e c e i v e d t h e h i g h e s t g r a d e o n e v e r y t e s t !

I wanted to get my master's degree I tried taking a course eighteen

months ago I was not able to complete it, because it took so much time and

my grades were not good (C or D before I dropped the course)

I tried the PhotoReading method on some Navy correspondence courses,

and it seemed to work well I needed to test it for real, though I enrolled in

two courses at the local junior college in business law and marketing I used only

the PhotoReading whole mind system

The results were astounding With no more effort than just going to

class, I received not just A's, but I received the highest grade on every test in both

classes The best part was that I still had plenty of t ime wi th my family

People at work and my family all say that what I am doing is impossible

I would have agreed wi th them one year ago, but instead I show them the

transcripts to prove my progress And still they do not believe

I certainly am impressed

Randy Now

North Highlands, California

I used P h o t o R e a d i n g to b e c o m e a spec ia l is t in

r h e u m a t o l o g y a n d p h y s i o t h e r a p y

I had thousands of pages to study for a critical exam. I PhotoRead and

activated daily over a month, and I mind mapped the rheumatology textbook.

When I took the wri t ten test, I both knew and felt the correct answers.

My score was the second highest. I also did very well in the three-day, practical

part of this medical exam, and I was the top student on the oral exam.

Ildiko Kiss, M.D., Zalaegerszeg, Hungary

W h a t used t o t a k e m e t w o h o u r s ,

I can n o w do in t e n m i n u t e s

As a tax consultant, I use PhotoReading to slash the time it takes to dig

information from the 33-volume IRS code. I f ind the section I want in the index.

Then I PhotoRead that section—30-40 pages. Immediately the answers appear

to jump off the page.

Fred Fredricks, Hong Kong

I'm m o r e p r o d u c t i v e a t w o r k

I PhotoRead my software manuals. Now, when I program, the code

seems to come out of my head, and I hardly ever stop to look in the manuals

as before. I intuitively know the program will work, and it does. Previously I

would have wri t ten a bit, tested it, tweaked it, referred to the manual...

Lou Wilson, Middlesex, England

I g o t a 1 0 0 % s a l a r y inc rease

After learning PhotoReading, I lowered my reading backlog by 40 books

in the next 28 days. I applied the PhotoReading techniques to a business

presentation and got a job offer with a 100% salary increase.

Joan Jimenez, General Council of Education, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

M y bus iness d o u b l e d

As a business owner, I am always looking for ways to increase my sales.

I PhotoRead marketing books that I hadn't found time to read, and then put

together a new sales piece that yielded twice what I had done before.

John DuCane, St. Paul, Minnesota

I w r o t e 20 p a g e s of n o t e s

w i t h o u t o p e n i n g t h e b o o k a g a i n

Yesterday I PhotoRead a law book. This morning I activated it. I then

dedded to make just a few notes... I am astounded!

Ray Simons, Las Vegas, Nevada

The PhotoReading

Whole Mind System

by Paul R. Scheele

Published by Learning Strategies Corporation

900 East Wavzata Boulevard Wavzata, Minnesota 55391-1836 USA

952-476-9200 • FAX 952-475-2373 [email protected] www.LearningStrategies.com

Learning Strategies Corporation is a Private Vocational School licensed by the Higher Education Services Office of the Minnesota Department of Education.

Board of Directors and Corporate Officers: Paul R. Scheele, Chairman; Peter Bissonette, President;

William J. Erickson, General Counsel, Secretary; David A. Heit, CEO, Treasurer

"PhotoReading," "Paraliminal," "Personal Celebration," "EasyLearn," "Natural Brilliance" and "Accelements" are worldwide trademarks of

Learning Strategies Corporation.

"Mind Mapping" is a trademark of Tony Buzan

Cover design by MartinRoss Design

"The whole mind is represented on the cover. The analytical left brain is depicted in the 19th Century French diagram of the planets revolving around the sun and by the eyes of Albert Einstein. The creative right brain is expressed in Michaelangelo's eye of David. Einstein's eyes suggest a want to look upward, to search further. The type going off in space reflects the new learning strategies of the PhotoReading whole mind system."

Photograph of Paul R. Scheele by Sonia Katchian / Photo Shuttle: Japan Copyright 1996

Illustrations by Jillian Walz

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 99-066760

ISBN 0-925480-53-3

Third Edition Copyright 1999 by Learning Strategies Corporation

(First Edition: Copyright 1993)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

PhotoReading

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.LearningStrategies.com

Table of Contents

R e a d th i s B o o k i n 2 5 M i n u t e s • F o r e w o r d

A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s • A b o u t t h e A u t h o r

1 - Increase Your Choices

1. T h e O r i g i n s of P h o t o R e a d i n g 2

2 . O l d R e a d i n g H a b i t s o r N e w R e a d i n g C h o i c e s 1 0

2 - Learn the PhotoReading Whole Mind System

3 . P r e p a r e 2 4

4 . P r e v i e w 3 2

5 . P h o t o R e a d 40

6. A c t i v a t e *. 53

7 . R a p i d R e a d 7 1

3 - Develop and Integrate Your Skills

8 . M a k e P h o t o R e a d i n g P a r t o f Y o u r D a i l y Life 8 0

9 . S h a r e I n f o r m a t i o n T h r o u g h G r o u p A c t i v a t i o n 9 1

10. E n r i c h Y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g E x p e r i e n c e 9 8

1 1 . U s e S y n t o p i c R e a d i n g for L i f e - L o n g E x p l o r a t i o n 109

12. Q u e s t i o n s a n d A n s w e r s for t he B e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r 118

1 3 . D i s c o v e r Y o u r G e n i u s P o t e n t i a l w i t h D i r e c t L e a r n i n g ... 135

14. The S e c r e t o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g W h o l e M i n d S y s t e m .... 142

Q u i c k R e f e r e n c e Guide . 146

B i b l i o g r a p h y 150

I n d e x 154

B o o k s , Tapes , & Cour se s by L e a r n i n g Stra tegies Corpora t ion . . . 159

S p e c i a l Offer Cer t i f i ca t e 166

Foreword

W e l c o m e t o t h e m o s t i n n o v a t i v e r e a d i n g p r o g r a m a v a i l a b l e .

P h o t o R e a d i n g g o e s b e y o n d m e r e s p e e d r e a d i n g . I t i s a n e d u c a t i o n a l

e x p e r i e n c e tha t t a p s y o u r m i n d ' s v a s t r e s o u r c e s . I t e x p l o r e s a n d

e x p a n d s y o u r o w n p o t e n t i a l .

W e l ive i n a n a g e w h e n t oo l i t t le t i m e a n d t o o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n

c o m p e t e . I f w e a re t o s u c c e e d , w e r e q u i r e n e w ski l l s for p r o c e s s i n g

a n d l e a r n i n g f rom i n f o r m a t i o n . P h o t o R e a d i n g i s a b o u t w o r k i n g

w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o c e s s i n g d e v i c e k n o w n t o m a n k i n d :

t he h u m a n m i n d .

I n th i s b o o k y o u w i l l l e a r n t e c h n i q u e s for u s i n g t h e p o w e r s o f

y o u r w h o l e m i n d . P h o t o R e a d i n g w i l l t e a c h y o u n o t j u s t h o w t o r e a d

fas te r b u t learn a t s p e e d s m a n y t i m e s fas te r t h a n b e f o r e .

W h e n y o u l e a r n P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u w i l l e x p e r i e n c e w h a t

m i g h t s o u n d i m p o s s i b l e . Y o u w i l l P h o t o R e a d t h e w r i t t e n p a g e a t

r a t e s e x c e e d i n g a p a g e p e r s e c o n d , d i r e c t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n i n t o t h e

e x p a n d e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f y o u r b r a i n . T h e r e t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n c o n n e c t s t o y o u r p r i o r k n o w l e d g e a n d b e c o m e s usefu l

t o a c c o m p l i s h i n g y o u r p u r p o s e s . Y o u ge t y o u r r e a d i n g d o n e i n t h e

t i m e y o u h a v e a v a i l a b l e , a t a l e v e l o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n y o u n e e d .

W i t h t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m , y o u w i l l d e v e l o p

e x t r a o r d i n a r y c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t he y o u r b r a i n . P h o t o R e a d i n g

b y p a s s e s t he l i m i t e d c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d h e l p s

y o u f ind y o u r p e r s o n a l g e n i u s .

T h e b o o k c o n t a i n s t h r e e p a r t s . I n P a r t O n e , y o u w i l l o v e r v i e w

the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m a n d t h e n e w c h o i c e s y o u

h a v e a v a i l a b l e a s a r e a d e r . P a r t T w o g u i d e s y o u s t e p - b y - s t e p t o

l e a r n t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . P a r t T h r e e h e l p s y o u

i n t e g r a t e y o u r n e w k n o w l e d g e a n d ski l l s s o y o u c a n success fu l ly

u s e t h e m e v e r y d a y .

P h o t o R e a d i n g i s a t r i u m p h o v e r i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d for

t h o u s a n d s P h o t o R e a d i n g c o u r s e p a r t i c i p a n t s w o r l d w i d e . N o w , t he

de t a i l s o f th i s s y s t e m a re e x p l a i n e d i n a n e a s y - t o - r e a d f o r m a t .

Acknowledgments

As this Th i rd Ed i t i on of The PhotoReading Whole Mind

System g o e s t o p r e s s , P h o t o R e a d i n g c o n t i n u e s t o e v o l v e t h a n k s t o

t he c o n t i n u i n g w o r k of o v e r a h u n d r e d d e d i c a t e d p e o p l e . To them,

I dedicate this book.

I a c k n o w l e d g e t h e sp i r i t a n d c o m m i t m e n t o f t he ce r t i f i ed

P h o t o R e a d i n g i n s t r u c t o r s . T h e y a re t o d a y ' s p i o n e e r s , f o r g i n g a

n e w f o r m o f e d u c a t i o n . T h e y s igni f icant ly in f luence P h o t o R e a d i n g

b y c r e a t i v e l y e x p l o r i n g n e w w a y s t o t e a c h a n d u s e P h o t o R e a d i n g .

T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t o r t o P h o t o R e a d i n g i s t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g s tuden t , w h o s e i n s i g h t s a n d b r e a k t h r o u g h s a r e

i n v a l u a b l e t o P h o t o R e a d i n g ' s c o n t i n u e d e v o l u t i o n .

K u d o s t o t h e p e o p l e o f L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n a n d

o u r w o r l d w i d e m a r k e t i n g a s s o c i a t e s for t he i r d i l i g e n t w o r k i n

h e l p i n g s p r e a d t h e w o r d a b o u t P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h a n k s t o t h e m ,

w e h a v e t e n s o f t h o u s a n d s o f a d d i t i o n a l P h o t o R e a d e r s a r o u n d

the w o r l d .

I s a lu t e all t h o s e w h o c o n t r i b u t e d to t he ea r ly d e v e l o p m e n t

o f P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h e n a m e s o f t h e s e t a l e n t e d a n d ins igh t fu l

a s s o c i a t e s a re o n p e r m a n e n t r e c o r d i n t h e F i r s t a n d S e c o n d

E d i t i o n s o f t h i s b o o k .

I a l so t h a n k D r . J . M i c h a e l B e n n e t t , P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s f rom

the U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a D e p a r t m e n t o f R h e t o r i c for h i s

e x c e l l e n t c o n t r i b u t i o n s . H i s ins igh t fu l a d d i t i o n s o f r h y t h m i c

p e r u s a l a n d s k i t t e r i n g t o t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m

h a v e p r o v e n v a l u a b l e a c t i v a t i o n t o o l s for t he m a n y P h o t o R e a d e r s

n o w u s i n g t h e m .

F i n a l l y , I a c k n o w l e d g e y o u , t h e r eade r , for r e c o g n i z i n g y o u

h a v e t he p o w e r w i t h i n t o a c c o m p l i s h m o s t a n y t h i n g y o u d e s i r e .

Y o u m a k e b r e a k t h r o u g h s s u c h a s P h o t o R e a d i n g a r e a l i t y . P l e a s e

w r i t e m e o f y o u r s u c c e s s e s .

Paul R. Scheele

About the Author

P a u l R . S c h e e l e , M . A . , c o - f o u n d e r o f L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s

C o r p o r a t i o n , i s t he p r i n c i p a l d e v e l o p e r o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

H i s e d u c a t i o n h a s f o c u s e d o n a d u l t l e a r n i n g , p s y c h o l o g y ,

b i o l o g y , n e u r o - l i n g u i s t i c p r o g r a m m i n g , a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g ,

p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s i n g , a n d e d u c a t i o n a l k i n e s i o l o g y . H e

r e c e i v e d h i s B a c h e l o r o f S c i e n c e d e g r e e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f

M i n n e s o t a a n d h i s M a s t e r s o f A r t s d e g r e e f r o m St . T h o m a s

U n i v e r s i t y .

P a u l i s t he d e v e l o p e r o f P a r a l i m i n a l a n d P e r s o n a l C e l e b r a t i o n

t a p e s . T h e s e a u d i o p r o g r a m s u s e a d v a n c e d r e c o r d i n g t e c h n o l o g y

t o a c c e s s t h e w h o l e b r a i n a n d e n h a n c e p e r s o n a l p e r f o r m a n c e .

P a u l a l so d e v e l o p e d Natural Brilliance, a fou r - s t ep m o d e l to

h e l p p e o p l e m o v e f rom fee l ing s t u c k t o r e l e a s i n g g e n i u s for

a c h i e v i n g s u c c e s s . N a t u r a l B r i l l i a n c e i s k e y t o D i r e c t L e a r n i n g , a n

a p p l i c a t i o n o f P h o t o R e a d i n g t h a t i n v o l v e s l e a r n i n g b e h a v i o r s

d i r e c t l y f r o m p r i n t e d p a g e s .

P a u l a u t h o r e d t h e h i g h l y a c c l a i m e d t e a c h e r d e v e l o p m e n t

c o u r s e t i t l e d Accelements. A n d for l e a r n e r s o f a l l a g e s , h i s

i n n o v a t i v e , s e l f - s t u d y , p e r s o n a l l e a r n i n g c o u r s e s i n c l u d e

PhotoReading, Natural Brilliance, Ideal Mindset, and Decisive Action.

H e i s a n i n s i g h t f u l p u b l i c s p e a k e r a n d c o n s u l t a n t t o

c o m p a n i e s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s w o r l d w i d e .

P a u l l i ve s w i t h h i s wi fe L i b b y a n d t h e i r t h r e e sons , B e n ,

J o h n , a n d Sco t t , i n a s u b u r b o f M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n e s o t a .

H e m a y b e r e a c h e d b y w r i t i n g L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s

C o r p o r a t i o n , 9 0 0 E a s t W a y z a t a B o u l e v a r d , W a y z a t a , M i n n e s o t a

5 5 3 9 1 - 1 8 3 6 o r emai l i n f o @ L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s . c o m

Paul lovingly dedicates his work to his family.

Their passion for reading and zest for life inspires and

motivates him every day.

mailto:[email protected]

Part One:

Increase Your Choices

1

The Origins of PhotoReading

P h o t o R e a d i n g a t 2 5 , 0 0 0 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e m e a n s y o u c o u l d

" m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h " th i s b o o k i n f e w e r t h a n t h r e e m i n u t e s .

A l t h o u g h th i s m a y s o u n d l i k e a r a d i c a l n e w i d e a , t he c o n c e p t

e x i s t e d h u n d r e d s o f y e a r s b e f o r e I c o i n e d t h e t e r m P h o t o R e a d i n g .

Y o u c a n f ind e v i d e n c e t h a t s u c h m e n t a l p r o c e s s i n g i s p o s s i b l e

a n d h a s b e e n u s e d i n d i v e r s e s e t t i n g s f rom m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g a n d

m a r t i a l a r t s t o a n c i e n t r e l i g i o u s t r a d i t i o n s .

T h e c h a l l e n g e i s n o t i n d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r P h o t o R e a d i n g i s

p o s s i b l e . T h e c h a l l e n g e i s h o w t o t e a c h y o u , a s a n i n d i v i d u a l

r e a d i n g th i s b o o k , t o e f fec t ive ly t r a n s f e r t h i s n a t u r a l ab i l i t y in to

da i l y a p p l i c a t i o n s for r e p o r t s , j o u r n a l s , n e w s p a p e r s , b o o k s , w e b

p a g e s , o r w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t t o r e a d .

M y b a c k g r o u n d i n n e u r o - l i n g u i s t i c p r o g r a m m i n g a n d

a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g g a v e m e a w a y t o m e e t t h a t c h a l l e n g e . T h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m h a s b e e n l e a r n e d b y o t h e r s

a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a n d n o w the t i m e i s r i gh t for y o u t o l e a r n i t t o o .

T h e s tory t h a t f o l l o w s e x p l a i n s h o w i t al l s t a r t e d .

S e v e n y e a r s after g r a d u a t i n g w i t h a s c i e n c e d e g r e e f r o m t h e

U n i v e r s i t y of M i n n e s o t a , I t o o k a s p e e d r e a d i n g t e s t . I s c o r e d 1 7 0

w o r d s p e r m i n u t e a t 70 p e r c e n t c o m p r e h e n s i o n . I w a s e m b a r r a s s e d

w h e n I r e a l i z e d m y 16-p lus y e a r s i n p u b l i c s c h o o l s left m e b e l o w

a v e r a g e i n r e a d i n g s k i l l s a n d a n e x p e r t a t p u t t i n g off

r e a d i n g .

I t h o u g h t t h a t to r e a d p r o p e r l y I m u s t s ta r t on t h e first w o r d

o f a t e x t a n d s l o g t h r o u g h to t he e n d . I m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e on s e e i n g

al l t he w o r d s c o r r e c t l y , m a k e s e n s e o f t h e m a s I w e n t a l o n g , a n d

r e m e m b e r w h a t t h e y sa id . I a l so b e l i e v e d t h e u l t i m a t e m e a s u r e o f

The Origins of PhotoReading 3

m y r e a d i n g e f f e c t i v e n e s s w a s t o t a l r e c a l l a n d c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s

o f m e a n i n g .

I d i d n o t q u e s t i o n my d e f i n i t i o n of r e a d i n g . I felt s t u c k a t

s l o w s p e e d s . I k n e w t h a t t h e f a s t e r I r e a d , t h e w o r s e m y

c o m p r e h e n s i o n b e c a m e . Af t e r s e v e n y e a r s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l life

a s a h u m a n r e s o u r c e d e v e l o p m e n t c o n s u l t a n t , I h a d m a d e no

i m p r o v e m e n t i n m y r e a d i n g s k i l l s .

I n 1 9 8 4 , t h e l o g i c a l s o l u t i o n m e a n t e n r o l l i n g i n a s p e e d

r e a d i n g c o u r s e . Af t e r f ive w e e k s o f t r a i n i n g , m y s p e e d r e a d i n g

s c o r e s a v e r a g e d 5 , 0 0 0 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e a t 7 0 p e r c e n t

c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

D u r i n g o n e o f t h e c l a s s s e s s i o n s , a y o u n g w o m a n s i t t i ng

n e x t t o m e l a m e n t e d b e i n g s t u c k a t 1,300 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e

t h r o u g h t e n w e e k s o f c l a s s e s . I s u g g e s t e d t o he r , " I m a g i n e w h a t

i t w o u l d b e l i ke i f y o u c o u l d b r e a k t h r o u g h t o h i g h e r s p e e d s

n o w . " O n h e r n e x t b o o k , h e r s p e e d r e a d i n g r e a c h e d o v e r 6 , 0 0 0

w o r d s p e r m i n u t e w i t h h i g h e r c o m p r e h e n s i o n t e s t s c o r e s t h a n

e v e r b e f o r e .

A s g r e a t a s t h a t s o u n d s , s p e e d r e a d i n g d i d n o t a p p e a l t o m e .

P u s h i n g m y e y e b a l l s d o w n the p a g e s o o n b e c a m e u n r e w a r d i n g

d r u d g e r y . T h r e e m o n t h s after l e a v i n g the c o u r s e , I r a r e l y u s e d t h e

t e c h n i q u e s b u t r e m a i n e d i n t r i g u e d a b o u t t h e m i n d ' s p o t e n t i a l

for p r o c e s s i n g w r i t t e n w o r d s .

I b e g a n r e a l i z i n g m y p r o b l e m — I felt t r a p p e d b e t w e e n t w o

o p p o s i n g b e l i e f s y s t e m s . O n e b e l i e f c a m e f rom the e l e m e n t a r y

e d u c a t i o n m o d e l o f r e a d i n g . A n o p p o s i n g b e l i e f c a m e f r o m

k n o w i n g t h a t t h e h u m a n m i n d c a n a c h i e v e far m o r e m a g n i f i c e n t

r e s u l t s . T h e s a m e t r a p p e d a n d c o n f u s i n g f ee l i ng g r a b b e d m e

o n c e d u r i n g p r i v a t e p i l o t ' s t r a i n i n g .

I r e m e m b e r w h e n m y i n s t r u c t o r t o o k m e u p t o e i g h t

t h o u s a n d feet a n d t o l d me to fly a t a m i n i m u m a i r s p e e d j u s t as I

w o u l d w h e n l a n d i n g . T o d o so , I s l o w e d d o w n the e n g i n e a n d

p u l l e d b a c k o n t h e c o n t r o l y o k e t o m a i n t a i n m y a l t i t u d e .

S o o n , t h e n o s e o f m y p l a n e p o i n t e d a l m o s t s t r a i g h t u p . T h e

w i n d f l o w i n g o v e r m y w i n g s n o l o n g e r c r e a t e d e n o u g h lift t o

h o l d up t h e a i r p l a n e . I t c o u l d n o t fly so i t d r o p p e d o u t o f t he sky

l i ke a r o c k , d i v i n g s t r a i g h t d o w n t o w a r d the g r o u n d .

Te r r i f i ed , I i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n p u l l i n g b a c k o n t h e c o n t r o l

y o k e , t r y i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o g e t t h e n o s e u p a n d fly t h e p l a n e .

The PhotoReadittg Whole Mind System

F i n a l l y , m y i n s t r u c t o r b r o k e m y

w h i t e - k n u c k l e d g r i p a n d p u s h e d t h e

c o n t r o l y o k e f o r w a r d . T h i s p u s h

i m m e d i a t e l y s m o o t h e d o u t t he w i n g s a n d e l e v a t o r s e c t i o n o f t h e

ta i l , w h i c h c o r r e c t e d t h e a i r f low o v e r t h e m a n d g e n e r a t e d lift.

T h e p l a n e s t a b i l i z e d a n d s l o w l y h e p u l l e d b a c k t h e c o n t r o l y o k e

t o r e g a i n a l t i t u d e , l e a v i n g m y h e a r t i n m y t h r o a t . W o w .

W h a t c o n n e c t i o n d o e s t h i s h a v e t o r e a d i n g ? T h r o u g h o u t

my life I r e a d o n l y as fast a s I c o u l d c o m p r e h e n d t h e w o r d s on t h e

p a g e . E v e r y t i m e I w e n t t o o fast t o c o m p r e h e n d , I g r a b b e d c o n t r o l

a n d p u l l e d b a c k as a fear r e a c t i o n . I w a s afraid I w o u l d fail as a

r e a d e r i f I d id n o t u n d e r s t a n d e v e r y t h i n g . M y a t t e m p t e d s t r a t e g i e s

t o r e a d b e t t e r a n d fas te r o n l y m a d e t h i n g s w o r s e . I w a s c a u g h t i n

t h e sp in , a n d r e a d i n g felt l ike n o s e d i v i n g m y a i r p l a n e in to

t h e g r o u n d .

H a v e y o u e v e r w i s h e d for a m e n t o r t o c o m e a l o n g a n d p u l l

y o u o u t of a n o s e d i v e ? I d id . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , I d id n o t r e a l i z e a

l a r g e r , m o r e p o w e r f u l c a p a c i t y o f m i n d c o u l d s o l v e m y r e a d i n g

p r o b l e m . F o r t u n a t e l y , m i r a c l e s h a p p e n . S e v e r a l e v e n t s i n t h e

n e x t few y e a r s s h a p e d a n e w d i r e c t i o n for m e .

I n t he fall o f 1 9 8 4 , 1 e n t e r e d g r a d u a t e s c h o o l t o s t u d y a d u l t

a b o u t o u r p r o b l e m . W h i l e I t r i e d to lift

t he p l a n e u p b y t h e c o n t r o l y o k e , h e

w a s t e l l i n g m e t o d i v e d e e p e r i n to t h e

g r o u n d ? C l e a r l y h e h a d los t h i s m i n d .

T h e p l a n e e n t e r e d a t a i l sp in ,

a n d t h e e a r t h b e c a m e a s p i n n i n g b l u r

r u s h i n g t o w a r d u s . E v e r y p a r t o f m e

r e s i s t e d h i s c o m m a n d a s h e i n s i s t e d

m o r e f i rmly , " P u s h in to t h e sp in ! "

T h i s m a d e t h i n g s m u c h w o r s e . M y

i n s t r u c t o r s e e m e d t o en joy w a t c h i n g

m y p a n i c .

W h y w a s n ' t i t w o r k i n g ? W h y

w o u l d n ' t t h e p l a n e f ly? D i v i n g t o w a r d

the g r o u n d a t a n a c c e l e r a t i n g r a t e , m y

i n s t r u c t o r c a l m l y s a i d , " P u s h

f o r w a r d . "

I k n e w he d i d n o t h a v e a c l u e


l e a r n i n g a n d h u m a n d e v e l o p m e n t t e c h n o l o g i e s . I w a n t e d t o

k n o w h o w p e o p l e l e a r n m o s t e f fec t ive ly . M y c o m p a n y , L e a r n i n g

S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n , w a s o v e r t h r e e y e a r s o l d w i t h m a n y

c l i en t s w h o c o u l d b e n e f i t f rom m y s t u d i e s . I w a s a l s o s t r o n g l y

m o t i v a t e d t o i m p r o v e m y o w n sk i l l s a s a l e a r n e r .

W h i l e a t t e n d i n g dif ferent s e m i n a r s a n d c o u r s e s , I h e a r d

a b o u t an i n s t r u c t o r f rom a s p e e d r e a d i n g s c h o o l i n P h o e n i x ,

A r i z o n a . T h e i n s t r u c t o r h a d s u g g e s t e d a b i z a r r e e x p e r i m e n t t o

o n e o f h i s c l a s s e s . Af t e r f l i p p i n g p a g e s u p s i d e d o w n a n d

b a c k w a r d s t o l e a r n e y e - f i x a t i o n p a t t e r n s , h e i n s t r u c t e d t h e

s t u d e n t s t o t a k e a c o m p r e h e n s i o n t e s t on t he b o o k , j u s t for t he fun

o f i t . T h e i r s c o r e s t u r n e d ou t t o b e t he h i g h e s t t h e c l a s s h a d e v e r

a c h i e v e d . W a s i t a f luke? T h e i n s t ruc to r s a t the s c h o o l h y p o t h e s i z e d

t h a t m a y b e t h e y w e r e t u r n i n g the p a g e in to a s t i m u l u s t h a t i s

p r o c e s s e d s u b l i m i n a l l y .

A b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e I h e a r d t h a t h y p o t h e s i s , I a t t e n d e d a

w o r k s h o p w i t h P e t e r K l i n e , a n e x p e r t i n a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g .

W h e n I t o l d h i m a b o u t m y i n t e r e s t i n r e s e a r c h i n g b r e a k t h r o u g h s

in r e a d i n g , he offered me a c h a l l e n g e . A c l i en t o f h i s , I D S /

A m e r i c a n E x p r e s s , w a n t e d a s p e e d r e a d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n o f

a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g . S u d d e n l y , a c o n s u l t i n g j o b , m y m a s t e r ' s

d e g r e e w o r k , a n d m y p a s s i o n for l e a r n i n g l a n d e d i n o n e n i c e

p a c k a g e o n m y l a p .

I n t h e fall o f 1 9 8 5 , 1 b e g a n b a c k g r o u n d r e s e a r c h in to s t u d i e s

o f s u b l i m i n a l p e r c e p t i o n a n d p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s i n g . S ign i f i can t

r e s e a r c h e v i d e n c e s u g g e s t e d h u m a n s p o s s e s s a p r e c o n s c i o u s

p r o c e s s o r o f t h e m i n d t h a t c a n a b s o r b v i s u a l i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h o u t

i n v o l v i n g t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h u s i n g t h e

e y e s a n d the p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s o r i n s p e c i a l w a y s o n w r i t t e n

m a t e r i a l s . I d u b b e d t h i s c o n c e p t o f " m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h i n g "

t h e p r i n t e d p a g e PhotoReading.

I d e v o t e d my full t i m e to d e s i g n i n g a s e m i n a r b a s e d u p o n

the a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g m o d e l , e x p e r t s t r a t eg i e s o f r a p i d r e a d i n g ,

t h e h u m a n d e v e l o p m e n t t e c h n o l o g y o f n e u r o - l i n g u i s t i c

p r o g r a m m i n g , a n d s t u d i e s o n p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s i n g . S o o n the

P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r w a s b o r n .

O n e o f m y e x p e r i m e n t s i n v o l v e d r e t u r n i n g t o t h e s p e e d

r e a d i n g s c h o o l I h a d a t t e n d e d . I a s k e d the t e a c h e r for s e v e r a l

b o o k s a n d t e s t s . Af ter P h o t o R e a d i n g o n e o f t h e b o o k s a t 6 8 , 0 0 0

The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 6

w o r d s p e r m i n u t e , I d e m o n s t r a t e d 7 4 p e r c e n t c o m p r e h e n s i o n o n

the s a m e t y p e o f w r i t t e n tes t I h a d u s e d a few y e a r s ea r l i e r .

T o o g o o d t o b e t r u e ? M a y b e . C o m p a r e d t o r e a d i n g o r s p e e d

r e a d i n g , i t w a s t o o g o o d t o b e t rue . P h o t o R e a d i n g , h o w e v e r , w a s

n e i t h e r . S o m e t h i n g p o w e r f u l w a s h a p p e n i n g , a n d t h e s c h o o l

c o n f i r m e d t h e r e s u l t s .

In J a n u a r y a n d F e b r u a r y o f 1 9 8 6 , I t a u g h t t h e first s ix

e x p e r i m e n t a l s e m i n a r s — o n e t o I D S a n d f ive t o c l i en t s o f m y

c o m p a n y . P a r t i c i p a n t s s t o o d u p d u r i n g c l a s s t o d e s c r i b e m a n y

i m m e d i a t e p a y o f f s i n c l u d i n g r e d u c e d s t r e s s , s t a r t l i n g

i m p r o v e m e n t s i n m e m o r y , f luid r e a d i n g sk i l l s , t o p g r a d e s o n

s c h o o l t e s t s , i n c r e a s e d w i n s for s a l e s p e o p l e a n d t r ia l a t t o r n e y s ,

a n d m o r e .

I n s p i r e d b y p a r t i c i p a n t s ' e x c i t e m e n t , I w o r k e d o n r e f in ing

t h e c u r r i c u l u m d e s i g n a n d t e a c h i n g m a t e r i a l s w i t h m y b u s i n e s s

a s s o c i a t e s . O n M a y 16, 1986 , t h e M i n n e s o t a D e p a r t m e n t o f

E d u c a t i o n l i c e n s e d L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n a s a p r i v a t e

v o c a t i o n a l s c h o o l after r e v i e w i n g the P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r

c u r r i c u l u m a n d o u r b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e s .

W h e n the P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a d e c l a r e d

t he 1 9 9 0 s t he " d e c a d e o f t h e b r a i n , " h e i n v i t e d a n e x p l o s i o n o f

n e w r e s e a r c h i n c o g n i t i v e s c i e n c e . T h e r e s u l t i n g b r e a k t h r o u g h s

i n o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f h o w t h e b r a i n p r o c e s s e s i n f o r m a t i o n

h a v e offered u n p r e c e d e n t e d s u p p o r t for t h e p u r s u i t o f n e w

a p p r o a c h e s t o l e a r n i n g . P h o t o R e a d i n g h a s e a r n e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l

r e c o g n i t i o n for i ts i n n o v a t i o n s t o e d u c a t i o n .

I n s t r u c t o r s s p e c i a l l y t r a i n e d a n d ce r t i f i ed b y L e a r n i n g

S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n , c o n t i n u a l l y u p g r a d e P h o t o R e a d i n g in to

a l i f e - t r a n s f o r m i n g h u m a n d e v e l o p m e n t e x p e r i e n c e t h a t

i n c o r p o r a t e s t he l a t e s t i n b r a i n r e s e a r c h t o h e l p a c h i e v e s u c c e s s .

I t i s offered w o r l d w i d e t h r o u g h l ive s e m i n a r s a n d a se l f - s tudy

c o u r s e , a n d i s s u p p o r t e d w i t h t e l e p h o n e a n d o n l i n e c o a c h i n g .

P h o t o R e a d i n g h e l p s y o u a c q u i r e n e w ski l l s t o i n c r e a s e

r e a d i n g e f f i c i e n c y . A s m o s t P h o t o R e a d e r s a d m i t , h o w e v e r ,

P h o t o R e a d i n g t r a n s f o r m s m o r e t h a n r e a d i n g s k i l l s . T h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m d i r e c t s y o u t o " p u s h in to t h e

s p i n " a n d d i s c o v e r t he n a t u r a l g e n i u s r e s i d i n g w i t h i n y o u . T h i s

m e a n s y o u fly s m o o t h l y t h r o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n i n s t e a d o f s p i n n i n g

o u t o f c o n t r o l . T h i s b o o k w i l l h e l p d e l i v e r t he s y s t e m t o y o u i n


A preview of what is to come

T h e five s t eps t o t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m

i n c l u d e p r e p a r i n g , p r e v i e w i n g , P h o t o R e a d i n g , a c t i v a t i n g , a n d

r a p i d r e a d i n g .

T h e s y s t e m a p p e a r s a s a set o f s t eps i n s e q u e n c e , a l t h o u g h

i t i s a c t u a l l y a set o f o p t i o n s t h a t c a n be u s e d in a n y o r d e r

a p p r o p r i a t e t o y o u r n e e d s . I t m o d e l s t he s t r a t e g i e s u s e d b y h i g h l y

sk i l l ed r e a d e r s .

T h e s e c r e t p o w e r i n t h e s y s t e m i s n o t i n t h e t e c h n i q u e s , b u t

i n t h e shift i n p e r s p e c t i v e t h e t e c h n i q u e s e n g e n d e r . T o u s e t h e

s y s t e m a n d a c h i e v e y o u r g o a l s , y o u m u s t conf ron t t he c o m p u l s i o n

t o h a b i t u a l l y a p p l y inef f ic ient s t r a t e g i e s .

I n t he p a g e s t h a t fo l low, y o u w i l l e x a m i n e t h e l i m i t a t i o n s

t h a t b i n d y o u t o y o u r p r e s e n t c a p a c i t i e s . Y o u w i l l g a i n w a y s t o

b y p a s s t h e l i m i t e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d

a n d c o n n e c t w i t h t he e x p a n d e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f y o u r

b r a i n i n w h i c h y o u r n a t u r a l g e n i u s r e s i d e s . T h e s i m p l e b e h a v i o r s

y o u l e a r n c a n b e u s e d r i g h t a w a y .

mind, inner mind, paraconscious P h o t o R e a d i n g to t h o u s a n d s w o r l d -

mind, preconscious mind, more- w i d e , I h a v e w i t n e s s e d m a n y

P h o t o R e a d t h e d i c t i o n a r y r e p e a t e d l y a n d d r a m a t i c a l l y i m p r o v e d

h e r v o c a b u l a r y s c o r e o n S A T e x a m s .

• A n a t t o r n e y u s e s P h o t o R e a d i n g t o q u i c k l y l o c a t e v i t a l

facts i n h u g e l a w b o o k s . N o w , i n s t e a d o f s p e n d i n g h a l f - a n - h o u r

in a t y p i c a l v i s i t t o t h e l a w l i b r a ry , he s p e n d s five m i n u t e s .

• A t e c h n i c a l w r i t e r P h o t o R e a d a c l i e n t ' s so f tware s y s t e m s

m a n u a l b e f o r e h i s in i t i a l m e e t i n g w i t h t he p r o j e c t e n g i n e e r s . H e

w a s a b l e t o t a lk k n o w l e d g e a b l y a b o u t t he s y s t e m w i t h o n l y

fifteen m i n u t e s o f p r e p a r a t i o n t i m e .

Throughout this book I refer to

the other-than-conscious mind I

use this term interchangeably

w i th the terms nonconscious

R i g h t n o w , y o u c a n o n l y

i m a g i n e t he g o o d t h a t c a n t a k e p l a c e

a s y o u u s e m o r e o f y o u r i n n a t e

t a l e n t s . O v e r t h e y e a r s o f t e a c h i n g

t han -consc ious m i n d , and

expanded bra in . A lso , sub¬

conscious mind or unconscious

p e r s o n a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l t ransform¬

a t i o n s . H e r e a re a few e x a m p l e s :

• A h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t

c l ea r , s t e p - b y - s t e p i n s t r u c t i o n s .


• A c o m p u t e r s e r v i c e t e c h n i c i a n c o n s i s t e n t l y l o c a t e s k e y

i n f o r m a t i o n i n r e f e r e n c e m a n u a l s w i t h i n s e c o n d s .

• An a t t o r n e y t o o k t h r e e m i n u t e s t o r e a d a t h r e e h u n d r e d

p a g e l e g a l m a n u a l f rom the D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n . H e

i n s t a n t l y t u r n e d t o t h e o n e p a r a g r a p h i n t h e t e x t t h a t i n c l u d e d t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n h e n e e d e d t o w i n a c a s e . T h e s t a t e ' s e x p e r t w i t n e s s ,

w h o h a d b e e n u n a b l e t o f ind t h i s p a r a g r a p h w a s s t u n n e d a s h e

s a w t h e a t t o r n e y p e r f o r m th i s fea t .

• A w a s t e w a t e r s p e c i a l i s t for E . I . D u p o n t h a d to r e a d a

t h r e e - i n c h s t a c k o f f ede ra l r e g u l a t i o n s f r o m O S H A i n p r e p a r a t i o n

for a m e e t i n g . D u r i n g a 3 5 - m i n u t e f l ight to t h e m e e t i n g , he

P h o t o R e a d t h e d o c u m e n t s . D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , h e c o r r e c t l y

s t a t e d t h a t O S H A w o u l d n o l o n g e r a c c e p t w a t e r t r e a t m e n t d a t a

t h a t w a s m o r e t h a n t h r e e y e a r s o l d — a t e c h n i c a l p o i n t b u r i e d i n

t h e r e g u l a t i o n s h e h a d j u s t P h o t o R e a d .

• A b u s i n e s s c o n s u l t a n t v i s i t e d t he ci ty l i b r a ry to P h o t o R e a d

i n d u s t r y t r a d e j o u r n a l s b e f o r e t h e i n i t i a l m e e t i n g w i t h a

p r o s p e c t i v e c o r p o r a t e c l i en t . H e r k n o w l e d g e o n i n d u s t r y t r e n d s ,

k e y p r o b l e m s , a n d i n n o v a t i v e p r a c t i c e s g a v e h e r t h e e d g e o v e r

o t h e r c o n s u l t a n t s b e i n g i n t e r v i e w e d . S h e w o n t h e c o n t r a c t .

• A c o l l e g e s t u d e n t u s e d P h o t o R e a d i n g to s u c c e s s f u l l y

c o m p l e t e h i s d e g r e e , g a i n e m p l o y m e n t a t a h i g h - t e c h f i rm, t h e n

r i se i n t he r a n k s o f n e w h i r e s . H e c l a i m e d h e o w e d h i s s u c c e s s t o

t he a d v a n t a g e s P h o t o R e a d i n g g a v e h i m .

• A g r o u p o f h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s f r o m P u e r t o R i c o u s e d

P h o t o R e a d i n g t o w i n m e d a l s i n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l M e n t a l O l y m p i c s

c o n t e s t .

• In h i s a c c e p t a n c e s p e e c h for t o p h o n o r s , a s h o r t s t o ry

w r i t e r a n n o u n c e d t h a t P h o t o R e a d i n g w a s t h e s e c r e t i n g r e d i e n t

for h i s e x c e l l e n c e i n c r e a t i v i t y a n d w r i t i n g s ty le .

T h e s e e x a m p l e s o n l y b e g i n t o e x p r e s s t he b e n e f i t s . O u r

c l i e n t s a l so say t h a t P h o t o R e a d i n g h e l p s t h e m t o w r i t e r e p o r t s ,

p a s s c r i t i ca l e x a m s , e x c e l i n s c h o o l c o u r s e s , f in i sh d e g r e e s , sai l

t h r o u g h m e e t i n g s , e a r n p r o m o t i o n s , a n d d o m o r e o f t h e r e a d i n g

t h e y r e a l l y w a n t t o d o for e n j o y m e n t .

T h e o n l y r e q u i r e m e n t s for P h o t o R e a d i n g a re a w i l l i n g n e s s

t o e x p e r i m e n t , u s e n e w i d e a s , r e l a x , a n d p l a y . T h e n t h e full g e n i u s

w i t h i n y o u w i l l b e r e l e a s e d . B e c o m e l i k e a c h i l d n a t u r a l l y c u r i o u s ,

w o n d e r i n g , e x p e r i e n c i n g , d i s c o v e r i n g — a n d a w h o l e n e w w o r l d


A student improved his high school math grade from a D to a B in one semester.

He said that PhotoReading math books must have given him ways to do

problems better. Another student PhotoRead a variety of books before preparing

a theme paper. The teacher wrote on her paper, "A+ Your wri t ing style

improved overnight. What did you do? ! "

Several musicians have reported uses of PhotoReading music. They find that

PhotoReading musical scores a day before first playing the music makes the first

run through much easier—as if they have already practiced the piece.

A doctor of psychology from Mexico was asked to present her twenty-page

research paper to a conference in California. Because it was wri t ten in Spanish,

she would have to translate the paper as she spoke. Al though she was bilingual,

she had always found it difficult to speak English from Spanish wr i t ing. She

PhotoRead the Spanish-English dictionary several times the day and night

before her presentation. During her speech, she spoke fluently wi thout any

confusion whatsoever. She reported being relaxed and completely comfortable

the entire t ime.

A gardener found it easier to recognize plants after PhotoReading a guide.

A high school English teacher used the PhotoReading whole mind system to

prepare for an American literature unit on Hemingway. She PhotoRead all the

commentaries on Hemingway's wr i t ing, plus all books he wrote including the

two the class unit wou ld cover. In addit ion, she rapid read the two books. She

surprised herself as the material activated spontaneously during her lectures.

Her knowledge of the subject contained rich examples giving the class depth

that surpassed any unit she had ever taught.

o f e a s y r e a d i n g w i l l u n f o l d .

R e a d i n g w i l l b e c o m e a n e w s o u r c e o f p e r s o n a l a n d

p r o f e s s i o n a l p o w e r . Y o u w i l l e x p l o r e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s w i t h n e w

l eve l s o f e f fec t iveness . T h e bene f i t s offered by t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m w i l l h e l p y o u c r e a t e a qua l i t y o f life t h a t w i l l

d e l i g h t a n d s u r p r i s e y o u .

T h e n e x t c h a p t e r g e t s y o u set a n d r e a d y t o g o .

2

Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices

T a k e a m o m e n t t o p a i n t a v i v i d m e n t a l p i c t u r e o f t h e k i n d

o f r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s y o u e n c o u n t e r r e g u l a r l y . A m o n g t h e

p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e :

• W e b s i t e s a n d e l e c t r o n i c f i les

• M a g a z i n e s o r t r a d e j o u r n a l s

• N e w s p a p e r s

• M a i l a n d e m a i l

• M e m o s

• O w n e r ' s m a n u a l s o r re ference gu ides

• T r a i n i n g m a t e r i a l s

• R e p o r t s

• P r o p o s a l s or s a l e s l iterature

• S p e c i f i c a t i o n s h e e t s

• N o n f i c t i o n b o o k s

• N o v e l s , p o e t r y , a n d s h o r t s t o r i e s

Q u i c k l y a n s w e r t h e f o l l o w i n g q u e s t i o n s i n y o u r m i n d :

• H o w w e l l d o y o u c o m p r e h e n d w h a t y o u r e a d ?

• H o w w e l l d o y o u r e m e m b e r w h a t y o u r e a d ?

• W h a t a r e y o u r s t r o n g p o i n t s as a r e a d e r ?

• W h a t i s t he o n e t h i n g y o u w o u l d m o s t l ike t o change

a b o u t t h e w a y y o u r e a d ?

Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 11

P l a y w i t h t w o p o s s i b l e s c e n a r i o s for y o u r future , b a s e d o n

h o w y o u r e a d t o d a y .

H e r e i s o n e w e ca l l t h e p l i g h t o f t h e e l e m e n t a r y r eade r :

You enter your office greeted by stacks of unread memos, reports,

manuals, and journals. Thosepiles of paper feel like a reprimand. Rather

than face them, you stash them. But you cannot help worrying that you

have buried a vital idea or fact—some critical insight that could lead

to a promotion or help you avoid an embarrassing

mistake. As you plod through your daily round of

meetings and phone calls, you tell yourself that

you will get to all that reading...tomorrow.

The situation at home is similar. Piles of

untouched magazines, newspapers, and mail

clutter your living space. The prospect of hacking

your way through it seems distant, at best.

How about your chance to read for pleasure—to enjoy those novels,

biographies, and motivational books you have been saving for a

special day? That day just keeps retreating behind everything else

that comes along.

The idea of further professional training or education seems to

make sense. You get excited thinking about the career advances and

extra income that you stand to gain. A question that stops you cold: How

would I ever get all that reading done?

Even if, by some miracle, you conquered all of those unread stacks,

you still face the challenge of remembering, explaining, and applying

what you read. So, you put off reading another day and live in a state of

confusion, chaos, and quiet desperation.

I s th i s s c e n a r i o f a m i l i a r t o y o u ? A r e y o u t r y i n g t o c o p e i n t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n age u s i n g r e a d i n g ski l l s l e a r n e d i n e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l ?

N o w c o n s i d e r s c e n a r i o n u m b e r t w o , w h i c h w e w i l l ca l l t h e

j o y o f t h e P h o t o R e a d e r :

You begin each work day feeling on top of the information needed

to make effective and timely decisions. Whenever you read, you do so

with a sense of effortlessness and relaxation. You find it easier to win

approval for your proposals because your recommendations are backed

by solid evidence.


Reading technical reports, a task that used to consume hours,

nozv requires only minutes per document. At the end of your day you

look at a clear deskfeeling ready for the following day.

This quality extends to your home life as well. Gone are the piles

of untouched books, magazines, newspapers, and mail that once crowded

your living space. You keep up with the latest daily news in 10-15

minutes a day. In a single sitting you pare down or eliminate

* your "to be read" piles. And with the extra time, you

c P\f\ consistently complete the top-priority tasks on your to-do

f lists.

Your advanced reading abilities enable you to take

courses, complete degrees, gain promotions, learn new skills,

expand your knowledge, and satisfy your

general curiosity. The ease of it all makes learning fun.

Now you create time for novels, magazines, and pleasure

reading which go beyond the immediate demands of your job.

In the process, you create free time to play as well.

H o l d t h i s s c e n a r i o i n m i n d for a f ew m o r e s e c o n d s . S a v o r

t h e r e s u l t i n g f e e l i n g s o f m a s t e r y a n d p l e a s u r e . E n j o y t h e e x t r a

t i m e , m o n e y , a n d p l e a s u r e t h a t r e a d i n g a d d s t o y o u r l i fe .

I s n ' t t h a t n i c e ?

Decide your future now

O n e m e s s a g e I h o p e y o u w i l l t a k e f r o m t h i s b o o k , a b o v e al l

o t h e r s , i s t h a t y o u c a n c h o o s e w h i c h s c e n a r i o i s t r u e for y o u .

Y o u c a n p l a c e y o u r s e l f o n a p a t h t o e i t h e r o f t h e s e w o r l d s i n a

m o m e n t . Y o u a l r e a d y p o s s e s s t h e p o w e r t o c r e a t e e i t h e r s c e n a r i o ,

a n d i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o d e c i d e a n d s h a p e t h e fu ture y o u w a n t .

I f t h i s a p p e a l t o s h a p e y o u r d e s t i n y a s a r e a d e r s e e m s

o v e r l y d r a m a t i c o r s i l ly, t h e n c o n s i d e r a s t a t i s t i c : f e w e r t h a n t e n

p e r c e n t o f t he p e o p l e w h o b u y a b o o k e v e r ge t b e y o n d t h e first

c h a p t e r . ( C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! Y o u a r e a l r e a d y in to C h a p t e r 2 . )

M a n y p e o p l e w h o e n r o l l i n o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r say

t h e y t y p i c a l l y n e v e r m a k e i t b e y o n d t h e c o v e r o f t h e b o o k s t h e y

b u y . I n s t e a d , t h e y s i m p l y a c c u m u l a t e o r c i r c u l a t e b o o k s ,

m a g a z i n e s , b r o c h u r e s , m a i l , m e m o s , a n d r e p o r t s . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n

i n t he se m a t e r i a l s c o u l d j u s t a s w e l l be w r i t t e n i n d i s a p p e a r i n g ink.


A s y o u g o b e y o n d t h e o p e n i n g o f t h i s b o o k , y o u w i l l

d i s c o v e r a set of t o o l s for g a i n i n g a n e w e x p e r i e n c e of r e a d i n g .

U s e t h e t o o l s , a n d y o u w i l l f ind i t w i t h i n y o u r p o w e r t o m a k e t h e

i d e a l r e a d i n g s c e n a r i o c o m e t r u e for y o u . I f y o u d o n o t g o b e y o n d

th i s c h a p t e r , y o u r e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g w i l l s tay t h e s a m e a s i t

i s t o d a y .

Break old reading habits

I k n o w y o u w a n t r e s u l t s , a n d y o u w i l l p r o b a b l y t ry m a n y o f

t h e t e c h n i q u e s I s u g g e s t . H o w e v e r , a c h i e v i n g n e w r e s u l t s m e a n s

m o r e t h a n t r y i n g n e w r e a d i n g b e h a v i o r s . Y o u m u s t a d o p t a n

a l t e r n a t i v e v i e w o f w h a t r e a d i n g c a n b e .

T a k e e v e r y t h i n g y o u k n o w a b o u t r e a d i n g a n d y o u h a v e

j u s t d e f i n e d t h e b a r r i e r s t o g e t t i n g n e w r e s u l t s . E l e m e n t a r y

s c h o o l r e a d i n g i m p r i n t s u s al l w i t h a m o d e l o f r e a d i n g t h a t l i m i t s

o u r m i n d s . T h i s m o d e l o r " p a r a d i g m " e x e r t s t r e m e n d o u s p o w e r

o v e r y o u r a c t i o n s a n d y o u r p o t e n t i a l r e s u l t s .

E l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g i s a fair ly p a s s i v e affair, o f ten d o n e

w i t h o u t a c l e a r s e n s e o f p u r p o s e . H a v e y o u e v e r s p e n t t e n

m i n u t e s r e a d i n g a n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e to d i s c o v e r i t w a s a w a s t e o f

t i m e ? T h a t h a p p e n s w h e n y o u r e a d p a s s i v e l y .

O n e - s p e e d fits al l i s the e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g m a x i m ; g e n e r a l l y

w e p l o w t h r o u g h e v e r y t y p e o f r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l — f r o m c o m i c

b o o k s t o t e x t b o o k s — a t t he s a m e r a t e . I t m a k e s m o r e s e n s e t o g e t

t he facts f r o m a t r a d e j o u r n a l w i t h a d i f ferent s p e e d t h a n we

w o u l d u s e r e a d i n g a n o v e l for p l e a s u r e .

W e feel p r e s s u r e t o ge t i t r i g h t t h e first t i m e w i t h e l e m e n t a r y

r e a d i n g . W e e x p e c t t o c o m p r e h e n d e v e r y t h i n g i n o n e p a s s

t h r o u g h t h e m a t e r i a l . I f w e d o not , w e feel i n a d e q u a t e a s r e a d e r s .

M u s i c i a n s d o n o t p r e s s u r e t h e m s e l v e s t o p l a y m u s i c f rom a

s c o r e p e r f e c t l y t h e first t i m e . W h y m u s t w e b e p e r f e c t a s r e a d e r s ?

T h i n k a b o u t a l l t h e t a s k s w e a re s u p p o s e d t o a c c o m p l i s h i n

t h a t s i n g l e p a s s t h r o u g h a d o c u m e n t : c o m p r e h e n d the s t r u c t u r e ,

g r a s p t h e k e y t e r m s , a n d f o l l o w the m a i n a r g u m e n t s o r p l o t

e v e n t s . O n t o p o f tha t , w e m u s t r e m e m b e r i t a l l , c r i t i q u e it, a n d

q u o t e i t a c c u r a t e l y .

F a c e d w i t h t h e s e k i n d s o f d e m a n d s , t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d

of ten b e c o m e s o v e r w h e l m e d a n d c a n l i t e ra l ly s h u t d o w n . T h i s i s


c o m p o u n d e d w h e n w e feel a n x i e t y , w h i c h h a p p e n s w h e n w e

c o m e t o t he e n d o f a p a r a g r a p h a n d h a v e n o i d e a w h a t w e j u s t

r ead . H a s th i s h a p p e n e d t o y o u ?

B e c o m i n g o v e r w h e l m e d b y t o o m u c h i n f o r m a t i o n i s e a s y i n

th i s a g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d . H a v e y o u e v e r f o u n d y o u r e y e s

m o v i n g d o w n t h e p a g e w h i l e y o u r m i n d w e n t off t o a far a w a y

l a n d ? I t i s a s i f t h e l i g h t s a r e on, b u t n o b o d y i s h o m e .

T h i s l e a d s t o d o c u m e n t s h o c k — a s h o r t - c i r c u i t i n y o u r

i n t e r n a ] c o n n e c t i o n s . T o o m u c h c u r r e n t c o m i n g o v e r t h e l i n e s

s e n d s t he w i r i n g u p i n s m o k e .

T h i s b r e a k d o w n a t t he c o n s c i o u s l e v e l s l o w s t h e f low o f

i n f o r m a t i o n t o a t r i c k l e w h e n w e r e a d . T h e m o r e fac ts , d e t a i l s ,

a n d o t h e r d a t a w e t ry t o c r a m in, t h e l e s s w e r eca l l .

In th i s a g e of i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d , i t i s e a s y to feel l i ke a

s t a r v i n g p e r s o n w i t h a c a n o f s o u p b u t n o c a n o p e n e r . W i t h

e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g sk i l l s , w e of ten l e a v e h u n g r y . W e p l o w

t h r o u g h b o o k s , p e r i o d i c a l s , m a n u a l s , a n d m a i l , o n l y t o f ind t h a t

w e a re c r a v i n g s o m e t h i n g w e c a n n o t s e e m t o ge t . A n y t h i n g

usefu l f rom t h e s e p i l e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n r e m a i n s s e a l e d f r o m u s .

W i l l e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g h a b i t s d e l i v e r w h a t w e n e e d ? I f

y o u r a n s w e r i s " n o , " y o u k n o w t h e p r o b l e m e x i s t s — a n d t h a t i s

g r ea t . Y o u h a v e e n t e r e d a p o w e r f u l p l a c e , o n e w h e r e y o u a r e

p o i s e d for c h a n g e .

Embrace new reading choices

R e a d e r s w h o t h r i v e t o d a y t a k e a d i f fe ren t a p p r o a c h t h a n

the e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l m o d e l o f r e a d i n g . T h e y a r e f l ex ib le i n t h e i r

r e a d i n g . T h e y ad jus t t h e i r s p e e d t o t he t y p e o f m a t e r i a l a t h a n d .

T h e y k n o w w h a t t h e y w a n t f r o m t h e w r i t t e n p i e c e . T h e y

c o n s i s t e n t l y f ind g e m s o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t d e l i v e r r e a l b e n e f i t .

A c t i v e , p u r p o s e f u l , q u e s t i o n i n g , a n d fully e n g a g e d — t h a t

d e s c r i b e s t he b e s t r e a d e r s . T h e s e ef fec t ive r e a d i n g s t r a t e g i e s

b e c o m e a p a r t o f y o u r r e p e r t o i r e a s y o u l e a r n t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . I n t h e p r o c e s s , y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r e n h a n c e d

r e t e n t i o n , r eca l l , a n d e n j o y m e n t .

P h o t o R e a d i n g sh i f t s y o u a w a y f r o m t h e p r e v a i l i n g

e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g m o d e l i n to w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g a n d m a k e s


y o u a b l a s p h e m e r o f t r a d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g t h e o r y . A s s u c h y o u w i l l

e n c o u n t e r m a n y p e o p l e w h o w i l l say P h o t o R e a d i n g c a n n o t

p o s s i b l y w o r k . T h e n e x t s to ry i l l u s t r a t e s w h a t I m e a n .

A c o l l e a g u e a t L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n d i s c o v e r e d

PhotoReading p a r a d i g m s . F a c u l t y m e m b e r s a t a c o l l e g e in

w a s p r o j e c t e d , p a g e b y p a g e , o n t o a v i d e o m o n i t o r . M y c o l l e a g u e

P h o t o R e a d th i s m a t e r i a l a s i t w a s d i s p l a y e d a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0

p a g e s a s e c o n d ( o v e r 6 9 0 , 0 0 0 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e ) . A f t e r w a r d s , h e

s c o r e d 7 5 p e r c e n t c o m p r e h e n s i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , h e d r e w

a p p r o x i m a t i o n s o f s ix p a t e n t i l l u s t r a t i o n s a n d c o r r e c t l y i d e n t i f i e d

t h e i r n u m e r i c s e q u e n c e .

T h e p a r a d i g m h a d shif ted r i g h t b e f o r e t h e i r e y e s . D o y o u

s u p p o s e t h e y s u p p o r t e d t he s e m i n a r ? N o . S e e i n g i s n o t b e l i e v i n g .

T o shift y o u r p a r a d i g m y o u m u s t b e l i e v e i t b e f o r e y o u see it.

T h i n k o f P h o t o R e a d i n g a s a p a r a d i g m shift, a n d y o u w i l l d o t h e

" i m p o s s i b l e . "

You cannot "read" at 25,000 words per minute

B e f o r e l e a r n i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g , m a n y p e o p l e h e a r s u c h

s t o r i e s a s a b o v e a n d r e s p o n d w i t h , " T h a t i s n u t s ! T h e r e i s n o w a y

y o u c a n r e a d t h a t fast ."

T h e y a r e r igh t . N o o n e ' s " c o n s c i o u s m i n d " c a n r e a d t h a t

fast. P h o t o R e a d i n g i s n o t " r e a d i n g " a s w e k n o w it. T h i s k i n d o f

i n f o r m a t i o n p r o c e s s i n g i s p o s s i b l e o n l y w h e n w e t e m p o r a r i l y

b y p a s s t h e c r i t i ca l , l o g i c a l , a n a l y t i c a l m i n d . W e d o n o t P h o t o R e a d

w i t h t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I n s t e a d , w e d r a w o n v a s t l a y e r s o f t h e

m i n d t h a t r e m a i n l a r g e l y u n u s e d d u r i n g c o n v e n t i o n a l r e a d i n g .

T h i s l i t e ra l ly m e a n s u s i n g t h e b r a i n i n a n e w w a y .

W e sti l l h a v e t o face e v e r y d a y r e a d i n g c h a l l e n g e s , s o let u s

e m p l o y a n a p p r o a c h t o r e a d i n g t h a t u s e s b o t h h e m i s p h e r e s

o f t h e b r a i n . F r o m t h e left h e m i s p h e r e w e d r a w u p o n t h e

ab i l i t i e s t o a n a l y z e , s e q u e n c e i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d r e a s o n l o g i c a l l y .

t h a t e v e n c o l l e g e p r o f e s s o r s r e s i s t n e w With the PhotoReading

whole mind system, you

use the creative-intuitive

mind as we l l as the

crit ical-logical mind to

accomplish your goals. T h e P h o t o R e a d e r a g r e e d t o offer a

d e m o n s t r a t i o n . A v o l u m e o f U . S . p a t e n t l a w

M i n n e s o t a t r i ed t o b l o c k u s f rom of fe r ing t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t

P h o t o R e a d i n g i s i m p o s s i b l e .


F r o m t h e r i g h t h e m i s p h e r e w e o b t a i n t h e ab i l i t i e s t o s y n t h e s i z e ,

c o m p r e h e n d , c r e a t e i n t e r n a l i m a g e s , a n d r e s p o n d i n t u i t i v e l y .

W h e n y o u l e a r n t o m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h a b o o k a t a r a t e o f

o n e p a g e a s e c o n d — a b o u t 2 5 , 0 0 0 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e — y o u a re

t a k i n g a n e w a p p r o a c h t o p r o c e s s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . A t s u c h r a t e s ,

t h e o l d l e f t - to - r igh t , w o r d - b y - w o r d , l i n e - b y - l i n e m e t h o d o f

e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g c a n n o t o p e r a t e . I n s t e a d , y o u m e e t t h e

p r i n t e d p a g e u s i n g a b i l i t i e s a s c r i b e d t o t h e r i g h t h e m i s p h e r e

o f t h e b r a i n .

Af te r P h o t o R e a d i n g a b o o k , t h e n e x t s t ep i s t o s t i m u l a t e

a n d a c t i v a t e y o u r b r a i n . T h i s s t e p o f " a c t i v a t i o n , " a s w e ca l l it,

l e t s y o u e x t r a c t i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d f r o m t h e b o o k t o

a c c o m p l i s h y o u r g o a l s for r e a d i n g .

A c c e p t i n g t h a t y o u c a n p r o c e s s t h e w r i t t e n w o r d a t a n

o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s l e v e l shifts t h e r e a d i n g p a r a d i g m . M a k e

t h i s shift , a n d y o u c a n m a k e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g

p o w e r f u l , e f fec t ive , a n d e a s y .

Take an unexpected path to success

S o m e a s p e c t s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g m a y s e e m w h i m s i c a l a t first.

I n s t e a d o f l e a r n i n g t h e e x p e c t e d t e c h n i q u e s o f s p e e d r e a d i n g ,

y o u l e a r n a b o u t t h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e , c o c k t a i l w e e n i e s ,

l u c i d d r e a m i n g , a n d o t h e r u n u s u a l p r o c e s s e s . I p u r p o s e f u l l y

g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t y o u h a v e n o t h a d ,

p o s s i b l y d o n o t w a n t , a n d m a y n o t t h i n k y o u n e e d .

S o u n d o d d ? I t i s n o m o r e o d d t h a n d i s c o v e r i n g t h e

p r i n c i p l e s o f p h y s i c s b y l e a r n i n g h o w t o d o w n h i l l sk i . W h y n o t

d o i t t h a t w a y ? T o h e l p t h e p a r a d i g m shift, w e m u s t t a k e a n

u n u s u a l , u n e x p e c t e d p a t h . O t h e r w i s e , w e t e n d t o so lve o u r

r e a d i n g p r o b l e m i n w a y s t h a t fit o u r c u r r e n t v i e w o f t he p r o b l e m .

F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n w e h a v e a lo t t o r e ad , w e t e n d t o s p e e d

u p — b u t o u r c o m p r e h e n s i o n d r o p s . W e t h e n s l o w d o w n a n d

o v e r l o a d the c o n s c i o u s m i n d . T h e ne t r e s u l t i s n o i n c r e a s e i n

s p e e d o r c o m p r e h e n s i o n b u t a n e n o r m o u s i n c r e a s e i n i n t e r n a l

conf l ic t . T h i s conf l i c t r e c r e a t e s t h e p r o b l e m s w e a t t e m p t e d t o

s o l v e . A n d we still h a v e a lo t to r e a d .


I t t h e t h o u g h t of z i p p i n g t h r o u g h a b o o k at a p a g e a s e c o n d

s o u n d s u n l i k e l y , r e m e m b e r t h a t a n e w a p p r o a c h a l w a y s s e e m s

o u t l a n d i s h w h e n w e v i e w i t t h r o u g h t h e l e n s e s o f t he o l d m o d e l .

W h e n a p a r a d i g m shifts, e v e r y t h i n g b e g i n s a g a i n . O l d r u l e s m a y

n o l o n g e r app ly . E v e n so , p r o f o u n d c h a n g e s c a n h a p p e n p a i n l e s s l y ,

i n a n i n s t an t , a n d h a v e f a r - r e a c h i n g effects .

I l i ke t h e w a y o n e o f o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g g r a d u a t e s , a

m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r , p u t it: "It i s s ca ry t o t h i n k t h a t o u r m i n d s a r e

u n l i m i t e d . I t t a k e s a w a y al l o u r e x c u s e s . " I f y o u feel u n e a s y w i t h

t h e p r o s p e c t o f a p a r a d i g m shift, c o n s i d e r t he w o r d s o f a n o t h e r

g r a d u a t e : " S t e p in to t he u n k n o w n . D o n ' t b e afraid. Y o u w i l l

e i t h e r f ind so l id g r o u n d , o r y o u w i l l b e t a u g h t t o f ly ."

W e m u s t t ry n e w a t t i t u d e s a n d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h n e w a c t i o n s .

O t h e r w i s e , h o w c a n w e p r o d u c e n e w r e s u l t s i n o u r l i v e s ? A

p e r s o n i n o n e o f o u r s e m i n a r s o v e r c a m e h i s fear o f s u c c e s s a n d

sa id , " I f ina l ly u n d e r s t a n d . T h i s s e m i n a r c a n t r a n s f o r m m y l i f e —

b u t I h a v e b e e n a c t i n g a s t h o u g h I c a n d o i t w i t h o u t c h a n g i n g a n y

o f m y b e l i e f s o r m y b e h a v i o r ! "

What you have to give up

T o m a s t e r P h o t o R e a d i n g y o u m u s t g i v e u p :

• l o w se l f e s t e e m as a l e a r n e r

• s e l f -de fea t i ng h a b i t s l ike p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n a n d s e l f - d o u b t

• p e r f e c t i o n i s m , "a l l o r n o n e " t h i n k i n g t h a t d w e l l s o n

fa i lu re r a t h e r t h a n f e e d b a c k a n d l e a r n i n g

• d i s t r u s t i n t h e o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d i n t u i t i v e

ab i l i t i es

• t h e n e e d t o k n o w e v e r y t h i n g r i g h t a w a y

• p e r f o r m a n c e a n x i e t y

• a s t ressful s e n s e of u r g e n c y

M o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l se , y o u m u s t g ive u p n e g a t i v e a t t i t udes

t h a t g e t i n t he w a y o f y o u r s u c c e s s . F o r e x a m p l e , o n e p a r t i c i p a n t

i n a P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d h i m s e l f m u c h o f a

r e a d e r , a n d h i s b e l i e f b e c a m e a p e r s o n a l b a r r i e r : " I j u s t d o n ' t

t h i n k I a m g o i n g t o b e a b l e t o l e a r n t h i s . " A n o t h e r p a r t i c i p a n t i n

t h e s a m e s e m i n a r a l so c l a i m e d p o o r r e a d i n g sk i l l s , b u t h e r

It takes away our excuses


a p p r o a c h w a s m o r e o p e n t o g i v i n g u p h e r l i m i t a t i o n s : " I a m j u s t

g o i n g t o d o w h a t e v e r i t t a k e s t o m a s t e r t h i s . "

B o t h p e o p l e l e a r n e d t o P h o t o R e a d . T h e first o n e , w h i l e

c l i n g i n g to a n e g a t i v e belief , f o u n d i t m u c h m o r e diff icul t t o

d i s c o v e r t h e t r u e ab i l i t i e s h e p o s s e s s e d . W h e n h e m a d e t h e

i m p o r t a n t i n t e r n a l c h a n g e , t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m

h e l p e d c h a n g e h i s r e s u l t s i n life.

A s p r o f o u n d a s P h o t o R e a d i n g c a n b e t o y o u r life, t h e r e i s a n

a d d e d r e a s s u r a n c e : y o u d o n o t h a v e t o g i v e u p a n y p l e a s u r e i n

r e a d i n g . I n fact, y o u ge t t o k e e p y o u r r e g u l a r r e a d i n g sk i l l s . A

w o m a n w h o l o v e d r e a d i n g n o v e l s e x c l a i m e d af ter t a k i n g

P h o t o R e a d i n g , " I 've r e d i s c o v e r e d the j o y o f read ing!" H e r p l e a s u r e

r e a d i n g b e c a m e a r i c h e r , ful ler e x p e r i e n c e .

Here is the system

T h e d e m a n d s p l a c e d o n y o u a s a r e a d e r i n o u r a g e o f

i n f o r m a t i o n a re t r e m e n d o u s . T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m c a n h e l p y o u m e e t a n y c h a l l e n g e . I t w o r k s w i t h a n y

s u b j e c t m a t t e r a n d f lex ib ly a d a p t s t o d i f fe ren t p u r p o s e s , p r i n t

f o r m a t s , r a t e s o f s p e e d , a n d l e v e l s o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

T h e f ive s t e p s o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m u s e

t h e a b i l i t i e s o f y o u r w h o l e m i n d w i t h p o w e r a n d e f f e c t i v e n e s s .

L e t u s o v e r v i e w the s t eps n o w . I n t h e n e x t f ive c h a p t e r s y o u w i l l

d e v e l o p sk i l l s t o a p p l y e a c h s t e p e f fec t ive ly .

Step 1: Prepare

R e a d i n g e f fec t ive ly b e g i n s w i t h a c l e a r s e n s e of purpose.

Read to T h i s m e a n s c o n s c i o u s l y s t a t i n g a d e s i r e d o u t c o m e for r e a d i n g ,

end o f F o r e x a m p l e , w e m i g h t w a n t a b r i e f o v e r v i e w o f m a i n p o i n t s . W e

Chapter m i g h t w a n t t o g a i n c e r t a i n d e t a i l s s u c h a s t h e s o l u t i o n s t o spec i f ic

p r o b l e m s . P e r h a p s w e w a n t t o c o m p l e t e a t a s k a n d

s e e k o n l y t he i d e a s t h a t w i l l h e l p u s d o so . P u r p o s e

ac t s l i ke a r a d a r s i g n a l to t h e i n n e r m i n d a l l o w i n g i t

t o p r o d u c e t h e r e su l t s w e s eek .

E m p o w e r e d w i t h a c l e a r p u r p o s e , w e t h e n

enter a state of relaxed alertness—the acce le ra t ive

l e a r n i n g s t a t e . W h i l e i n t h i s s t a t e , n e i t h e r b o r e d o m


n o r a n x i e t y ex i s t . W e a re e x e r t i n g effort, b u t w e a r e n o t w o r r i e d

a b o u t r e s u l t s . H a v e y o u e v e r w a t c h e d y o u n g c h i l d r e n a s t h e y

p l a y ? T h e y m o d e l t he s a m e r e l a x e d y e t p u r p o s e f u l s ta te w e

s eek h e r e .

Step 2: Preview

P r e v i e w i n g i s b a s e d o n a n i m p o r t a n t p r i n c i p l e : e f fec t ive

l e a r n i n g of ten t a k e s p l a c e " f rom w h o l e t o p a r t s . " T h a t is , w e s tar t

w i t h t h e b i g p i c t u r e a n d p r o c e e d t o t h e s m a l l e r , m o r e

d e t a i l e d p a r t s .

F i r s t w e survey t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l . O u r a i m i s n o t t o g r a s p

t h e c o n t e n t i n de t a i l , b u t t o ge t a s e n s e o f i ts s t r u c t u r e . T h e n we

g a t h e r a l ist of k e y t e r m s , or trigger words, w h i c h e m b o d y the c o r e

c o n c e p t s o r e v e n t s . T r i g g e r w o r d s a le r t o u r m i n d s t o t h e de t a i l s

w e m i g h t w a n t t o e x p l o r e m o r e t h o r o u g h l y la ter .

W h e n d o n e e f fec t ive ly , p r e v i e w i n g i s sho r t

a n d s w e e t — a b o u t f ive m i n u t e s for a b o o k , t h r e e

m i n u t e s for a r epo r t , a n d as l i t t le as 30 s e c o n d s

for a n a r t i c l e . D u r i n g t h a t t i m e , w e clarify a n d

ref ine o u r p u r p o s e , review t he t r i g g e r w o r d s , a n d

d e c i d e w h e t h e r t o c o n t i n u e r e a d i n g o r cal l i t

qu i t s . I f w e c h o o s e n o t t o r e a d s o m e t h i n g t h a t

d o e s n o t m e e t o u r n e e d s o r i n t e r e s t s , i t i s al l r igh t .

P r e v i e w i n g i s l ike x - r a y i n g a b o o k — g e t t i n g a b r o a d s e n s e of

i ts u n d e r l y i n g s t r u c t u r e . U n d e r s t a n d i n g s t r u c t u r e g i v e s u s

s o m e t h i n g t h a t l e a r n i n g t h e o r i s t s c a l l a s c h e m a , a se t o f

e x p e c t a t i o n s a b o u t w h a t i s c o m i n g u p nex t . W h e n w e k n o w the

s t r u c t u r e o f w r i t t e n tex t , w e b e c o m e m o r e a c c u r a t e a t p r e d i c t i n g

i t s c o n t e n t . A s a r e s u l t , o u r c o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d r e a d i n g

p l e a s u r e soar .

I n s u m m a r y , p r e v i e w i n g g i v e s u s t h e s k e l e t o n o f a b o o k o r

a r t i c l e first. D u r i n g t h e n e x t s t eps o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m , w e a d d b o d y t o t h e s k e l e t o n .

Step 3: PhotoRead

T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g t e c h n i q u e b e g i n s w i t h p l a c i n g o u r s e l v e s

m o r e fully in to t h e r e l a x e d , a le r t s ta te o f m i n d a n d b o d y c a l l e d t h e


a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e . I n t h i s s t a t e ,

d i s t r a c t i o n s , w o r r i e s , a n d t e n s i o n s s e e m to fall f .

a w a y .

T h e n w e a d j u s t o u r v i s i o n fo r t h e A

PhotoFocus s t a t e . H e r e t h e a i m i s to u s e o u r e y e s **

i n a n e w w a y : i n s t e a d o f b r i n g i n g i n d i v i d u a l w o r d s in to s h a r p

f o c u s , w e sof ten o u r e y e s s o t h a t o u r p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n e x p a n d s

a n d t h e w h o l e p r i n t e d p a g e c o m e s i n t o v i e w .

P h o t o F o c u s c r e a t e s a p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l w i n d o w —

a l l o w i n g d i r e c t e x p o s u r e o f t h e i n c o m i n g v i s u a l s t i m u l i t o t h e

b r a i n . I n t h i s s t a t e , w e m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h t h e e n t i r e p a g e ,

e x p o s i n g i t t o t h e p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s o r o f t h e m i n d . T h e

e x p o s u r e o f e a c h p a g e s t i m u l a t e s a d i r e c t n e u r o l o g i c a l r e s p o n s e .

T h e b r a i n p e r f o r m s i t s f u n c t i o n o f p a t t e r n r e c o g n i t i o n ,

u n e n c u m b e r e d b y t h e c r i t i c a l / l o g i c a l t h o u g h t p r o c e s s o f t h e

c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

At a ra te o f o n e p a g e a s e c o n d , we c a n P h o t o R e a d a w h o l e

b o o k i n t h r e e t o f ive m i n u t e s . T h i s i s n o t t r a d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g . Af t e r

P h o t o R e a d i n g , w e m a y h a v e l i t t l e i f a n y o f t h e m a t e r i a l i n

c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s , w h i c h m e a n s w e m a y c o n s c i o u s l y k n o w

n o t h i n g . T h e n e x t s t eps c r e a t e t h e c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s w e n e e d .

W e t h e n super read t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p a r t s o f t h e t e x t b y

s c a n n i n g q u i c k l y d o w n the c e n t e r o f e a c h p a g e o r c o l u m n o f t y p e .

W h e n w e feel i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e , w e dip i n t o t h e t e x t for m o r e

f o c u s e d r e a d i n g t o c o m p r e h e n d t h e d e t a i l s . I n d i p p i n g , w e a l l o w

o u r i n t u i t i o n t o say , " H e y , t u r n t o t h e l a s t p a r a g r a p h o n p a g e 147!

Y e s , t h a t i s t he o n e . T h e i d e a s y o u w a n t a r e r i g h t t h e r e . "

O t h e r a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s d e v e l o p e d w h i l e r e a d i n g t h i s

b o o k inc lude rhythmic perusal, skittering, and mind mapping. These

a l so h e l p u s g a i n a c c e s s t o t h e d e e p e r i m p r e s s i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d b y

P h o t o R e a d i n g . W h e n w e a c t i v a t e , w e i n v o l v e o u r w h o l e b r a i n ,

c o n n e c t t he t e x t w i t h o u r c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s , a n d a c h i e v e o u r

g o a l s for r e a d i n g .

D u r i n g a c t i v a t i o n w e r e s t i m u l a t e t h e b r a i n —

probing the mind w i t h q u e s t i o n s a n d e x p l o r i n g

p a r t s o f t h e t e x t t o w h i c h w e feel m o s t a t t r a c t e d .

Step 4: Activate


Step 5: Rapid Read

This final s tep of t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m i s c l o s e s t t o c o n v e n t i o n a l r e a d i n g

a n d s p e e d r e a d i n g . W h i l e r a p i d r e a d i n g , w e

m o v e o u r e y e s q u i c k l y t h r o u g h t h e tex t , s t a r t i ng

a t t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d g o i n g s t r a i g h t t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d . W e t a k e

a s m u c h t i m e a s w e n e e d , f e e l i ng free t o ad jus t o u r r e a d i n g s p e e d

d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e c o m p l e x i t y , p r i o r k n o w l e d g e , a n d

i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e m a t e r i a l . F l e x i b i l i t y i s k e y .

R a p i d r e a d i n g i s s ign i f ican t ,

b e c a u s e i t d i s p e l s t h e p r i m e fear

o f m a n y b e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r s

t h a t t h e y w i l l fo rge t w h a t t h e y

h a v e r e a d , o r t h a t t h e y n e v e r

a b s o r b e d any o f t h e t e x t i n t h e

f i r s t p l a c e . R a p i d r e a d i n g d i r e c t l y

i n v o l v e s t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d

s a t i s f i e s o u r n e e d f o r c l e a r

c o m p r e h e n s i o n o f t h e c o n t e n t .

R e m e m b e r , t h i s s t ep t a k e s

p l a c e after t h e o t h e r s t e p s o f t he s y s t e m . T h o s e s t e p s m a k e u s

i n c r e a s i n g l y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e t ex t . T h e r e w i l l b e t i m e s w h e n w e

c h o o s e n o t t o r a p i d r ead , b e c a u s e w e h a v e a l r e a d y fulfi l led o u r

n e e d s .

W i t h th i s o v e r v i e w i n m i n d , y o u a re r e a d y t o d o it.

An executive said that PhotoReading dozens of books on management

principles has improved his job performance. Another received an unusually

large pay raise a year after the PhotoReading class—she said she developed

such an increased understanding of the industry through PhotoReading that it

dramatically improved her productivity.

Reading is really learning from wri t ten

pages. When first learning to play a

new piece of music or a new golf

course, you do not expect to do it

perfectly the first t ime. You wil l learn

as you go through each part several

times. The "multiple read" approach

of the PhotoReading whole mind

system duplicates the appropriate way

to learn anything new.


A salesperson from London PhotoRead a selection of books on self-esteem and

confidence building, because his sales were low. He noticed an immediate

change in his confidence, att i tude, and sales.

A graphic artist routinely PhotoRead design books. He said it heightened his

creative ability.

A mother PhotoRead her children's homework to better help them with their

studies.

A proofreader discovered that, after PhotoReading documents first, she missed

fewer mistakes.

A public relations specialist found himself in a toy store after learning to

PhotoRead. He said, "I became very playful after learning PhotoReading."

A 13-year-old PhotoRead his mom's college text book hoping to help her wi th

her homework. He immediately understood the problem. His mom then

pledged to learn PhotoReading.

An amateur chef found himself creating delicious new recipes after PhotoReading

his library of cook books.

A PhotoReader PhotoRead 23 books on Shakespeare over a several week period

hoping to build a foundation so that he could appreciate Shakespeare. Then he

sat back with one of Shakespeare's plays. For the first time in his life he

understood why so many people have enjoyed Shakespeare's work. He found

the play easier to read, fascinating, and enjoyable.

A new homeowner PhotoRead all the home-improvement books he could f ind.

Friends who helped him on his projects were amazed at how much he knew and

began calling him for advice.

A high school defensive football coach repeatedly PhotoRead football play

books prior to the start of the season. He discovered during game situations he

could predict the opposing team's offensive strategy and respond wi th the ideal

defensive play. His thinking speed and mental alertness were dramatically

improved.

A PhotoReader lost his job after learning PhotoReading. He credits his higher

paying, new job to PhotoReading and learning a new industry quickly.

An entrepreneur had difficulty understanding the advice of his legal counsel. He

PhotoRead several books on the subject in a bookstore. As he was leaving, a

flash of insight streaked through his mind, drawing him back to the books. He

intuitively grabbed one from the shelf, and opened the book automatically to

the page that offered a clear explanation of the advice.

Part Two:

Learn the PhotoReading

Whole Mind System

lAole T*lm«l System

3

Step 1: Prepare

I p e r f o r m b e t t e r a t any a c t i v i t y , f r o m p u b l i c s p e a k i n g to

f i sh ing , i f I am w e l l p r e p a r e d . Y e t , I u s e d to p i c k up a b o o k or

m a g a z i n e a n d j u s t s ta r t r e a d i n g w i t h n o p r e p a r a t i o n a t a l l .

N o w I t r e a t r e a d i n g as a g o a l - o r i e n t e d ac t i v i t y . P r e p a r i n g

for a f ew m o m e n t s i n c r e a s e s m y c o n c e n t r a t i o n , c o m p r e h e n s i o n ,

a n d r e t e n t i o n o f w h a t I r ead . P r e p a r i n g m a y s e e m s i m p l e , b u t i t

i s the f o u n d a t i o n o f effective r e a d i n g . A l l s t eps o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m a c t u a l l y r e v o l v e a r o u n d p r e p a r a t i o n .

B e i n g p r e p a r e d t o P h o t o R e a d i s m u c h m o r e t h a n g e t t i n g t h e

b o o k o u t t o r e a d it. I t i n v o l v e s s t a t i n g y o u r p u r p o s e a n d f ix ing

y o u r p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n t o e n t e r t he i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d .

Prepare

1. State your purpose

25

E s t a b l i s h i n g p u r p o s e i s h a r d l y a n e w idea . F r a n c i s B a c o n ,

t he s i x t e e n t h - c e n t u r y E n g l i s h p h i l o s o p h e r , sa id i t w e l l , " S o m e

b o o k s a re t o b e t a s t e d , o t h e r s t o b e s w a l l o w e d , a n d s o m e f ew t o

b e c h e w e d a n d d i g e s t e d ; t h a t i s , s o m e b o o k s a re t o b e r e a d o n l y

i n p a r t s , o t h e r s t o b e r e a d b u t n o t c u r i o u s l y , a n d s o m e f ew t o b e

r e a d w h o l l y , a n d w i t h d i l i g e n c e a n d a t t e n t i o n . "

A l l r e a d i n g u l t i m a t e l y s e r v e s a p u r p o s e , e i t h e r c o n s c i o u s l y

o r u n c o n s c i o u s l y . W h e n w e s ta te o u r

p u r p o s e e x p l i c i t l y , w e g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e

t h e o d d s o f a t t a i n i n g i t . P u r p o s e

u n l e a s h e s ab i l i ty . A l m o s t a n y t h i n g c a n

b e a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h a s t r o n g s e n s e o f

p u r p o s e . P u r p o s e i s t h e e n g i n e t h a t d r i v e s

t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

E s t a b l i s h i n g p u r p o s e i s p o w e r

w h i c h c a n b e fel t e m o t i o n a l l y a n d

p h y s i c a l l y . R e a d e r s w i t h a f i rm s e n s e o f

p u r p o s e a c q u i r e n e w f e e l i n g s a b o u t t h e

ac t o f r e a d i n g . T h e y sit a s i f t h e y m e a n

b u s i n e s s . W h e n y o u h a v e s t r o n g p u r p o s e ,

y o u r b o d y b e c o m e s s t r o n g a n d a ler t .

S e t y o u r p u r p o s e b y a s k i n g

q u e s t i o n s s u c h a s :

• What is my ultimate application of

this material? W h a t wil l I expec t to do or

say di f ferent ly after r e a d i n g i t? M a y b e I

s i m p l y w a n t t o p a s s t i m e o r s a v o r t h e

e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g .

• How important is this material to

me? I n t he l o n g run , h o w w o r t h w h i l e i s

i t? D o e s r e a d i n g th i s m a t e r i a l c r e a t e v a l u e

for m e ? I f so , w h a t s p e c i f i c a l l y i s t h a t

v a l u e ?

• What level of detail do I want?

D o I w a n t t o e m e r g e f r o m r e a d i n g i t w i t h

t h e b i g p i c t u r e ? D o I w a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d

o n l y t he m a i n p o i n t s ? D o I w a n t t o r eca l l

Example of purpose A

human resource consultant

w e n t to the l ibrary to

PhotoRead the corporate

report on a prospective client

before their initial meeting

Her purpose for the eight

minutes she invested was to

get a feel for the trends of

the company where they

had come from and where

they were headed Her goal

was to get in sync with the

corporate executives and

relate her skills effectively to

their present and future

needs

Example of purpose A

banker wanted to interface

his new computer wi th his

new printer After hours of

t r y i n g , he rema ined

unsuccessful Before going

to bed, he PhotoRead both

manuals His purpose was

to let his o t h e r - t h a n -

conscious mind work out the

details of the problem and

solve it upon awakening

Within the first half-hour

after awakening, he had the

printer working perfectly


spec i f ic facts a n d o t h e r d e t a i l s ? I s r e a d i n g the e n t i r e d o c u m e n t

r e l e v a n t to my p u r p o s e ? C o u l d I g a i n w h a t I w a n t by r e a d i n g a

s i n g l e c h a p t e r o r s e c t i o n i n s t e a d ?

• How much time am I willing to commit right now to satisfy my

purpose? M a k i n g a t i m e c o m m i t m e n t g e n t l y fo rce s a t t e n t i o n on

t h e t a sk . I am i n c r e a s i n g the i m p o r t a n c e o f r e a d i n g , b e c a u s e i t i s

t h e o n l y t h i n g I c h o o s e to do r i g h t n o w .

I n s u m m a r y , d o y o u w a n t a g e n e r a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f

i n f o r m a t i o n , o r d o y o u n e e d s u b t l e d e t a i l s ? D o y o u w a n t t o s t u d y

s o m e t h i n g , o r j u s t g a i n p l e a s u r e a n d r e l a x a t i o n ?

T o o m a n y p e o p l e a r e o n a t r ip w i t h n o d e s t i n a t i o n . T h e y

a p p r o a c h r e a d i n g w i t h n o s e n s e o f w h e r e t h e y w a n t t o g o . I f I d o

n o t ge t v a l u e f r o m w h a t I am r e a d i n g , I ask , " W h a t i s my

p u r p o s e ? " I n v a r i a b l y t h e a n s w e r i s a r e s o u n d i n g " H u h ? " I f I do

n o t h a v e p u r p o s e , m y r e a d i n g i s p a s s i v e a n d of ten w a s t e f u l .

P u r p o s e a n d t i m e m a n a g e m e n t a r e i n s e p a r a b l e . I n t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n a g e , w e c a n n o l o n g e r p r e s u m e t o r e a d e v e r y

d o c u m e n t a t t h e s a m e s p e e d o r l e v e l o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n . N o t o n l y

i s t h i s i m p o s s i b l e g i v e n t h e a m o u n t o f m a t e r i a l w e n e e d t o r e a d ,

i t i s n o t e v e n d e s i r a b l e . A s F r a n c i s B a c o n p u t it, s o m e t h i n g s a r e

w o r t h r e a d i n g i n g r e a t d e t a i l ; o t h e r s a r e n o t w o r t h r e a d i n g a t a l l .

K e e p i n m i n d t h a t y o u r p u r p o s e c a n b e q u i t e i n v e n t i v e . F o r

i n s t a n c e , y o u r m a i n p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g i n t he d e n t i s t ' s office

m a y b e d i s t r a c t i o n : y o u s i m p l y w a n t t o a v o i d t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e

s o u n d o f t he dr i l l i n t h e n e x t r o o m . T h a t i s a l e g i t i m a t e p u r p o s e

a n d p r o m p t s a d i s t i n c t i v e e x p e r i e n c e o f r e a d i n g .

S ta te y o u r p u r p o s e e v e r y t i m e y o u r e a d . T h i s h a b i t e n g a g e s

t h e m i n d a n d i n c r e a s e s c o n c e n t r a t i o n . W h e n y o u e s t a b l i s h y o u r

p u r p o s e , t h e full p o w e r o f y o u r m i n d c o m e s in to p l a y .

I n a d d i t i o n , p u r p o s e l o o s e n s t he g r i p o f gu i l t , a w o r d t h a t

f r equen t ly a r i s e s w h e n p e o p l e t a l k a b o u t t h e i r r e a d i n g h a b i t s .

M a n y o f u s w e r e i m p r i n t e d w i t h s t r ic t r u l e s a b o u t h o w w e w e r e

" s u p p o s e d t o r e a d . " O n e m a n sa id , " I b o u g h t t he d a r n m a g a z i n e ,

so e v e n i f I d o n ' t w a n t to r e a d a l l t h e a r t i c l e s , I am c o m p e l l e d to

f in i sh t h e w h o l e t h i n g . "

W i t h a s e n s e o f p u r p o s e , y o u c a n jus t i fy p u t t i n g a s i d e t h e

m a t e r i a l y o u d o no t n e e d t o r ead . S i m p l y w e e d o u t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n s

t h a t fail t o c r e a t e v a l u e for y o u .

E s t a b l i s h i n g p u r p o s e t a k e s a s l i t t le a s t w o s e c o n d s , y e t t h e

Prepare 27

payof f s c a n s a v e y o u h u n d r e d s o f h o u r s o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f y o u r

l i f e t ime . T h i s t e c h n i q u e i s s o f a r - r e a c h i n g t h a t i t c a n i n s t a n t l y a n d

p e r m a n e n t l y c h a n g e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f y o u r r e a d i n g .

2. Enter the ideal state for reading

W h e n I r e a d m o s t e f f ic ient ly , m y b o d y i s r e l a x e d a n d m y

m i n d i s a le r t . I f I m a i n t a i n r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s , I am m o r e a b l e to

c o m p r e h e n d , r e t a in , a n d r e c a l l w h a t I r ead .

T o h e l p y o u q u i c k l y a n d e a s i l y e s t a b l i s h t he i d e a l s ta te o f

r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s , y o u c a n u s e t h e " t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e . " T h i s

s i m p l e t e c h n i q u e a u t o m a t i c a l l y d i r e c t s y o u r a t t e n t i o n a n d

i m m e d i a t e l y i m p r o v e s r e a d i n g p e r f o r m a n c e .

S t u d i e s s h o w t h a t b o t h r e a d i n g a n d m e m o r y r e q u i r e

a t t e n t i o n . Y o u c a n c o n s c i o u s l y a t t e n d t o s e v e n , p l u s o r m i n u s

t w o , d i f ferent b i t s o f i n f o r m a t i o n a t o n e t i m e . ( T h a t i s w h y M a B e l l

o r i g i n a l l y m a d e p h o n e n u m b e r s s e v e n d i g i t s l o n g . ) I n o t h e r

w o r d s , y o u h a v e a p p r o x i m a t e l y s e v e n u n i t s o f a t t e n t i o n a v a i l a b l e

a t a n y m o m e n t .

R e s e a r c h a l s o i n d i c a t e s t h a t f ix ing o n e u n i t o f a t t e n t i o n A

o n a s i n g l e p o i n t h e l p s y o u e f fec t ive ly focus y o u r o t h e r a v a i l a b l e

u n i t s o f a t t e n t i o n w h e n r e a d i n g . W h e r e y o u fix y o u r p o i n t

o f a t t e n t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t . F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n d r i v i n g a car , t h e

b e s t p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n i s d o w n t h e r o a d — n o t o n y o u r h o o d

o r n a m e n t o r t h e b u m p e r o n t h e c a r i n f ront o f y o u . F o r t h e

eff ic ient r e a d e r , t h e i d e a l p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n i s j u s t b e h i n d a n d

a b o v e t h e h e a d .

T h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e h e l p s l o c a t e a n d m a i n t a i n t h e i d e a l v A

p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n a n d i n s t a n t l y c r e a t e s t h e r e l a x e d , a l e r t s t a te o f

b o d y a n d m i n d w e d e s i r e for r e a d i n g . H e r e a r e t h e s t e p s

to follow: Read

• H o l d a n i m a g i n a r y t a n g e r i n e i n y o u r h a n d . E x p e r i e n c e A u " e

t h e w e i g h t , c o l o r , t e x t u r e , a n d s m e l l o f t he t a n g e r i n e . N o w t o s s i t

i n to t h e o t h e r h a n d a n d c a t c h it. T o s s t h e t a n g e r i n e b a c k a n d fo r th

b e t w e e n y o u r h a n d s .

• N o w c a t c h t h e t a n g e r i n e i n y o u r d o m i n a n t h a n d a n d

b r i n g i t t o t he t o p b a c k p a r t o f y o u r h e a d . T o u c h t h a t a r e a g e n t l y

w i t h y o u r h a n d . I m a g i n e f ee l i ng t h e t a n g e r i n e r e s t i n g t h e r e w h i l e

y o u b r i n g y o u r a r m d o w n a n d r e l a x y o u r s h o u l d e r s . Y o u c a n

The PhotoReading Whole Mind System

p r e t e n d th i s i s a m a g i c t a n g e r i n e , a n d

i t w i l l s tay i n p l a c e n o m a t t e r w h e r e

y o u p u t it.

• G e n t l y c l o s e y o u r e y e s a n d l e t

t h e t a n g e r i n e b a l a n c e o n t h e b a c k o f

y o u r h e a d . N o t i c e w h a t h a p p e n s t o

y o u r p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l s t a te a s y o u

d o t h i s . Y o u w i l l feel r e l a x e d a n d a ler t .

W i t h y o u r e y e s c l o s e d , i m a g i n e y o u r

f ie ld o f v i s i o n o p e n i n g u p .

• M a i n t a i n t h e r e l a x e d f e e l i n g

o f a l e r t n e s s a s y o u o p e n y o u r e y e s a n d

b e g i n r e a d i n g .

H e r e i s a n e x p e r i m e n t y o u c a n

d o n o w t o d i s c o v e r t h e p o t e n t i a l effects

o f t h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e . T a k e a n y

p a g e o f th i s b o o k y o u h a v e n o t y e t r e a d . W i t h o u t t h e t a n g e r i n e i n

p l a c e , r e a d t w o o r t h r e e p a r a g r a p h s . A f t e r w a r d s , re f lec t o n y o u r

e x p e r i e n c e . T h e n , p u t t h e t a n g e r i n e i n p l a c e , u s i n g t h e m e t h o d

d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , a n d r e a d t w o o r t h r e e n e w p a r a g r a p h s . C o m p a r e

y o u r e x p e r i e n c e s .

D u r i n g the e x p e r i m e n t , y o u m i g h t b e o v e r l y s e l f - c o n s c i o u s

o f d o i n g s o m e t h i n g dif ferent . I f s o , y o u m i g h t f ind t h e effect h a r d

t o de t ec t . M a n y p e o p l e r e p o r t a w i d e r v i s u a l field, f luid m o v e m e n t

o f t h e e y e s w i t h l ess s t a c c a t o o r j u m p y m o v e m e n t s , a n d t h e ab i l i t y

t o r e a d w o r d p h r a s e s o r e v e n w h o l e s e n t e n c e s a t a g l a n c e .

P l a y i n g w i t h th i s t e c h n i q u e le t s y o u f low t h r o u g h r e a d i n g

m a t e r i a l w i t h i n c r e a s e d s p e e d a n d e a s e . Y o u r abi l i ty t o c o n c e n t r a t e

o n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i m p r o v e s , a n d r e a d i n g b e c o m e s m o r e r e l a x i n g .

A t first y o u w i l l c o n s c i o u s l y p l a c e t h e t a n g e r i n e o n the b a c k

o f y o u r h e a d . S o o n i t w i l l b e c o m e a u t o m a t i c s o tha t , w h e n e v e r

y o u a p p r o a c h r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s , o n e u n i t o f a t t e n t i o n f ixes

i n to p l a c e .

T h i s p h y s i c a l l y r e l a x e d a n d m e n t a l l y a l e r t s t a te i s a l so

p e r f e c t for o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a c t i v i t i e s . I t i s w i d e l y r e s e a r c h e d as a

s t a t e o f p e a k h u m a n p e r f o r m a n c e . T h i s s t a t e i s s i m i l a r t o

c o n t e m p l a t i o n , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d p r a y e r i n w h i c h y o u a re a b s o r b e d

i n t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t .

W h i l e t h i s i s a s ta te o f r e l a x a t i o n , i t i s n o t t h e s a m e as g o i n g

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t o s l e e p o r b e c o m i n g d r o w s y . R a t h e r , y o u focus y o u r m i n d w i t h

an inner ca lmness . Y o u have access to all y o u r natural , inner resources .

Put it all together

T h e f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e c a n h e l p y o u p r e p a r e for r e a d i n g

i n 3 0 s e c o n d s . Y o u m a y w i s h t o h a v e a f r iend g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h

i t o r r e c o r d i t o n t a p e s o t h a t y o u c a n p l a y i t b a c k la te r .

• P l a c e y o u r r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s i n f ront o f y o u . D o n o t r e a d Read

t h e m y e t Bullets

• B e g i n t o r e l a x b y c l o s i n g y o u r e y e s . B e c o m e a w a r e o f

y o u r s e l f f rom h e a d t o t o e . Y o u r s p i n e i s e rec t , y o u r p o s t u r e i s

c o m f o r t a b l e , a n d y o u r b r e a t h i n g i s r e l a x e d .

• M e n t a l l y s ta te y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g . ( F o r e x a m p l e ,

" D u r i n g t h e n e x t t e n m i n u t e s , I w i l l r e a d th i s m a g a z i n e a r t i c l e for

i d e a s t o h e l p m e i m p r o v e m y t i m e m a n a g e m e n t s k i l l s . " )

• P l a c e t h e i m a g i n a r y t a n g e r i n e a t t h e t o p b a c k p a r t o f

y o u r h e a d .

• B e c o m e a w a r e o f y o u r s e l f a s r e l a x e d a n d a ler t . B r i n g a

s l igh t h i n t o f a s m i l e t o t h e c o r n e r s o f y o u r e y e s a n d t h e c o r n e r s

o f y o u r m o u t h t o r e l a x y o u r f ace . E v e n w i t h y o u r e y e s c l o s e d , y o u

c a n i m a g i n e y o u r v i s u a l f ie ld o p e n i n g u p . Y o u h a v e a d i r e c t e y e -

m i n d c o n n e c t i o n .

• N o w , a t a r a t e t h a t i s c o m f o r t a b l e for y o u , m a i n t a i n i n g

t h i s s t a t e o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s , g e n t l y o p e n y o u r e y e s a n d

b e g i n r e a d i n g .

More on the tangerine technique

T h e i d e a l s t a t e for r e a d i n g i s t y p i c a l l y i n s h o r t s u p p l y for

m a n y p e o p l e , e s p e c i a l l y a t w o r k . W h e n w e r e a d a t w o r k , t h e

p h o n e i s of ten r i n g i n g , s o m e o n e i n t he d o o r w a y i s t a l k i n g , w e

h a v e t o h u r r y t o m a k e a m e e t i n g , a n d e x t r a n e o u s t h o u g h t s a b o u t

g r o c e r i e s o r ca r r e p a i r s k e e p a traffic j a m i n o u r h e a d s . W i t h s u c h

a m o r a s s o f m e n t a l e v e n t s , w h e r e d o e s o u r a t t e n t i o n e n d u p ? A l l

o v e r t h e p l a c e . R e a d i n g i s n e x t t o i m p o s s i b l e .

I n c o n t r a s t , t h e i d e a l s ta te for r e a d i n g i s t h e f low s t a t e , w h e n

y o u a r e to t a l ly a b s o r b e d i n t h e t a s k a t h a n d . T h a t i s w h e r e t h e

t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e c o m e s in to p l a y .


In t he m i d 1 9 8 0 s , I r e a d a f a s c i n a t i n g a r t i c l e in Brain/Mind

Bulletin a b o u t R o n D a v i s , a r e a d i n g s p e c i a l i s t . D a v i s h a d d y s l e x i a ,

a r e a d i n g d i sab i l i ty . W h i l e s e a r c h i n g for a s o l u t i o n to th i s p r o b l e m ,

he m a d e a d i s c o v e r y .

P e o p l e w i t h d y s l e x i a , h e f o u n d , h a v e a r o v i n g p o i n t o f

a t t e n t i o n , o n e t h a t w a n d e r s t h r o u g h s p a c e w i t h o u t c o m i n g t o a

f ixed p o i n t . S k i l l e d r e a d e r s , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a v e a f ixed p o i n t

o f a t t e n t i o n l o c a t e d j u s t b e h i n d a n d a b o v e t h e t o p o f t h e h e a d .

B y t r a i n i n g h i m s e l f t o r e d i r e c t h i s a t t e n t i o n , h e r a i s e d h i s

r e a d i n g , w r i t i n g , a n d s p e l l i n g sk i l l s f r o m an e l e m e n t a r y t o a

c o l l e g e l e v e l i n f e w e r t h a n t h r e e y e a r s . T o d a y , D a v i s r u n s a

p r i v a t e c l in ic for p e o p l e w i t h l e a r n i n g d i s a b i l i t i e s . H i s e x c e l l e n t

b o o k , The Gift of Dyslexia, d e s c r i b e s h i s m e t h o d in de t a i l . H i s

s e s s i o n s b e g i n b y t r a i n i n g h i s c l i e n t s t o f ind t he i d e a l p o i n t o f

a t t e n t i o n , w h i c h h e ca l l s t h e " v i s u o - a w a r e n e s s e p i c e n t e r . "

I t r i e d h i s t e c h n i q u e m y s e l f a n d i m m e d i a t e l y n o t i c e d a n

i n c r e a s e i n m y c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d e a s e i n r e a d i n g . I f t h i s t e c h n i q u e

h a d w o r k e d o n d y s l e x i c s , I s p e c u l a t e d , w h a t m i g h t t h e effect b e

o n a n o r m a l a d u l t r e a d e r w h o h a s b e e n t o o s c a t t e r e d t o r e a d

efficiently.

D a v i s ' s w o r k h a d p r o v i d e d m e w i t h a c r e a t i v e l e a p . T o

a c c o m p l i s h t h e effect o f h i s " v i s u o - a w a r e n e s s e p i c e n t e r , " I

d e v e l o p e d the t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e .

M o s t p e o p l e f ind t h a t s e v e r a l b e n e f i t s f low i m m e d i a t e l y

f r o m t h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e . T o b e g i n , t h e y q u i c k l y a n d e a s i l y

e n t e r a r e l a x e d s ta te o f a l e r t n e s s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e y c a l m t h e i r

m i n d s a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y focus t h e i r a t t e n t i o n . T h e r e s u l t i s a n

i n s t a n t i m p r o v e m e n t i n r e a d i n g sk i l l s .

H i s t o r i c a l l y , t h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e h a s c o m e d o w n t o u s

i n a v a r i e t y o f f o r m s . T h e C h i n e s e t h i n k i n g c a p , t h e w i z a r d ' s c a p ,

a n d e v e n t h e o r i g i n a l c o n c e p t for t h e " D u n c e c a p , " b e l i e v e i t o r

no t , w e r e al l d e v i c e s for f o c u s i n g a t t e n t i o n . E a c h c a u s e s p a r t o f

y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o f ixate a t a p l a c e a b o v e a n d b e h i n d y o u r h e a d .

E x p e r i m e n t w i t h th i s t e c h n i q u e . I f t he i m a g e o f a t a n g e r i n e

d o e s n o t w o r k for y o u , t h e n t ry a n o t h e r w a y o f f ix ing y o u r

a t t e n t i o n t o t he p l a c e a b o v e a n d b e h i n d y o u r h e a d . I m a g i n e

w e a r i n g a s o m b r e r o , w i t h a b i r d s i t t i ng on t o p o f it. F e e l t h e

s o m b r e r o r e s t ing o n y o u r h e a d a n d focus y o u r a t t en t i o n o n the b i rd .

A n o t h e r w a y i s t o i m a g i n e s t a n d i n g o u t s i d e o f y o u r b o d y ,

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l o o k i n g o v e r t h e t o p o f y o u r h e a d , a s y o u r e a d . A s y o u d o t h i s ,

n o t i c e t h e shift i n t he w a y y o u feel .

W h e n y o u fix y o u r p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n w i t h a n y o f t h e s e

t e c h n i q u e s a n d o p e n y o u r e y e s , a c u r i o u s t h i n g h a p p e n s .

S u d d e n l y , t he m a t e r i a l y o u a re r e a d i n g s e e m s m o r e m a n a g e a b l e .

Y o u r v i s u a l h e l d e n l a r g e s , a n d y o u c a n e v e n see y o u r h a n d s

h o l d i n g the p a g e s . I n th i s s t a t e , y o u a re p r e p a r e d t o t a k e i n far

m o r e v i s u a l i n f o r m a t i o n t h a n b e f o r e .

A d j u s t i n g y o u r s t a t e o f m i n d i s t h e g o a l . Y o u a r e n o t t r y i n g A A -

to h o l d t h e f ee l i ng o f a t a n g e r i n e t h e e n t i r e t i m e y o u r e a d . G e t t i n g <=£c?j

a f ixed p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n i s m u c h l ike s e t t i n g a k e y s t o n e a t t he t o p

o f a s t o n e a r c h w a y . T h e o n e s t o n e a t t h e t o p h o l d s al l t h e r e s t o f

t he s t o n e s i n p l a c e .

S i m i l a r l y , t h e o n e f ixed p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n s e e m s t o g a t h e r

a n d focus t he o t h e r u n i t s o f a t t e n t i o n t o t h e t a s k o f r e a d i n g . O n c e

y o u h a v e p l a c e d i t t h e r e , fo rge t a b o u t it. W h e n y o u p a s s t h r o u g h

a d o o r w a y , y o u d o n o t h a v e t o c a r r y t h e d o o r w a y w i t h y o u . J u s t

g o a h e a d a n d b e g i n y o u r r e a d i n g — y o u r m i n d w i l l t a k e c a r e o f

t h e res t .

T a k e a m o m e n t t o t h i n k o f h o w y o u c a n u s e w h a t y o u h a v e

l e a r n e d i n th i s c h a p t e r :

• P r e p a r i n g i s t h e f o u n d a t i o n t o t h e w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

• T h e t w o c o m p o n e n t s t o p r e p a r i n g a r e s t a t i n g y o u r R e a d

p u r p o s e a n d g e t t i n g i n t o t h e i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d w i t h a fixed p o i n t gullets

o f a t t e n t i o n a t t h e t o p , b a c k p a r t o f y o u r h e a d .

• R e a d i n g p u r p o s e f u l l y m e a n s r e a d i n g w i t h p o w e r .

• T h e t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e i s o n e w a y t o fix y o u r a t t e n t i o n

w h i c h a u t o m a t i c a l l y l e a d s t o t he i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d .

G i v e y o u r s e l f a f ew m o m e n t s n o w t o a p p l y t h i s t e c h n i q u e

t o t he r e m a i n i n g c h a p t e r s o f t h i s b o o k . V i s u a l i z e y o u r s e l f r e a d i n g

the r e s t o f t h i s b o o k w i t h s t r o n g p u r p o s e . I m a g i n e sh i f t ing y o u r

a t t e n t i o n t o a p o i n t j u s t b e h i n d y o u a n d o n t o p o f y o u r h e a d .

A g a i n , n o t i c e t h e shift i n y o u r p h y s i c a l s ta te w h e n y o u d o so . A s

y o u read , y o u feel m o r e r e l a x e d , c e n t e r e d , a t t e n t i v e , a n d fully

a b s o r b e d . N o w y o u a r e p o i s e d a t t h e f low s ta te , r e a d y t o l e a r n .

Y o u r n e x t s t ep i s t o . . .

4

Step 2: Prev iew

W e c a n o n l y r e a d w h a t w e a l r e a d y k n o w ; t h a t i s , t h e h u m a n

b r a i n c a n o n l y c o m p r e h e n d p a t t e r n s t h a t a r e f ami l i a r . T h e m o r e

y o u k n o w a b o u t a t e x t b e f o r e y o u a c t u a l l y r e a d it, t h e e a s i e r i t w i l l

b e t o r e a d .

T h e fas t t r a c k t o d i s c o v e r i n g p a t t e r n s w i t h i n t e x t i s

p r e v i e w i n g . I t s p e e d s y o u r c o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d o n l y t a k e s a f ew

m i n u t e s or, i n s o m e c a s e s , a few s e c o n d s . T h e r e a r e t h r e e s t a g e s

t o p r e v i e w i n g :

1 . S u r v e y t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l

2 . P u l l o u t t r i g g e r w o r d s f r o m t h e t e x t

3 . R e v i e w a n d d e c i d e y o u r g o a l s for going further

Preview

1. Survey the material

33

W h e n m y wi f e a n d I c o n s i d e r e d p u r c h a s i n g o u r h o m e , w e

first e x p l o r e d t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . W e w a l k e d t o t he l ake f ron t a n d

a r o u n d t h e b l o c k , a n d w e d r o v e t o t h e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l a n d in to

t o w n . W e l o o k e d a t a m a p a n d e x p l o r e d t h e n e a r b y c o u n t y a n d

r e g i o n a l p a r k s . I n o t h e r w o r d s , w e s u r v e y e d the t e r r i t o r y .

A s y o u c o n s i d e r r e a d i n g a b o o k , m a g a z i n e , o r o t h e r

p u b l i c a t i o n , s u r v e y i t t o o . Y o u w i l l l e a r n its s t r u c t u r e a n d k n o w

h o w t o p r o c e e d . W a l k a r o u n d t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l t o n o t i c e :

• t i t l es a n d s u b t i t l e s

• t e x t on t h e f ront a n d b a c k c o v e r s

• t a b l e of c o n t e n t s

• c o p y r i g h t d a t e

• i n d e x

• first a n d las t p a g e s o f b o o k s , o r i n o t h e r d o c u m e n t s t h e

first a n d las t p a r a g r a p h s o f a n y s e c t i o n s

• t e x t p r i n t e d i n b o l d f a c e o r i t a l i c p r in t , i n c l u d i n g h e a d i n g s

a n d s u b h e a d i n g s

• m a t e r i a l set off as b o x e s , f i gu re s , o r c h a r t s

• s u m m a r i e s , p r e v i e w s , o r r e v i e w q u e s t i o n s

Y o u m a y b e a m a z e d a t h o w m u c h y o u c a n g a i n t h r o u g h t h i s

s t r a t e g y . I n s o m e c a s e s , y o u w i l l f ind e v e r y t h i n g y o u w a n t t o

k n o w — j u s t t h r o u g h s u r v e y i n g .

S u r v e y i n g a l l o w s y o u t o k n o w w h a t t h e t e x t s e e m s t o b e

a b o u t a n d c a n h e l p y o u p r e d i c t w h a t t o e x p e c t . I t c a n h e l p d i r e c t

y o u w h e r e t o l o o k for i m p o r t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n .

" H o w t o " b o o k s , for e x a m p l e , u s u a l l y p r e s e n t y o u w i t h a

n u m b e r o f t a s k s t o p e r f o r m in a c e r t a i n o r d e r . A " w h a t i s " b o o k

of ten p r e s e n t s a p r o b l e m a n d offers a s o l u t i o n .

D o n o t s p e n d m u c h t i m e s u r v e y i n g : a s h o r t a r t i c l e , t h i r ty

s e c o n d s ; a l o n g e r a r t i c l e o r r e p o r t , t h r e e m i n u t e s ; a n d a b o o k , f ive

t o e i g h t m i n u t e s . T h a t i s a l l . I f i t t a k e s any m o r e t h a n tha t , t h e n

y o u a r e p r o b a b l y r e a d i n g i n a c o n v e n t i o n a l s e n s e — n o t s u r v e y i n g .

S u r v e y i n g h a s a n a d d e d a d v a n t a g e . I t p r o m o t e s l o n g - t e r m

m e m o r y , b e c a u s e i t h e l p s y o u c o m p r e h e n d a n d c a t e g o r i z e t h e

m a t e r i a l y o u r e a d . I t e n c o u r a g e s y o u t o b u i l d a m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e

o f w h a t y o u r e a d . A n y m a t e r i a l y o u a c t i v e l y o r g a n i z e , y o u w i l l

r e m e m b e r l o n g e r .


H a v e y o u e v e r felt w h i l e r e a d i n g t h a t c e r t a i n w o r d s w e r e

l e a p i n g off t h e p a g e a n d b e g g i n g for s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n ? C h a n c e s

a r e t h o s e i m p o r t a n t w o r d s a re t he focal p o i n t s o f t h e a u t h o r ' s

m e s s a g e . T h o s e w o r d s h a v e a n u r g e n c y . " H e y , l o o k a t m e , " t h e y

s e e m t o say. T h o s e w o r d s a r e t r i g g e r w o r d s .

T r i g g e r w o r d s a re k e y w o r d s — t h e h i g h v i s ib i l i t y , r e p e a t e d l y

u s e d t e r m s t h a t p r e s e n t c e n t r a l i d e a s . T h e y a r e t h e h a n d l e s w h i c h

w i l l h e l p y o u g r a s p t h e m e a n i n g o f a t ex t .

T r i g g e r w o r d s h e l p t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s

for t h e i n n e r m i n d t o a n s w e r . T h e y b e c o m e t a r g e t s for y o u r b r a i n

d u r i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d a c t i v a t i o n . Y o u r b r a i n w i l l h i g h l i g h t

t h e m i n its s e a r c h t h r o u g h t h e t ex t , h e l p i n g y o u q u i c k l y f ind

m e a n i n g a n d a c c o m p l i s h y o u r p u r p o s e .

L o c a t i n g t r i g g e r w o r d s i s s i m p l e . F o r e x a m p l e , i n C h a p t e r

2 , 1 m e n t i o n e l e m e n t a r y r e a d i n g , p a r a d i g m shift, p u r p o s e , a n d

b e l i e f s . T h o s e t e r m s qual i fy a s t r i g g e r w o r d s . S p o t t i n g t h e m h e l p s

y o u d e v e l o p c u r i o s i t y , a n e s s e n t i a l i n g r e d i e n t i n effect ive l e a r n i n g

a n d eff ic ient r e a d i n g

M o s t p e o p l e l o c a t e t r i g g e r w o r d s w i t h e a s e w h e n i t c o m e s

t o n o n f i c t i o n . T h e y m i g h t d r a w a b l a n k w h e n p r e v i e w i n g f i c t ion

s u c h a s s h o r t s t o r i e s , p l a y s , n o v e l s , a n d p o e t r y . F i c t i o n offers u s

t r i g g e r w o r d s i n t he n a m e s o f p e r s o n s , p l a c e s , a n d t h i n g s .

L o c a t i n g t r i g g e r w o r d s i s a fun w a y t o t e s t t h e w a t e r s b e f o r e

d i v i n g for m e a n i n g . J u s t flip t h r o u g h e v e r y 20 p a g e s o r so o f a

b o o k a n d n o t i c e w h a t w o r d s c a t c h y o u r a t t e n t i o n .

A l l p l a c e s y o u s u r v e y w i l l a i d y o u r s e a r c h : b o o k c o v e r s ,

t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s , h e a d i n g s , a n d t h e i n d e x . I n a n i n d e x , l o o k for t h e

w o r d s t h a t a re f o l l o w e d b y t h e m o s t p a g e n u m b e r s . T h e s e a r e

b o u n d t o b e i m p o r t a n t t r i g g e r w o r d s .

A t first I s u g g e s t t h a t y o u m a k e a m e n t a l n o t e o f f ive to t e n

t r i g g e r w o r d s for a n a r t i c l e a n d w r i t e a l i s t o f 2 0 - 2 5 t r i g g e r w o r d s

for b o o k s . Y o u s h o u l d b e a b l e t o r e a c h t h o s e n u m b e r s i n t w o

m i n u t e s o r l e s s .

B e p layfu l a n d r e l a x e d , a n d i t w i l l b e e a s i e r t o spo t h i g h

p o w e r e d t e r m s .

2. Pull out trigger words

Preview

3. Review

35

T h e l a s t p a r t o f p r e v i e w i n g h e l p s a s s e s s w h a t y o u h a v e

g a i n e d f r o m y o u r s u r v e y a n d l is t o f t r i g g e r w o r d s . T a k e a m i n i -

i n v e n t o r y . D e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r y o u w a n t t o g o f a r t he r w i t h t h e

d o c u m e n t a n d e x t r a c t m o r e o f i ts c o n t e n t . T h i n k a b o u t w h e t h e r

y o u c a n m e e t y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g o r w h e t h e r y o u n e e d t o

r e d e f i n e t h a t p u r p o s e . R e m e m b e r t h e 8 0 / 2 0 r u l e ? A s k y o u r s e l f

w h e t h e r t h i s b o o k o r a r t i c l e r e l a t e s t o y o u r " top 2 0 p e r c e n t . "

Af te r p r e v i e w i n g , y o u m i g h t e v e n T h e 8 0 / 2 0 R u l e : d e c i d e n o t t o r e a d t h e d o c u m e n t . T h a t i s If all items are arranged in .

o n e o f t h e k i n d e s t t h i n g s y o u c a n d o for order of value, 80 percent of

the value would come from y o u r s e l f i n t h i s a g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n

only 20 percent of the items, o v e r l o a d . S a v e y o u r s e l f t he t r o u b l e of w h i l e t h e r e m a i n i n g 2 0 i n g e s t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n y o u d o n o t n e e d . p e r c e n t o f t h e v a l u e w o u l d Y o u h a v e o t h e r t h i n g s t o d o . S a v e t i m e come from 80 percent of the

for t h e m .

A f t e r p r e v i e w i n g , y o u m i g h t

d e c i d e y o u o n l y n e e d t o k n o w t h e d o c u m e n t i n a g e n e r a l w a y .

L a t e r , i f y o u w a n t m o r e spec i f ic i n f o r m a t i o n , y o u w i l l k n o w

w h e r e to f ind it. I t i s l ike u s i n g a set o f e n c y c l o p e d i a s : y o u do n o t

h a v e t o m e m o r i z e t h e c o n t e n t s o f e a c h v o l u m e . Y o u o n l y n e e d t o

k n o w e n o u g h t o p u l l t h e c o r r e c t v o l u m e off t h e shelf.

Read as you would shop for groceries

Y o u r b r a i n e x c e l s a t c lass i fy ing p e r c e p t i o n s a n d r e c o g n i z i n g

p a t t e r n s . P r e v i e w i n g h e l p s a c c o m p l i s h b o t h . I t a l l o w s y o u t o

b u i l d m e a n i n g f u l c a t e g o r i e s , e s t a b l i s h p a t t e r n s , a n d l o c a t e t h e

c o r e c o n c e p t s w h i c h l e a d t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g . Y o u s ta r t t o d i s c o v e r

t he 4 - 1 1 p e r c e n t o f t he t e x t t h a t i n c l u d e s i ts k e y m e s s a g e a n d

sa t is f ies y o u r p u r p o s e .

W i t h o u t c a t e g o r i e s , t h e t e x t w o u l d a p p e a r a s t h e w o r l d

d o e s t o a n e w b o r n — a c o n s t a n t p a r a d e o f u n r e l a t e d s igh t s , s o u n d s ,

a n d o t h e r s e n s a t i o n s , a " b l o o m i n g , b u z z i n g c o n f u s i o n , " a s

p s y c h o l o g i s t W i l l i a m J a m e s d e s c r i b e d it.

T h e s e c r e t t o succes s fu l p r e v i e w i n g i s t o a v o i d g e t t i n g in to

a t e x t t o o d e e p l y t o o s o o n . Y o u m a y f ind y o u r s e l f t e m p t e d t o s t o p

p r e v i e w i n g a n d s ta r t r e a d i n g for d e t a i l s . N o t i c e y o u r u r g e t o


focus o n t h e p a r t i c u l a r s , le t t h a t u r g e g o , a n d r e t u r n t o p r e v i e w i n g .

Y o u w a n t t o ge t t he m a x i m u m b e n e f i t f rom e v e r y m i n u t e

y o u i n v e s t i n r e a d i n g . I f y o u s ta r t r e a d i n g for d e t a i l s t o o s o o n , y o u

c o u l d ea s i l y e n d u p s l o w i n g d o w n , p l o d d i n g t h r o u g h p a r a g r a p h s

a n d p a g e s t h a t h a v e n o r e l e v a n c e t o y o u r p u r p o s e . T h a t c o u l d

l e a d t o t h e l o s s o f m o m e n t u m , w a n i n g in t e re s t , a n d e v e n a

w o n d e r f u l n a p .

To avo id th is , h o l d b a c k a l i t t le on t he de ta i l s . Th i s s t r e n g t h e n s

y o u r m o t i v a t i o n . I t c r e a t e s a d e s i r e in y o u to f ind o u t m o r e , t o fill

i n t h e g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e t h a t y o u a r e b u i l d i n g i n y o u r m i n d .

O n e o f t h e j u i c i e s t p a r t s o f p r e v i e w i n g i s g e t t i n g h u n g r y for

i n f o r m a t i o n a n d i d e a s . T h a t h u n g e r i n c r e a s e s y o u r c o m m i t m e n t

t o r e a d i n g a n d e n e r g i z e s t he w h o l e m i n d t o a c h i e v e y o u r d e s i r e s .

P r e v i e w e v e r y t i m e y o u r e a d . R e a d i n g a l o n g e r o r m o r e

c o m p l e x d o c u m e n t w i t h o u t p r e v i e w i n g i s l i k e g o i n g t o t h e

g r o c e r y s to re t o b u y a n a p p l e a n d s e a r c h i n g e v e r y i t e m o n e v e r y

s h e l f u n t i l y o u f ind it. I n s t e a d , l o o k for t h e fruit s e c t i o n a n d w a l k

d i r e c t l y t o w h a t y o u w a n t . W h e n r e a d i n g , t h i s m e a n s t a k i n g a

d i r e c t p a t h t o t h e p a s s a g e s t h a t m o s t d i r e c t l y satisfy y o u r p u r p o s e .

Beware of traps

P r e v i e w i n g m a y b e a t r a p , b e c a u s e u p o n first e n c o u n t e r t h e

s t ep o f p r e v i e w i n g s e e m s a lo t l i ke r e g u l a r r e a d i n g . S i n c e y o u

w a n t t o k n o w w h a t a b o o k o r a r t i c l e c o n t a i n s , y o u m i g h t b e

t e m p t e d t o g o a h e a d a n d r e a d i n t e r e s t i n g a r e a s o f t h e p i e c e for 2 0

o r 3 0 m i n u t e s . B e w a r e o f f a l l ing i n t o t h a t t e m p t i n g t r a p ! T h a t i s

n o t p r e v i e w i n g . P l a c i n g s u c h a l a r g e a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a t i o n in to

y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d , t e n d s t o s w i t c h off y o u r b r a i n ' s a c c e s s t o i ts

o w n l a r g e r d a t a b a s e i n f a v o r o f t h e p r i m a r y w o r k i n g m e m o r y

t y p i c a l l y u s e d for t r a d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g . T h a t m e a n s a f t e r

P h o t o R e a d i n g , t he b r a i n r e f e r e n c e s o n l y t he i n f o r m a t i o n y o u

p r e v i e w e d .

I f a b e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r e x p e r i e n c e s a p r o b l e m , t h e

m o s t t y p i c a l p r o b l e m r e s u l t s f r o m m i s u s e o f p r e v i e w i n g . T h e y

say , " I ' m n o t su re I ' m g e t t i n g a n y t h i n g f r o m t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

s t e p . " W h e n a s k e d h o w t h e y u s e d t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m , t h e s e p e o p l e say t h e y s p e n t f if teen m i n u t e s o r m o r e o n

t h e p r e v i e w s t e p .

Preview 37

Preview or postview?

I c o n t i n u e t o r e c o m m e n d t h e p r e v i e w s t e p b e f o r e

P h o t o R e a d i n g b e c a u s e i t p e r f o r m s a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e , o n e t h a t

r e a d i n g s p e c i a l i s t s ca l l " a n a d v a n c e o r g a n i z e r . " P r e v i e w i n g h e l p s

t h e b r a i n ident i fy c a t e g o r i e s for t h e c o m i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , l i k e

p r e p a r i n g f i l e c a b i n e t s i n t o w h i c h y o u w i l l s o r t t h e

i n c o m i n g da ta .

I n a d d i t i o n , I f ind t h a t m o s t p e o p l e c a n q u i c k l y g r a s p t h e

n e w p a r a d i g m o f r e a d i n g a n d u s e p r e v i e w i n g e f fec t ive ly . W h e n

t h e y d o , t h e y r e c o g n i z e t h e i m m e d i a t e b e n e f i t f r o m t h e p r e v i e w -

P h o t o R e a d c o m b i n a t i o n .

C h i l d r e n s h o u l d l e a r n t o p r e v i e w for i ts v a l u e i n d i r e c t i n g

t h e n o v i c e m i n d . I t e n s u r e s t h a t t he m a t e r i a l g o i n g i n w i t h

P h o t o R e a d i n g w i l l b e i n t h e r e a d e r ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t s . T h e b e g i n n i n g

P h o t o R e a d e r t a k e s five t o e i g h t m i n u t e s t o p r e v i e w a b o o k , b u t

t h e sk i l l ed P h o t o R e a d e r a l m o s t n e v e r t a k e s m o r e t h a n o n e t o

t h r e e m i n u t e s t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e y w a n t t o g o fu r the r w i t h

t h e res t o f t h e s y s t e m .

W h e n i t c o m e s t o r e a d i n g for e n h a n c i n g c r e a t i v i t y , i n s i g h t

i n to a n e w sub j ec t a r e a , o r p e r s o n a l l y d e v e l o p i n g k n o w l e d g e o r

sk i l l s t o c h a n g e a p r e v a i l i n g p a r a d i g m , p o s t v i e w i n g w o r k s b e s t .

W h e n p r e v i e w i n g s h u t s d o w n a c c e s s t o t h e e x p a n d e d

d a t a b a s e o f t h e b r a i n , w e r e c o m m e n d a n i m m e d i a t e c e s s a t i o n o f

p r e v i e w i n g . I n t h i s c a s e , w e s u g g e s t n o m o r e t h a n o n e m i n u t e t o

p r e v i e w a b o o k o r l o n g a r t i c l e — o n l y e n o u g h t i m e t o say , " Y e s ,

t h i s i s s o m e t h i n g I w a n t t o r e a d . " T h e n t h e i d e a l s t r a t e g y b e c o m e s

P h o t o R e a d t h e n " p o s t v i e w . "

P o s t v i e w i n g f o l l o w s a s i m i l a r f o r m to p r e v i e w i n g : s u r v e y ,

t r i g g e r w o r d s , r e v i e w . O n l y w i t h p o s t v i e w i n g , y o u p e r f o r m

t h e s e s t e p s after P h o t o R e a d i n g . Y o u c a n p r e v i e w a t e x t b e f o r e

P h o t o R e a d i n g o r p o s t v i e w a t ex t i m m e d i a t e l y after P h o t o R e a d i n g .

E d u c a t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g i s t D r . W i n W e n g e r , a u t h o r o f The Einstein

Factor, p r e f e r s p o s t v i e w i n g o v e r p r e v i e w i n g . T h i s k e e p s t h e

e x p a n d e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e b r a i n " o p e n for b u s i n e s s . "

Y o u w i l l f ind a c o m p l e t e d e s c r i p t i o n o f p o s t v i e w i n g i n

C h a p t e r 6 .


T h i s a l l o w s t h e P h o t o R e a d e r t o k e e p t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d ' s f i l ters

o u t o f t h e w a y . P o s t v i e w i n g a c c e l e r a t e s t h e a c t i v a t i o n p r o c e s s

a s w e l l .

In summary

I n th i s c h a p t e r y o u l e a r n e d :

• P r e v i e w i n g le t s y o u r m i n d c r e a t e p a t t e r n s t o i n c r e a s e

s p e e d a n d c o m p r e h e n s i o n w h i l e r e a d i n g .

• T o p r e v i e w y o u m u s t s u r v e y , p u l l o u t t r i g g e r w o r d s ,

a n d r e v i e w .

• S u r v e y i n g i s a w a l k a r o u n d the o u t s i d e e d g e s o f w h a t

y o u a re r e a d i n g i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d i ts s t r u c t u r e a n d h o w t o

p r o c e e d .

• T r i g g e r w o r d s a re k e y t e r m s t h a t h e l p y o u f o r m u l a t e

q u e s t i o n s t h a t y o u r i n n e r m i n d w i l l w o r k t o a n s w e r la ter .

• R e v i e w i n g i s a m i n i - i n v e n t o r y t h a t h e l p s y o u m a k e su re

y o u a re r e a d i n g w h a t m e e t s y o u r p u r p o s e .

• P r e v i e w i n g c a n s w i t c h off a c c e s s t o t h e b r a i n ' s l a r g e r d a t a

b a s e i f m i s u s e d .

• P o s t v i e w i n g p r o v i d e s a n i d e a l a l t e r n a t i v e t o p r e v i e w i n g

for t h e n o v i c e P h o t o R e a d e r , e s p e c i a l l y for t h o s e w h o t ry t o r e a d

a n d u n d e r s t a n d a n e n t i r e b o o k w h i l e p r e v i e w i n g .

T o a p p l y t he t e c h n i q u e o f p r e v i e w i n g , t a k e a m o m e n t t o

i m a g i n e t h e t y p e s o f r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s y o u m i g h t face i n t h e

c o m i n g w e e k . I m a g i n e p r e v i e w i n g t h o s e v a r i o u s s o u r c e s o f

i n f o r m a t i o n . N o t i c e h o w a few m o m e n t s o f p r e v i e w i n g c a n s a v e

y o u h o u r s o f t i m e t h i s w e e k , b e c a u s e y o u q u i c k l y t u n e in to

i n f o r m a t i o n y o u w a n t a n d e l i m i n a t e r e d u n d a n t a n d u n n e c e s s a r y

r e a d i n g .

C h a p t e r 5 b r i n g s y o u t o t h e n e x t s t e p , P h o t o R e a d i n g , t h e

m o s t p r o v o c a t i v e a n d e x c i t i n g o f a l l .

Preview 39

A businessman was asked to speak at a conference. He was unable to prepare

for the presentation in the traditional sense of reading books, taking notes, and

writ ing his speech. He was only able to PhotoRead several books, so he figured

he could wing it. To his surprise his presentation f lowed with aplomb. He even

presented statistics which just popped into his head—apparently provided by

his other-than-conscious mind. He received excellent feedback from his

audience and later verified every fact wi th the books.

A computer programmer learned that by PhotoReading pages of code he

quickly discovered program bugs. Another programmer said his ability to write

effective code improves when he PhotoReads pages of code wri t ten by other

programmers.

A mystery writer PhotoRead dozens of mystery books to assimilate styles,

techniques, dialogs, descriptions, etc. Immediately his wri t ing f lowed more

easily. He began sending the first or second drafts of chapters to his agent

instead of his usual fifth or sixth draft.

The technical director of the virtual reality department of a supercomputer

company PhotoRead all the literature he could find on his industry. Since class,

he has become a prolific writer, presenting professional papers to conferences

around the country. He receives high professional acclaim from his colleagues.

A PhotoReader forgot someone's name. He PhotoRead the telephone book

and the name immediately came to him seconds after PhotoReading the page

it was on.

An actress is better able to memorize her lines by PhotoReading the script first.

She also says this helps create a better understanding of her characters.

A bookkeeper said her ability to manipulate data in spreadsheets increased

significantly. She found it easier to remember the programming commands

and to detect errors.

An attorney found himself challenging an expert witness during cross-

examination wi thout a clear sense of why he was asking the questions. It

became obvious as the expert witness' testimony unraveled. The attorney had

PhotoRead books the evening prior which contained facts contradicting those

of the witness. At a conscious level, the attorney did not know the facts. From

an other-than-conscious level, his mind had given him the guidance necessary

to achieve his goal.

5

Step 3: PhotoRead

P h o t o R e a d i n g r o c k e t s y o u t o s u c c e s s a t t h e s p e e d o f l i gh t .

I n t o d a y ' s i n f o r m a t i o n d e l u g e , w h y d r o w n w i t h r e g u l a r r e a d i n g

o r b a r e l y s u r v i v e w i t h s p e e d r e a d i n g ? N o w y o u c a n t h r i v e a n d

s u c c e e d w i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h i s c h a p t e r d e s c r i b e s h o w t o s tar t

u s i n g t h e m o s t p r o v o c a t i v e s t ep o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m . T o m a s t e r P h o t o R e a d i n g , k e e p a p layfu l a n d o p e n -

m i n d e d a t t i t u d e .

P h o t o R e a d i n g r e l i e s o n t h e b r a i n ' s n a t u r a l ab i l i t y t o p r o c e s s

i n f o r m a t i o n a t a p r e c o n s c i o u s l e v e l . F o r t h o s e w h o le t g o a n d t rus t

t h e i r m i n d t o d o t h e w o r k , P h o t o R e a d i n g p r o v i d e s a p h e n o m e n a l

o p p o r t u n i t y t o d i s c o v e r t h e i r t r u e p o t e n t i a l for l e a r n i n g .

T h r o u g h P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u e x p o s e y o u r b r a i n t o p a t t e r n s

o f t e x t by m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h i n g the p r i n t e d p a g e . T h i s i s n o t a

t e c h n i q u e t o w o r k h a r d a t n o r i s i t s o m e t h i n g tha t t h e c o n s c i o u s

m i n d h a s t o f igure ou t i n o r d e r t o p e r f o r m i t b e t t e r . T o s t r a i n a t

PhotoRead 41

p r a c t i c i n g and p e r f e c t i n g i t m a y be c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e . U s e i t and

e x p l o r e t h e r e su l t s .

D u r i n g the n e x t few p a g e s y o u w i l l l e a r n the w a y s t o

p e r f o r m e a c h s tep o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g p r o c e s s . Af te r l e a r n i n g

t h e m , p lay w i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g th i s b o o k .

1. Prepare to PhotoRead

P r e p a r i n g y o u r s e l f for P h o t o R e a d i n g i s a m a t t e r o f m a k i n g

a few d e c i s i o n s . W h a t i s i t y o u w a n t t o P h o t o R e a d ? P l a c e y o u r

r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l i n front o f y o u and ask y o u r s e l f i f y o u c a n spa re

t he f ew m i n u t e s r e q u i r e d t o P h o t o R e a d it . The six steps to the

W h y d o y o u w a n t t o t a k e t he t i m e t o PhotoReading process are

1 Prepare t o P h o t o R e a d P h o t o R e a d th i s m a t e r i a l ? C l ea r l y s ta te t o

2 Enter the accelerative y o u r s e l f w h a t y o u e x p e c t to get f rom the l e a r n i n g s t a t e m a t e r i a l s . T h i s ac t o f e s t a b l i s h i n g y o u r

3 Affii-m y o u r c o n c e n t r a - p u r p o s e wi l l b e r e p e a t e d m o r e p r e c i s e l y l a t e r

t ion, impact, and purpose „ .. , i n t h e p r o c e s s . P u r p o s e i s e s s e n t i a l .

4 Enter the PhotoFocus

s t a t e C h o o s e t o r e m a i n a t t e n t i v e t o t h i s

5 Maintain a steady state e x p e r i e n c e a n d l e t go of a n y o u t s i d e

while PhotoReading i n t e r f e r e n c e s . B e i n a n o p e n p o s t u r e ,

6 Clos e c o m f o r t a b l e , u p r i g h t , r e l a x e d , and r e a d y to e n t e r t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e .

2. Enter the accelerative learning state

E a r l i e r i n t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d sy s t em, y o u e n t e r e d

a s ta te o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s be fo re p r e v i e w i n g . Y o u r a im n o w i s to

e x p e r i e n c e a s imi la r , b u t m o r e r e c e p t i v e , b r a i n s t a t e — a sta te in

w h i c h y o u h a v e a c c e s s t o e x p a n d e d c a p a b i l i t i e s o f m i n d and

i n c r e a s e d r e a d i n e s s t o l e a r n .

H e r e i s a p r o c e d u r e for e n t e r i n g th i s s ta te , a l so c a l l e d t he

a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e . A t first, t h i s p r o c e d u r e m i g h t t a k e

seve ra l m i n u t e s t o c o m p l e t e . E v e n t u a l l y , h o w e v e r , y o u wi l l r e a c h

the d e s i r e d s ta te in t he t i m e i t t a k e s for o n e d e e p i n h a l e f o l l o w e d

by a g e n t l e e x h a l e .

• M a k e y o u r s e l f c o m f o r t a b l e . W h e n y o u are first l e a r n i n g

th i s t e c h n i q u e , l ie d o w n . After that , sit b a c k c o m f o r t a b l y in

a c h a i r .


• T a k e i n a d e e p b r e a t h . E x h a l e , a n d t h e n c l o s e y o u r e y e s .

• E x p e r i e n c e full p h y s i c a l r e l a x a t i o n . T a k e in a d e e p b r e a t h

a n d h o l d i t for a m o m e n t . A s y o u e x h a l e s l o w l y , t h i n k o f t h e

n u m b e r " 3 " a n d m e n t a l l y r e p e a t t h e w o r d Relax. T h i s i s y o u r

p h y s i c a l r e l a x a t i o n s i g n a l . T h e n p r o g r e s s i v e l y r e l a x t h e m a j o r

m u s c l e g r o u p s o f y o u r b o d y f r o m h e a d t o t o e . I m a g i n e a w a v e o f

r e l a x a t i o n f l o w i n g t h r o u g h o u t y o u r e n t i r e b o d y . L e t e a c h m u s c l e

m e l t un t i l i t i s p l e a s a n t l y r e l a x e d a n d free f rom t e n s i o n .

• N o w c a l m y o u r m i n d . T a k e i n a d e e p b r e a t h a n d h o l d i t

for a m o m e n t . E x h a l e s l o w l y . T h i n k o f t h e n u m b e r "2" a n d

m e n t a l l y r e p e a t t h e w o r d Relax. T h i s i s y o u r m e n t a l r e l a x a t i o n

s i g n a l . L e t g o o f t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e p a s t o r fu ture . F o c u s y o u r

a w a r e n e s s o n t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t . A s y o u b r e a t h e out , le t a n y

t e n s i o n s , a n x i e t i e s , o r p r o b l e m s f loat a w a y . A s y o u b r e a t h e in, let

p e a c e a n d t r a n q u i l l i t y f low in to e v e r y p a r t o f y o u .

• T a k e in a n o t h e r d e e p b r e a t h a n d h o l d i t for a m o m e n t .

S l o w l y e x h a l e ; m e n t a l l y h e a r t h e s o u n d o f t he n u m b e r " 1 . " A s

y o u d o so , p i c t u r e a beau t i fu l f l o w e r i n y o u r m i n d ' s e y e . T h i s

s i g n a l s t h a t y o u h a v e f o c u s e d y o u r a w a r e n e s s a n d e n t e r e d t h e

r e s o u r c e l e v e l o f m i n d — a s ta te o f e x p a n d e d c r e a t i v i t y a n d ab i l i t y

to l e a rn .

I m a g i n e y o u r s e l f i n a b e a u t i f u l , q u i e t p l a c e . B e c o m e a w a r e

o f t h e s o o t h i n g s i g h t s , s o u n d s , a n d f e e l i n g s y o u e x p e r i e n c e t h e r e .

I m a g i n e t h a t a n h o u r o f t i m e i s e l a p s i n g . L e t y o u r s e l f r e s t

c o m f o r t a b l y t h e r e for a few m o m e n t s .

B e f o r e y o u p r o c e e d t o t h e n e x t s t e p s , g e n t l y r e m i n d y o u r s e l f

t o r e l e a s e any r e m a i n i n g t e n s i o n o r d i s t r a c t i o n s . R e m i n d y o u r s e l f

t o m a i n t a i n th i s s ta te o f p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l r e l a x a t i o n a s y o u

P h o t o R e a d .

a l l o w s y o u to e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t w i t h measures (Hz stands for Hertz or

y o u r o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s cycles per second)

r e s o u r c e s o f m i n d . E n t e r i n g t h i s • W a k i n g state = 1 2 - Z 3 hH^ B e t a

o p e n s i t t o i n p u t . I t a l l o w s y o u t o b e imagery, associated wi th creativity

m o r e r e s p o n s i v e to y o u r o w n = 4-8 Hz, Theta

p o s i t i v e i d e a s . W h i l e i n t h i s h i g h l y

The above p r o c e s s o f en t e r ing

t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e

Brain states are characterized by

subjective experiences and electro-

encephalagraph (EEG) frequency

p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l s t a t e t u r n s o n

the b r a i n ' s r i g h t h e m i s p h e r e a n d

• Relaxed alertness, optimal for

learning = 8-12 Hz, Alpha

• Deeply relaxed, good for internal

PhotoRead 43

a t t u n e d s ta te , y o u o p e n u p a c c e s s t o t h e d e e p e r " d a t a b a s e " o f

y o u r l o n g - t e r m m e m o r y .

M a n y c l a s s e s , b o o k s , a n d t a p e s o n r e l a x a t i o n a n d m e d i t a t i o n

c a n h e l p y o u g a i n ski l l a t e n t e r i n g t h e i d e a l l e a r n i n g s t a t e . T h e

L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s g u i d e y o u

t h r o u g h s i m i l a r r e l a x a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s u s e d i n P h o t o R e a d i n g

s e m i n a r s .

3. Affirm your concentration, impact, and purpose

T h o u g h t s e i t h e r s u p p o r t o r d e r a i l t h e l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s .

P o s i t i v e , a f f i r m a t i v e t h o u g h t s a s s i s t l e a r n i n g , a n d n e g a t i v e

t h o u g h t s n e g a t e o r p r e v e n t it.

P l a c i n g p o s i t i v e t h o u g h t s i n y o u r m i n d c a n h e l p y o u d e v e l o p

s k i l l s a n d a c h i e v e d e s i r e d r e s u l t s . T h e s e t h o u g h t s , c a l l e d

a f f i rma t ions , h e l p d i r e c t t h e m a t e r i a l y o u P h o t o R e a d t o y o u r

i n n e r m i n d . T h e m o s t use fu l a f f i rma t ions for P h o t o R e a d i n g

i n c l u d e :

• " A s I P h o t o R e a d , my c o n c e n t r a t i o n i s a b s o l u t e . "

• " A l l t h a t I P h o t o R e a d m a k e s a l a s t i n g i m p r e s s i o n on my

i n n e r m i n d a n d i s a v a i l a b l e t o m e . "

• " I d e s i r e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n in t h i s b o o k , (say t h e t i t l e h e r e ) ,

t o a c c o m p l i s h m y p u r p o s e o f ( r e s t a t e y o u r p u r p o s e ) . "

A f f i r m a t i o n s g i v e d i r e c t i o n t o y o u r b r a i n b y c l e a r l y

e s t a b l i s h i n g g o a l s . T h e p r o c e s s o f a f f i rming a l so b y p a s s e s t h e

l i m i t a t i o n s i m p o s e d b y t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I t r e d i r e c t s a n y

n e g a t i v e i n t e r n a l d i a l o g a n d o p e n s y o u t o t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f

success .

I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u r g o a l o r p u r p o s e b e o n e y o u c a n

a c h i e v e . A p o o r l y f o r m e d g o a l w o u l d b e : " I w a n t t o h a v e

p h o t o g r a p h i c r e c a l l o f e v e r y t h i n g I P h o t o R e a d . " S i n c e t h a t i s n o t

t he p u r p o s e o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s t ep a n d p e r f e c t r e c a l l o f

e v e r y t h i n g i s n o t r e a s o n a b l e , s u c h a n i l l - f o r m e d g o a l c o u l d l e a d

t o u n d u e f r u s t r a t i o n a n d n o n - p e r f o r m a n c e .

A w e l l - f o r m e d g o a l w o u l d b e : " T o fully a b s o r b t h i s m a t e r i a l

a n d t o s p e e d m y a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s e t e c h n i q u e s a n d c o n c e p t s i n

m y l i fe ." T h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f s u c h a g o a l i s w i t h i n y o u r c o n t r o l

a n d l e a d s t o g r e a t e r e a s e a n d s u c c e s s .


T h e P h o t o F o c u s s t a t e u s e s y o u r s e n s e o f s igh t t o i n p u t

v i s u a l i n f o r m a t i o n d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

I n t h i s s t ep , y o u l e a r n t o u s e y o u r v i s u a l s y s t e m d i f fe ren t ly t h a n

w i t h r e g u l a r r e a d i n g . R a t h e r t h a n h a r d f o c u s i n g o n i n d i v i d u a l

w o r d s a n d w o r d g r o u p s , y o u a c h i e v e a "soft g a z e " t o n o t i c e t h e

e n t i r e p a g e a t o n c e .

W h e n I f i r s t d e v e l o p e d

P h o t o R e a d i n g , I k n e w t h a t h a r d f o c u s i n g Y o u s t r e n g t h e n t h e e y e - m i n d

,, , . £ .. , ,, connection wi th PhotoFocus. t he e y e s s e n t i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e

This shifts the emphasis of c o n s c i o u s m i n d . P h o t o R e a d i n g r e q u i r e d

reading away from the page in

s e n d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e front o f your eyesto its meaning

p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s o r i n to t h e b r a i n . which is stored behind your eyes

M y q u e s t i o n b e c a m e " H o w c a n I l o o k a t ( i n y o u r m i n d ) .

s o m e t h i n g w i t h o u t u s i n g h a r d f o c u s t o l o o k a t i t ? "

D e - f o c u s i n g t h e e y e s w a s n o t t h e a n s w e r . T h a t o n l y m a d e

m e feel s p a c e y a n d l e t h a r g i c . M y f e e l i n g s o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s

v a n i s h e d a s i f m y p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l c l a r i ty w a s c o n n e c t e d t o

m y v i s u a l c l a r i t y .

O n e a f t e r n o o n I m u l l e d o v e r t h i s p a r a d o x . I r e a d an a r t i c l e

a b o u t a n ar t t e a c h e r n a m e d B e t t y E d w a r d s . I n h e r b o o k Drawing

on the Right Side of the Brain, s h e sa id , " I f y o u w a n t to d r a w my

t h u m b , d o n ' t d r a w m y t h u m b , " b e c a u s e y o u w i l l u s e t h e left

b r a i n — t h e a n a l y t i c a l , n o n - a r t i s t i c s ide o f t h e b r a i n . S h e sa id , " T o

d r a w m y t h u m b , d r a w t h e s p a c e a r o u n d m y t h u m b . " T h a t

s t r a t e g y u s e s t h e r i g h t b r a i n — t h e c r e a t i v e s ide o f t h e b r a i n .

U s i n g h e r a d v i c e , I b e g a n l o o k i n g a t t h e t w o p a g e s o f a n

o p e n b o o k . I t o o k i n al l t h e w h i t e s p a c e i n o n e e x p a n s i v e g a z e , n o t

l o o k i n g a t t h e w o r d s . S u d d e n l y , t h e p a g e s t o o k o n a c l a r i t y a n d

d e p t h , a p p e a r i n g a l m o s t t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l . I n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e

p a g e t h e r e e m e r g e d a th i rd , r o u n d e d n a r r o w p a g e .

T h i s r e m i n d e d m e o f e x p e r i e n c e s I h a d a s a c h i l d . M y m i n d

t e n d e d to w a n d e r i f I h a d to sit a n d w a i t . O c c a s i o n a l l y , i f I

h a p p e n e d to be s i t t i ng in a r o o m w i t h a t i le f loor , I b e c a m e a w a r e

t h a t t h e f loor a p p e a r e d as a t h r e e - d i m e n s i o n a l g r i d — a s i f t h e r e

w e r e t w o l a y e r s o f l i nes , a b o u t s ix i n c h e s d e e p . I f I t r i e d to l o o k a t

it, i t w o u l d d i s a p p e a r . T h e effect w o u l d o n l y l i n g e r i f I m a i n t a i n e d

4. Enter the PhotoFocus state

PhotoRead 45

a r e l a x e d , d i v e r g e n t gaze , as i f l o o k i n g in to t he d i s t a n c e .

T h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h i s u n i q u e v i s u a l s ta te w a s t he b e g i n n i n g

o f P h o t o F o c u s . I n t h e y e a r s s ince t h e n , m a n y d i s c o v e r i e s h a v e

c o n n e c t e d P h o t o F o c u s t o a n c i e n t t r a d i t i o n s o f s e e i n g w i t h t h e

w h o l e b r a i n r a t h e r t h a n the l i m i t e d c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

T h e e s s e n c e o f P h o t o F o c u s i s u s i n g y o u r e y e s i n a n e w w a y

w h i c h i s c a l l e d " s e e i n g w i t h soft e y e s . " T h i s c o n t r a s t s h a r d focus

w h i c h is ou r n o r m a l p r a c t i c e of ge t t i ng a s h a r p , c l ea r i m a g e of a

s ing le w o r d , p h r a s e , o r l ine o f p r i n t . W i t h P h o t o F o c u s , w e o p e n

u p ou r p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n a n d p r e p a r e t o m e n t a l l y p h o t o g r a p h

en t i r e p a g e s a t o n c e . I n so d o i n g , we p r o c e s s v i s u a l i n f o r m a t i o n

a t a p r e c o n s c i o u s l eve l and feed i t d i rec t ly in to y o u r b r a i n ' s

n o n c o n s c i o u s m e m o r y s t o r a g e s y s t e m .

A c l ea r d e s c r i p t i o n of soft

Seeing with "soft eyes" is hardly new. e y e s c o m e s f rom M i y a m o t o

Taoist literature from China refers to an M u s a s h i , a l e g e n d a r y fif teenth-

" a l l - s e e i n g g a z e . " S o d o e s C a r l o s c en tu ry s w o r d s m a n and a u t h o r

Casteneda, author of a popular series of

books about the practices o f Don Juan, a o f T h e B o o k o f F i v e R i n g s . I n t h a t

Mexican shaman. b o o k , M u s a s h i refers to t w o

t y p e s o f v i s i o n . O n e h e ca l l s

ken, an o b s e r v a t i o n of surface a p p e a r a n c e and ex te rna l m o v e m e n t .

Kan, in con t ra s t , i s s e e i n g in to t he e s s e n c e of t h i n g s . U s i n g the

p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n of k a n , sa id M u s a s h i , a w a r r i o r c o u l d spot an

e n e m y and d e t e c t a n i m p e n d i n g a t t ack b e f o r e i t h a p p e n e d .

T h o u g h w e h a v e n o e n e m i e s t o a t tack , w i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g w e c a n

u s e the o t h e r bene f i t s o f k a n : c a l m n e s s , c o n c e n t r a t i o n , c r ea t i v i t y ,

i n tu i t ion , and t h e abi l i ty t o grea t ly e x p a n d ou r v i s u a l f ie ld .

T h e p h y s i o l o g y b e h i n d k a n — o r P h o t o F o c u s , a s w e cal l i t —

i s f a s c i n a t i n g . T h e r e t i n a s o f o u r e y e s c a n b e d i v i d e d i n t o t w o

r e g i o n s . O n e i s the fovea w h i c h i s d e n s e l y p a c k e d w i t h ce l l s

ca l l ed c o n e s . T h e s e ce l l s b r i n g i m a g e s in to h a r d f o c u s . E a c h c o n e

h a s a s ing l e n e r v e c o n n e c t i n g i t to the b r a i n . I n f o r m a t i o n e n t e r i n g

t he fovea i s p r o c e s s e d b y the c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

A s w e m o v e in to t he p e r i p h e r y o f t h e r e t ina , t he s e c o n d

area , w e find different ce l l s ca l l ed r o d s . E v e n t h o u g h seve ra l

h u n d r e d r o d s are c o n n e c t e d t o t he s a m e n e r v e , t h e s e ce l l s are

e x t r e m e l y s e n s i t i v e . In fact, they c a n de tec t t he l igh t of a s ing le

c a n d l e t en m i l e s a w a y . W h i l e i n the P h o t o F o c u s s ta te , w e are

d r a w i n g m u c h m o r e u p o n rod v i s i o n t h a n c o n e v i s i o n . T h e


T h a t ghos t i m a g e l o o k s l ike a c o c k t a i l w e e n i e .

T h i s m i g h t s e e m l ike c h i l d ' s p l a y , b u t in rea l i ty i t s i g n a l s a

s igni f icant c h a n g e i n y o u r v i s i o n . S e e i n g the c o c k t a i l w e e n i e

d e m o n s t r a t e s y o u are d i v e r g i n g y o u r e y e s i n s t e a d o f c o n v e r g i n g

t h e m on a f ixed p o i n t o f h a r d focus . W h e n y o u do th i s , y o u r v i s u a l

field sof tens, and y o u r p e r i p h e r a l a w a r e n e s s e x p a n d s . I t i s s t r a n g e

tha t y o u wi l l see t he effect on ly w h e n y o u do no t l o o k d i rec t ly a t

p e r i p h e r y o f o u r v i s u a l field i s p r o c e s s e d n o n c o n s c i o u s l y .

U s i n g P h o t o F o c u s , y o u r e d u c e i n t e r f e r e n c e f rom t h e

c o n s c i o u s m i n d . T h i s i n t e r f e r ence i n c l u d e s " p e r c e p t u a l d e f e n s e s "

w h i c h filter i n c o m i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . R e d u c i n g tha t i n t e r f e r ence

wi l l h e l p y o u ga in m o r e o f y o u r b r a i n ' s e x p a n s i v e p r o c e s s i n g

c a p a b i l i t y .

I n t e r f e r e n c e a l so p r o d u c e s t he c o m m o n p h e n o m e n o n o f

t u n n e l v i s i o n . I t c a n h a p p e n w h e n y o u are l o o k i n g for s o m e t h i n g

in t he k i t c h e n , for e x a m p l e . I t m a y be r igh t t h e r e in front o f y o u ,

b u t y o u do n o t see i t b e c a u s e y o u are e x p e c t i n g i t to be in a d r a w e r ,

n o t o n t he c o u n t e r . P h o t o F o c u s t r a i n s y o u r b r a i n t o o p e n u p and

p e r c e i v e m o r e o f the i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e t o y o u .

As a p r e p a r a t i o n for e n t e r i n g t h e P h o t o F o c u s s ta te , p l ay

w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g e x e r c i s e . T h e a im i s to e x p e r i e n c e a v i s u a l

p h e n o m e n o n I cal l t h e " c o c k t a i l w e e n i e ef fec t ."

To see the cock t a i l w e e n i e effect, f ind a spot on t he w a l l to

l o o k at. N o w , w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g to l ook a t t he spot , h o l d y o u r

h a n d s abou t 18 i n c h e s i n front o f y o u r e y e s . T h e n b r i n g t h e t i p s

o f y o u r i n d e x f ingers t o g e t h e r .

A s y o u g a z e a t t h e spot j u s t a b o v e the t o p o f y o u r i n d e x

f ingers , n o t i c e i n y o u r v i s u a l f ield w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g t o y o u r

i n d e x f ingers . K e e p y o u r e y e s r e l a x e d and d o n o t w o r r y a b o u t

b r i n g i n g a n y t h i n g in to sha rp f o c u s .

Y o u m a y n o t i c e a g h o s t i m a g e tha t l o o k s l ike a th i rd f inger ,

a s i n t h e f o l l o w i n g d i a g r a m :

PhotoRead 47

y o u r f i n g e r s . I am a s k i n g y o u to see i t w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t i t . T h a t

s o u n d s l ike s o m e t h i n g a Z e n m a s t e r w o u l d say.

Y o u c a n app ly t he s a m e effect to t he p a g e s o f a b o o k . To

e x p e r i e n c e th is , fix y o u r g a z e on a p o i n t c o m f o r t a b l y b e y o n d the

t o p o f t he b o o k . N o t i c e t he four e d g e s o f t he b o o k and the w h i t e

s p a c e b e t w e e n the p a r a g r a p h s w h i l e g a z i n g j u s t o v e r t he t o p o f

t he b o o k a t y o u r spot o n t he wa l l . B e c a u s e y o u r e y e s are d i v e r g i n g ,

y o u w i l l see a d o u b l i n g o f t he c r e a s e b e t w e e n the le f t -hand and

r i g h t - h a n d p a g e s . B e g i n to n o t i c e a l i t t le r o u n d e d s t r ip of a

p h a n t o m p a g e ( c o c k t a i l w e e n i e p a g e ) b e t w e e n the c r e a s e l i n e s . I

cal l t ha t p a g e t he "b l i p p a g e . "

See i f y o u c a n m o v e y o u r g a z e d o w n from o v e r t h e t o p o f t he

b o o k , s o tha t y o u are l o o k i n g r igh t t h r o u g h the c e n t e r o f t he b o o k

a s i f y o u h a d x- ray v i s ion . C a n y o u m a i n t a i n d i v e r g e n t e y e s and

still n o t i c e t he b l i p p a g e ?

I n t h e ea r ly s t ages o f l e a r n i n g P h o t o F o c u s , m a n y p e o p l e

d i s c o v e r tha t t he i r e y e s try t o focus o n the b o o k . T h i s c a u s e s t he

c r e a s e l i nes t o c o n v e r g e , and the b l i p t o d i s a p p e a r . T h a t i s t h e

p o w e r o f hab i t . Do no t f ight it. J u s t r e l a x a n d p lay w i t h it. Y o u m a y

w a n t to l e a v e i t and p l a y w i t h i t a g a i n l a t e r .

W h e n i n P h o t o F o c u s , t he p r i n t o n t he p a g e i s p r o b a b l y

b l u r r e d . T h a t i s o k a y , b e c a u s e t o see t he b l i p , y o u m u s t p l a c e y o u r

focal p l a n e a t s o m e d i s t a n c e a w a y . T o h a v e c lar i ty u p c l o s e , y o u

wi l l n e e d t o r e l a x y o u r e y e s and h a v e t he focal p l a n e m o v e in .

W h e n y o u d e v e l o p P h o t o F o c u s , t h e r e i s a u n i q u e c la r i ty

a n d d e p t h t o t he w o r d s o n the p a g e . T h e y are no t i n focus , b e c a u s e

y o u are no t l o o k i n g a t t h e m . B u t , t h e r e i s a c lar i ty to t he p r i n t tha t


y o u c a n n o t i c e a s y o u r e l a x m o r e .

H e r e i s a n o t h e r w a y to see t he b l i p p a g e . Sit b a c k f rom a

t a b l e j u s t a bi t . P l a c e y o u r o p e n b o o k on the t ab l e n e a r the e d g e .

L o o k pas t t he b o t t o m e d g e o f t he b o o k a n d see y o u r feet o n t he

floor. S l o w l y m o v e the b o o k in to y o u r v i s u a l h e l d s o tha t i t a l m o s t

c o v e r s y o u r l ine o f s ight t o y o u r feet. I f y o u n o t i c e t he b o o k i n y o u r

v i s u a l h e l d , y o u wi l l p r o b a b l y r e a l i z e tha t t h e r e i s a d o u b l i n g o f

t he c r e a s e i n t he b o o k . B e t w e e n the t w o c r e a s e l i nes , s o m e t h i n g

a p p e a r s . T h a t i s t he b l i p p a g e .

P l a y w i t h m o v i n g y o u r s e l f m o r e t o w a r d t h e b o o k (and the

b o o k m o r e t o w a r d y o u ) un t i l y o u r l i ne o f s igh t i s r i g h t t h r o u g h

the c e n t e r o f t h e b o o k , a n d y o u still h a v e t h e d o u b l e l ine . C a n y o u

do it? I f i t i s t o u g h , do no t w o r r y . Af te r y e a r s of h a b i t u a l l y

f o c u s i n g o n the p r i n t e d p a g e , y o u r first e x p o s u r e t o P h o t o F o c u s

m i g h t b e c h a l l e n g i n g . T h e n aga in , y o u m i g h t find th i s t o b e easy .

N o b l i p ? N o p r o b l e m ! I f y o u d o n o t see the b l i p p a g e , y o u

c a n still be a p ro f i c i en t P h o t o R e a d e r . R e m e m b e r , t he goa l o f

P h o t o F o c u s i s t o m i n i m i z e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s i n g and m a x i m i z e

p r e c o n s c i o u s p r o c e s s i n g . S e e i n g the b l i p p a g e s igna l s y o u h a v e a

d i v e r g e n t g a z e , w h i c h i s o n e w a y o f p r e v e n t i n g c o n s c i o u s

p r o c e s s i n g . B u t t h e r e i s a n o t h e r w a y :

L o o k i n g a t a n o p e n b o o k — r i g h t a t t h e c e n t e r c r e a s e — o p e n

up y o u r field o f v i s i o n so tha t y o u see all four c o r n e r s o f t h e b o o k .

Sof ten y o u r g a z e so tha t t he l ines o f p r i n t a re n o t in h a r d f o c u s .

N o t i c e t h e e m p t y m a r g i n s a n d t h e w h i t e s p a c e b e t w e e n

p a r a g r a p h s . I m a g i n e a n " X " c o n n e c t i n g t h e four c o r n e r s o f t he

b o o k . (Use th i s t e c h n i q u e i f y o u are s i g h t e d i n on ly o n e eye . )

A s y o u e x p e r i m e n t w i t h t h e s e t e c h n i q u e s , g o e a s y .

R e m e m b e r , h a r d w o r k d o e s n o t h e l p . R e l a x i n g and n o t i c i n g y o u r

e x p e r i e n c e are the m a i n i n g r e d i e n t s o f s u c c e s s . After p l a y i n g

w i t h y o u r v i s u a l s y s t e m for t w o o r t h r e e m i n u t e s , j u s t c l o s e y o u r

e y e s and res t for a few m i n u t e s b e f o r e y o u p l a y a g a i n .

M a n y o f t h e s e e x e r c i s e s c a n h e l p s t r e n g t h e n a n d b a l a n c e

y o u r v i s u a l s y s t e m . S i n c e all n a t u r a l e y e i m p r o v e m e n t m e t h o d s

are b a s e d on r e l a x a t i o n , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o g ive y o u r s e l f t he c h a n c e

t o res t y o u r e y e s .

T h e p o i n t o f t h e s e e x e r c i s e s i s n o t t o h a l l u c i n a t e b u t t o

t e a c h y o u r s e l f h o w t o d i v e r g e y o u r e y e s . A c h i e v i n g "soft e y e s "

a n d m a i n t a i n i n g P h o t o F o c u s w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g w i l l

PhotoRead 49

T h e i d e a l p o s t u r e for P h o t o R e a d i n g i s

s i t t i ng u p r i g h t , w i t h t he b o o k p r o p p e d u p

a t a 45 d e g r e e a n g l e to t h e t a b l e (90 d e g r e e s

t o y o u r e y e s ) . I f y o u t u c k y o u r c h i n i n

s l i g h t l y y o u s t r a i g h t e n y o u r s p i n e ,

p e r m i t t i n g b e t t e r e n e r g y f low t o y o u r b r a i n .

Y o u r g a z e w i l l b e t h r o u g h t h e c e n t e r o f t h e

b o o k , b u t a t first, i t i s o k a y i f y o u g a z e o v e r

t he t o p i n o r d e r t o see t h e b l i p . I f y o u c a n n o t

t a k e t i m e , s o b e p a t i e n t .

m a i n t a i n t he b l i p a t first, s i m p l y n o t i c e t h e fou r c o r n e r s a n d t h e

" X , " r a t h e r t h a n s t r u g g l e w i t h d i v e r g e n c e .

5. Maintain a steady state while flipping pages

Y o u r a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s ta te a n d P h o t o F o c u s s ta te m a y

b e f ragi le a t first. D i s t r a c t i n g a n d se l f -c r i t i ca l t h o u g h t s m a y

d i s r u p t y o u r a t t e n t i o n , a n d y o u m i g h t f ind y o u r s e l f t e m p t e d t o

b r i n g t h e p r i n t e d p a g e in to h a r d focus a g a i n . I f t h i s h a p p e n s ,

s i m p l y r e m i n d y o u r s e l f t h a t y o u r p u r p o s e r igh t n o w i s t o m a i n t a i n

a n i d e a l s ta te for l e a r n i n g . P l a c e t he i m a g i n a r y t a n g e r i n e o n t h e

b a c k o f y o u r h e a d (refer b a c k t o C h a p t e r 3 ) , a n d n o t i c e t h e b l i p

p a g e a g a i n .

Y o u c a n u s e t w o a d d i t i o n a l t e c h n i q u e s t o m a i n t a i n y o u r

s ta te w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g . F i r s t , k e e p y o u r b r e a t h i n g d e e p a n d

e v e n . S e c o n d , c h a n t t o t h e r h y t h m o f t h e t u r n i n g p a g e s . T h e s e

a c t i o n s o c c u p y y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d , k e e p i n g i t free f r o m

d i s t r a c t i o n s w h i l e y o u r o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s m i n d c o n t i n u e s

P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h e c h a n t — a r h y t h m i c i n t e r n a l s t a t e m e n t o f

s u p p o r t i v e w o r d s — i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t , b e c a u s e i t f o c u s e s

y o u r m i n d a n d b l o c k s n e g a t i v e t h o u g h t s t h a t m i g h t o t h e r w i s e

occur .

M a i n t a i n i n g a s t e a d y s ta te w i l l e n a b l e y o u t o b r e e z e t h r o u g h

b o o k s q u i c k l y a n d e f fec t ive ly . T h e s t e a d y r h y t h m i s w o n d e r f u l

for k e e p i n g t h e b r a i n r e l a x e d a n d o p e n w h i l e y o u m e n t a l l y

p h o t o g r a p h the p a g e s .


H e r e i s h o w t o m a i n t a i n t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e

w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g :

• R e m a i n i n a n o p e n p o s t u r e . R e s t y o u r feet o n t h e f l o o r

w i t h y o u r l egs u n c r o s s e d .

• K e e p y o u r b r e a t h i n g d e e p a n d e v e n .

• T u r n t h e p a g e s o f t h e b o o k i n a s t e a d y r h y t h m — o n e p a g e

e v e r y s e c o n d o r t w o . S e e e v e r y t w o - p a g e s p r e a d w i t h "soft e y e s . "

Y o u r g a z e i s t h r o u g h t h e c e n t e r o f t h e b o o k , n o t i c i n g t h e b l i p

p a g e . I f y o u c a n n o t see t h e b l i p , n o t i c e t h e fou r c o r n e r s o f t h e

b o o k , t he w h i t e s p a c e o n the p a g e s , a n d a n i m a g i n a r y " X "

c o n n e c t i n g t h e four c o r n e r s .

• C h a n t t o t he r h y t h m o f y o u r t u r n i n g p a g e s . T a k e o n e f l ip

for e a c h s y l l a b l e o f t he f o l l o w i n g c h a n t a s y o u m e n t a l l y r e p e a t :

R e - l a x . . . R e - l a x . . .

F o u r - T h r e e - T w o - O n e . . .

R e - l a x . . . R e - l a x . . .

K e e p the s t a t e . . .See t he p a g e . . .

• D o n o t c o n c e r n y o u r s e l f w i t h m i s s i n g p a g e s . J u s t le t t h e m

g o . Y o u c a n a l w a y s c o m e b a c k t o t h e m o n a s e c o n d p a s s t h r o u g h

t h e b o o k .

• C o n t i n u e t h e c h a n t t o t h e r h y t h m o f y o u r p a g e t u r n i n g .

L e t y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d f o l l o w t h e w o r d s o f t he c h a n t .

• L e t g o o f d i s t r a c t i n g t h o u g h t s b y b r i n g i n g y o u r c o n s c i o u s

m i n d g e n t l y b a c k t o t h e ac t i v i t y a t h a n d .

PhotoRead 51

6. Close the process with a sense of mastery

T h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d h a s a n a t u r a l t e n d e n c y t o q u e s t i o n

w h a t i t g a i n s f r o m P h o t o R e a d i n g . I f y o u te l l s o m e o n e y o u j u s t

P h o t o R e a d a b o o k i n t h r e e m i n u t e s , t h e first q u e s t i o n a s k e d i s

" W h a t c a n y o u te l l m e a b o u t i t ? " C o m e d i a n W o o d y A l l e n j o k e d

a b o u t s p e e d r e a d i n g , "I j u s t r e a d War and Peace. I t ' s a b o u t R u s s i a . "

S u c h a s t a t e m e n t s i m p l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t y o u r e c e i v e l i t t le o r

n o t h i n g a t a c o n s c i o u s l e v e l w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g , w h i c h i s l a r g e l y

t rue . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t a l so i m p l i e s t h a t n o t h i n g w a s g a i n e d a t a

d e e p e r , n o n c o n s c i o u s l e v e l . T h i s e a s i l y b e c o m e s a n e g a t i v e , self-

fulf i l l ing p r o p h e c y . S t a t e m e n t s s u c h a s " I w o n ' t r e m e m b e r a

t h i n g " o r " T h i s c a n ' t p o s s i b l y w o r k " ac t l i k e c o m m a n d s t o y o u r

b r a i n t o f o r g e t w h a t i t g a i n e d w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g . I f y o u

c o n t i n u a l l y m a k e s u c h s t a t e m e n t s , y o u w i l l f ind t h a t t h e y

b e c o m e fulfi l led.

P h o t o R e a d i n g d o w n l o a d s i n f o r m a t i o n d i r e c t l y o n t o t h e

n e u r a l n e t w o r k s o f y o u r b r a i n , w h i c h i m m e d i a t e l y b e g i n s

p r o c e s s i n g it, s p o n t a n e o u s l y , a t a l e v e l b e l o w t h e t h r e s h o l d o f

c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s . T o e n s u r e y o u r b r a i n w i l l h a v e a c c e s s t o

i n f o r m a t i o n y o u P h o t o R e a d , c l o s e y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g s e s s i o n b y

t a k i n g c h a r g e o f y o u r t h o u g h t s a n d s e t t i ng t he s t age for a c t i v a t i o n .

N o w i s t h e t i m e t o r e q u e s t t h a t y o u r m i n d i n t e g r a t e t he i n f o r m a t i o n

a n d m a k e i t a v a i l a b l e for fu ture u s e .

Y o u i n s t r u c t y o u r b r a i n o n w h a t t o d o w i t h t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n

u s i n g a f f i r m a t i o n s . A f f i r m a t i o n s w h i c h w e u s e i n o u r s e m i n a r s

i n c l u d e :

• I a c k n o w l e d g e t h e f e e l i n g s I h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m th i s

b o o k . . . a n d . . .

• I r e l e a s e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n for my b o d y a n d m i n d to

p r o c e s s .

• I a m c u r i o u s a s t o h o w m a n y w a y s m y m i n d a n d b o d y

c a n d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e t o m e .

Y o u r r e s p o n s e t o t h e m a t e r i a l y o u P h o t o R e a d o c c u r s w i t h i n

y o u . T h e s e a f f i r m a t i o n s i n v i t e y o u r n o n c o n s c i o u s m i n d t o h e l p .

I t i s fun t o c o n s c i o u s l y r e c o g n i z e t h e m a n y w a y s th i s i n f o r m a t i o n

c a n b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e .


I f y o u l ike, y o u c a n i m a g i n e a b r i d g e b e t w e e n y o u r c o n s c i o u s

a n d i n n e r m i n d a l o n g w h i c h the i n f o r m a t i o n f l o w s . A s y o u le t g o

a n d r e l a x e v e n m o r e , y o u c a n m o r e ea s i l y n o t i c e w h a t e v e r f l o w s

in to y o u r c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s .

T h e s ix s t e p s o f t h e b a s i c P h o t o R e a d i n g p r o c e d u r e a re e a s y

t o p u t t o g e t h e r . D o n o t let t h e i r s i m p l i c i t y d e c e i v e y o u . T h i s

t e c h n i q u e c a n h a v e a p r o f o u n d i m p a c t o n y o u .

Consider PhotoReading before sleep

W i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u b l a s t i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h y o u r

n e r v o u s s y s t e m i n a p o w e r f u l w a y — l i k e d r i n k i n g w a t e r t h r o u g h

a fire h o s e . Be o p e n , let i t d i g e s t a n d a b s o r b a t a n o n c o n s c i o u s

l e v e l . T o d o so , r e l a x a n d le t g o .

T h e m i n d r e v i e w s i n f o r m a t i o n d u r i n g t h e s l e e p s ta te t h a t

h a s b e e n t a k e n i n b e l o w the c o n s c i o u s l e v e l o f a w a r e n e s s . S t u d i e s

d a t i n g b a c k t o t he ea r ly 1 9 0 0 s s h o w t h a t s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n c a n

h a v e q u i t e a n effect o n o n e ' s d r e a m s . S i n c e th i s i s g o i n g t o

h a p p e n , y o u m a y a s w e l l m a k e s u r e y o u P h o t o R e a d b o o k s t h a t

a r e e m o t i o n a l l y g e n t l e a n d c o m f o r t i n g b e f o r e g o i n g t o s l e e p .

Y o u n o w h a v e l e a r n e d t h e s ix s t e p s t o t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

p r o c e s s . I n o r d e r t h e y a r e :

1. P r e p a r e

2 . E n t e r i n g t he a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s ta te

3 . Af f i rm y o u r c o n c e n t r a t i o n , i m p a c t , a n d p r o c e s s

4 . E n t e r t h e P h o t o F o c u s s t a t e

5 . M a i n t a i n a s t e a d y s ta te w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g

6 . C l o s e

I f y o u h a v e n o t t r i e d i t ye t , t a k e a f ew m i n u t e s t o P h o t o R e a d

t h i s b o o k , or, b e f o r e y o u g o t o s l e e p t o n i g h t , P h o t o R e a d a n o t h e r

p o s i t i v e a n d up l i f t i ng b o o k .

Af te r y o u h a v e p r e p a r e d , p r e v i e w e d , a n d P h o t o R e a d , y o u

a r e r e a d y t o b r i n g t he k n o w l e d g e y o u d e s i r e i n to y o u r c o n s c i o u s

a w a r e n e s s a s y o u l e a r n t o a c t i v a t e i n C h a p t e r 6 .

6

Step 4: Activate

A p r o f e s s o r a t a s ta te u n i v e r s i t y in M i n n e s o t a h a d b e e n

a s k e d t o g ive a s p e e c h . M o s t o f w h a t h e w a n t e d t o p r e s e n t w a s

c o n t a i n e d i n t w o b o o k s , s o h e P h o t o R e a d t h e m a t b e d t i m e ,

e x p e c t i n g t o a c t i v a t e t h e m t h e n e x t d a y .

T h a t n i g h t , h e d r e a m e d o f d e l i v e r i n g h i s s p e e c h . A s h e

a w o k e from h i s d r e a m , he g r a b b e d a p e n c i l a n d p a p e r a n d j o t t e d

d o w n e v e r y t h i n g h e c o u l d r e m e m b e r o f h i s d r e a m / s p e e c h .

I n t he m o r n i n g , h e r e v i e w e d h i s d r e a m n o t e s a n d r e a l i z e d

h i s s p e e c h w a s c o m p l e t e d , s a v e a few t r a n s i t i o n s w h i c h h e a d d e d .

L a t e r t ha t day h e e x a m i n e d the b o o k s a n d d i s c o v e r e d h i s n o t e s

c o n t a i n e d all t h e r e l e v a n t p o i n t s h e n e e d e d .

I l o v e h e a r i n g s u c h s t o r i e s f rom P h o t o R e a d e r s . T h o s e

e x a m p l e s are g rea t w h e n they h a p p e n . F o r m o s t b e g i n n i n g

P h o t o R e a d e r s t h o s e e x p e r i e n c e s a re t he e x c e p t i o n r a t h e r t h a n the

ru le . T h i s c h a p t e r e x p l o r e s w a y s t o k n o w tha t w e c a n c o n s c i o u s l y


a c c e s s t he i n f o r m a t i o n w e n e e d f rom m a t e r i a l s w e P h o t o R e a d . I

d o n o t a d v o c a t e m e r e l y s i t t ing b a c k a n d h o p i n g t o d r e a m a b o u t

i n f o r m a t i o n a t n i g h t a n d t h e n e x p e c t i n g t o b e r e a d y t o s p e a k

b e f o r e a g r o u p o r p e r f o r m on a s c h o o l tes t . B e c o m i n g a c t i v e w i t h

t h e i n f o r m a t i o n m a k e s c o m p r e h e n s i o n o c c u r .

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m , g i v e s y o u t h e c o n s c i o u s 1 Awareness

a w a r e n e s s n e e d e d to fulfill y o u r p u r p o s e . T h r o u g h 2 Familiarity

o f c o n s c i o u s c o m p r e h e n s i o n . Y o u b e g i n g a i n i n g p

a w a r e n e s s , m o v e to a s e n s e o f f ami l i a r i t y , a n d f inal ly a c h i e v e t h e

k n o w l e d g e y o u d e s i r e .

A c t i v a t i o n after P h o t o R e a d i n g i s q u i t e d i f ferent t h a n t r y i n g

t o r eca l l w h a t y o u r e a d i n a r e g u l a r m a n n e r . A c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s

a re d e s i g n e d t o r e s t i m u l a t e t he n e w n e u r a l c o n n e c t i o n s y o u

c r e a t e d b y P h o t o R e a d i n g , r a t h e r t h a n t r y i n g t o force reca l l t h r o u g h

t h e c r i t i c a l / l o g i c a l c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

B e i n g ac t ive a n d pu rpose fu l i s e s s e n t i a l for g a i n i n g c o n s c i o u s

c o m p r e h e n s i o n . D u r i n g a c t i v a t i o n y o u a r e a t t r a c t e d t o t e x t

r e l e v a n t t o y o u r p u r p o s e . I f y o u h a v e n o p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g a

d o c u m e n t , g e n e r a l l y l i t t le b e n e f i t c a n b e g a i n e d f r o m a c t i v a t i o n .

T h e t w o t y p e s o f a c t i v a t i o n a r e : s p o n t a n e o u s a n d m a n u a l .

Spontaneous activation o c c u r s w i t h o u t c o n s c i o u s effort on o u r

par t . P e r h a p s y o u h a v e h a d t h e k i n d o f " aha ! " e x p e r i e n c e t h a t

h a p p e n s w h e n y o u s u d d e n l y s o l v e a p r o b l e m t h a t h a s p r e o c c u p i e d

y o u for w e e k s , o r see t he face of a f r iend in a c r o w d , or r e m e m b e r

t he n a m e o f s o m e o n e y o u m e t m o n t h s a g o .

S u c h a c t i v a t i o n i s a n a u t o m a t i c c o n n e c t i o n t o p a s t

e x p e r i e n c e s , t o n e u r a l p a t t e r n s a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g i n y o u r b r a i n .

S t i m u l i i n o u r e n v i r o n m e n t , c u e s w e m a y h a v e n o t b e e n l o o k i n g

for, s p o n t a n e o u s l y t r i g g e r a f l ood of p r e v i o u s a s s o c i a t i o n s .

S p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n feels s i m i l a r to a f l ash of c r e a t i v e i n s i g h t —

s u d d e n a n d u n e x p e c t e d .

A l t h o u g h P h o t o R e a d e r s r e p o r t m a n y s to r i e s o f s p o n t a n e o u s

a c t i v a t i o n , t h e y r e m a i n t he c h e r r y o n t o p o f t h e ice c r e a m a n d a r e

n o t t he m a i n e n t r e e o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

Manual activation, w h i c h we w i l l d e s c r i b e in t h i s c h a p t e r ,

m e a n s to a c t i v a t e by d e s i g n . I t u s e s t h e a c t u a l t e x t a s a c a t a l y s t for

A c t i v a t i o n , t he n e x t s t ep i n t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g Four levels of

comprehension:

t h e p r o c e s s o f a c t i v a t i o n , w e b u i l d i n c r e a s i n g l e v e l s 3. Knowledge

4 Expertise

Activate 55

r e s t i m u l a t i n g t h e b r a i n , b r i n g i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d in to

c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

A s y o u l e a r n t o a c t i v a t e , n o t i c e w h a t y o u a r e f ee l i ng , d o i n g ,

a n d t h i n k i n g w h e n e x p e r i e n c e s o f a w a r e n e s s , f a m i l i a r i t y , o r

k n o w l e d g e o c c u r . T h i s c a r e f u l o b s e r v a t i o n w i l l h e l p y o u

u n d e r s t a n d y o u r o w n i n t u i t i v e s i g n a l s a n d f u r t h e r y o u r

a c t i v a t i o n sk i l l s .

Jump start activation with postviewing

Afte r y o u P h o t o R e a d , p o s t v i e w i n g m a k e s a n e x c e l l e n t

t r a n s i t i o n s t ep i n t o a c t i v a t i o n . P o s t v i e w i n g i s s i m i l a r t o t h e

p r e v i e w s tep d e s c r i b e d i n C h a p t e r 3 , w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l p u r p o s e

t o f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s . F i r s t y o u s u r v e y t h e m a t e r i a l t o e x a m i n e

its s t r u c t u r e a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e e s s e n c e o r m a i n p o i n t . T h e n

m a k e n o t e o f t r i g g e r w o r d s , t h o s e k e y t e r m s u p o n w h i c h t h e

a u t h o r b u i l t t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n . F i n a l l y , p l a y f u l l y e x p l o r e

t h r o u g h o u t t h e t e x t t o l o c a t e a r e a s i n w h i c h y o u w a n t t o d e l v e

i n to m o r e de ta i l .

D u r i n g y o u r p o s t v i e w , w h e n y o u n o t i c e a r e a s w i t h i n t h e

t e x t t h a t i n t e r e s t y o u , b e g i n t o f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s y o u w a n t t o

a n s w e r . B u t , d o n o t r e a d t o a n s w e r t h o s e q u e s t i o n s y e t . U s e t h i s

t i m e t o b u i l d c u r i o s i t y a n d s t r e n g t h e n y o u r d e s i r e t o f ind o u t

m o r e . T h i s i n c r e a s e s m o t i v a t i o n a n d d i r e c t s y o u r b r a i n t o b u i l d

n e u r a l c o n n e c t i o n s . P l a y i n g w i t h t h e p h y s i c a l t e x t t o f o r m u l a t e

q u e s t i o n s i s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f " m i n d p r o b i n g , " e x p l a i n e d i n de t a i l

in a l a t e r s ec t i on .

H o w m u c h t i m e s h o u l d y o u t a k e w h e n p o s t v i e w i n g ?

G e n e r a l l y I r e c o m m e n d t h a t y o u t a k e 5 to 15 m i n u t e s . Be f l ex ib l e .

K e e p i n m i n d t h a t y o u r g o a l i s t o l e a r n e n o u g h a b o u t t h e w r i t t e n

m a t e r i a l s t o p l a n y o u r a c t i v a t i o n . I u s u a l l y t a k e m o r e t i m e

p o s t v i e w i n g ( u p t o 1 5 m i n u t e s ) i f m y p r e v i e w w a s s h o r t ( o n e t o

t w o m i n u t e s ) . I f m y p r e v i e w w a s l o n g (five t o e i g h t m i n u t e s ) , I

g a i n e d e n o u g h u n d e r s t a n d i n g a b o u t t he s t r u c t u r e a n d e s s e n c e o f

t he m a t e r i a l s t o f o c u s m y p o s t v i e w i n g t i m e o n f o r m u l a t i n g

q u e s t i o n s . I n t h a t c a s e , p o s t v i e w i n g m i g h t o n l y t a k e f ive m i n u t e s .


After P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d p o s t v i e w i n g , y o u m u s t d i s m i s s

t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f rom y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d . T h a t ' s r igh t . G e t

a w a y f rom i t for a w h i l e . T h i s ac t o f c r e a t i v e p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n h e l p s

y o u le t i t g o w h i l e i t i n c u b a t e s i n y o u r m i n d . I t i s p a r a d o x i c a l : i n

o r d e r t o c o m p r e h e n d y o u r r e a d i n g y o u m u s t g i v e i t o v e r t o y o u r

b r a i n t o w o r k on . W a i t a t l e a s t t e n t o t w e n t y m i n u t e s , or , i f y o u c a n

afford t he l u x u r y , o v e r n i g h t .

T h e c o n c e p t o f " in i t i a l effort f o l l o w e d by a p e r i o d o f

i n c u b a t i o n a n d r e s t " i s w e l l k n o w n t o w r i t e r s , a r t i s t s , m u s i c i a n s ,

a n d s c i e n t i s t s . T h e s e c r e t i s t o d i s t i n g u i s h i n c u b a t i o n f r o m

i n a c t i v i t y . Y o u r b r a i n n e v e r s h u t s off. I t i s o n t h e j o b 2 4 h o u r s e a c h

d a y . W h e n y o u s l e e p , i t c r e a t e s d r e a m s , g e n e r a t e s s o l u t i o n s t o

g n a w i n g p r o b l e m s y o u face a t w o r k , c o n n e c t s y o u r c u r r e n t

t h o u g h t s t o a v a s t n e t w o r k o f a s s o c i a t e d p r i o r k n o w l e d g e , a n d s o

on .

L e t w h a t y o u P h o t o R e a d t a k e i ts p l a c e i n y o u r b r a i n ,

b e c o m i n g i n t e g r a t e d a s p a r t o f t h e n e u r a l n e t w o r k . A c t i v a t i o n

w i l l t h e n c u e u p t h e a s s o c i a t i o n s y o u r b r a i n h a s c o n s t r u c t e d . Y o u

c o n s c i o u s l y c o n n e c t a n d satisfy y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g .

A P h o t o R e a d i n g i n s t r u c t o r t o l d me a s to ry o f h o w e a s i l y t h e

m i n d c a n u s e a c t i v a t i o n t o a c c o m p l i s h r e a d i n g g o a l s . " I w a s

t e a c h i n g i n t h e ci ty w h e r e m y d a u g h t e r l i v e s w h e n a p a r t i c i p a n t

s h a r e d a p o e m w i t h t h e w o r d s e r e n d i p i t y i n it. T h a t e v e n i n g a t m y

d a u g h t e r ' s h o u s e , I w a n t e d t o l o o k u p t h e w o r d . I w a l k e d i n t o h e r

d e n a n d w e n t i n to P h o t o F o c u s a s I a s k e d myse l f , ' W h a t i s h e r e

t h a t w i l l h e l p m e ? ' I h a d n ' t e v e n f i n i s h e d s t a t i n g t h e q u e s t i o n

w h e n m y a r m r e a c h e d t o w a r d t h e b o o k s h e l f a n d g r a b b e d a b o o k .

T h e b o o k h a p p e n e d t o b e o n e m y d a u g h t e r h a d b o r r o w e d f r o m

me five m o n t h s ea r l i e r . I h a d o n l y P h o t o R e a d it.

"I t s e e m e d l ike a n o d d c o i n c i d e n c e , s o I j u s t le t t h e b o o k

o p e n t o a p a g e . A n d t h e r e o n the b o t t o m r i g h t c o r n e r o f t h a t p a g e

w a s W e b s t e r ' s d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d s e r e n d i p i t y . "

O b v i o u s l y t he e x p a n d e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t y o f t h e b r a i n

c a n w o r k i n w o n d r o u s w a y s . W h a t m o r e p e r f e c t w a y t o e x p l a i n

w h a t s e r e n d i p i t y m e a n s t h a n b y o f f e r i n g a s e r e n d i p i t o u s

e x p e r i e n c e ? T h e p o i n t is , i f y o u a s k t h e m i n d p r o p e r l y , i t w o r k s

t o g i v e y o u w h a t y o u w a n t .

Let it incubate

Activate

Probe your mind

57

Afte r y o u r b r i e f h i a t u s , b e i t t w e n t y m i n u t e s o r 2 4 h o u r s ,

ac t iva t e t he m a t e r i a l b y , o n c e aga in , a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s . F o r e x a m p l e :

W h a t i s i m p o r t a n t t o m e i n th i s b o o k , a r t i c l e , o r r e p o r t ? W h a t a r e

t h e m a i n p o i n t s ? W h a t i s i n h e r e t h a t c a n h e l p m e ? W h a t d o I n e e d

t o k n o w t o p e r f o r m w e l l o n t h e n e x t tes t , t o w r i t e m y r epo r t ,

c o n t r i b u t e i n t h e n e x t m e e t i n g , a n d s o on . Q u e r i e s l i ke t h e s e s e n d

a p r o b e in to y o u r d e e p e r , n o n c o n s c i o u s m e m o r y s t o r a g e s y s t e m ,

o p e n i n g a c h a n n e l t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d a n s w e r s y o u d e s i r e .

T h e y s t i m u l a t e a s e n s e o f c u r i o s i t y . T h i s ac t iv i ty o f m i n d p r o b i n g

c a u s e s t h e b r a i n t o f ind t h e b e s t w a y s a n d m e a n s t o a c h i e v e y o u r

p u r p o s e for t h e p a r t i c u l a r m a t e r i a l s y o u a re e x p l o r i n g .

I t i s i m p o r t a n t , a s y o u a s k q u e s t i o n s o f y o u r m i n d , t h a t y o u

n o t e x p e c t a n i m m e d i a t e a n s w e r . E x p e c t i n g r e c a l l a t t h i s s t a g e i n

a c t i v a t i o n c r e a t e s f rus t r a t ion . W h e n t r y i n g t o r e c a l l i n f o r m a t i o n

after P h o t o R e a d i n g , t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d m e r e l y s e a r c h e s r e c e n t

m e m o r y . F i n d i n g n o t h i n g , t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d t e n d s t o s h u t off

a c c e s s t o t h e v a s t n o n c o n s c i o u s d a t a b a s e o f t he b r a i n . M i n d

p r o b i n g h e l p s y o u s tay o p e n b y s t a y i n g c u r i o u s . I t i n i t i a t e s

c o m p r e h e n s i o n a s i t b u i l d s b r i d g e s t o t h e e x p a n s i v e d a t a b a s e o f

y o u r b r a i n w h e r e i n f o r m a t i o n r e s i d e s after P h o t o R e a d i n g .

A n o t h e r p o w e r f u l m i n d p r o b i n g t e c h n i q u e i s d i s c u s s i n g

w h a t y o u h a v e r e a d . O n c e y o u s ta r t s u m m a r i z i n g a b o o k o r

a r t i c l e , o t h e r p e o p l e m i g h t ge t c u r i o u s . T h e y w i l l o f ten a s k y o u

q u e s t i o n s a b o u t y o u r r e a d i n g — q u e s t i o n s t h a t e n c o u r a g e y o u t o

a r t i c u l a t e t he c o r e c o n c e p t s .

W h e n y o u p o s e q u e s t i o n s , m a k e l i s t s , o r e n t e r d i s c u s s i o n s

r e g a r d i n g w h a t y o u h a v e r e a d , y o u b e c o m e a c t i v e . T h i s i s t h e

s tar t o f w h a t a c t i v a t i o n i s al l a b o u t — a c t i v e l y p u t t i n g y o u r b r a i n

t o w o r k w i t h t h e i n f o r m a t i o n . S u c h a c t i v i t i e s i n i t i a t e a s e a r c h

t h r o u g h t h e v a s t d a t a b a s e t h a t l i e s j u s t b e l o w y o u r e v e r y d a y

a w a r e n e s s . W h e n y o u f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s , b e su re t o h e i g h t e n

t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e a n s w e r s . T h e m o r e y o u d e s i r e a r e s p o n s e t o

y o u r q u e s t i o n s , t h e b e t t e r .

A s k y o u r s e l f q u e s t i o n s i n a s ta te o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s . B e

g e n u i n e l y c u r i o u s a n d c o n f i d e n t t h a t a n s w e r s c a n c o m e . T h e

r e su l t s m a y p l e a s a n t l y s u r p r i s e y o u . T h e b r i d g e b e t w e e n y o u r

c o n s c i o u s a n d p r e c o n s c i o u s d a t a b a s e b e c o m e s s t u r d i e r w h e n

y o u c o n s i s t e n t l y p r o b e y o u r m i n d i n t h i s w a y .


After p r o b i n g y o u r m i n d , y o u g o t o t he w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s

and ac t ive ly m o v e t h r o u g h the t ex t t o r e t r i e v e t he a n s w e r s y o u

s e e k . W h a t d o y o u w a n t t o k n o w from the t ex t y o u are e x p l o r i n g ?

W h e r e i n the tex t c a n y o u g o t o find i t? W h e n supe r r e a d i n g , t he

n e x t s t ep o f ac t i va t i on , y o u q u i c k l y l ook t h r o u g h l a r g e b l o c k s o f

i n f o r m a t i o n and l o c a t e t he p l a c e w h e r e y o u r a n s w e r s r e s i d e .

F i r s t , y o u wi l l t u rn t o s e c t i o n s o f t he t ex t w h i c h a t t rac t y o u

i n s o m e w a y , b a s e d o n y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g . " V i s u a l c u e s "

o r c l u e s in y o u r m a t e r i a l s g ive y o u a s e n s e tha t c e r t a i n s e c t i o n s are

m o r e i m p o r t a n t t o y o u t h a n o t h e r s e c t i o n s . T h e s e c l u e s m a y b e

c h a p t e r t i t les o r s u b h e a d i n g s in t he tex t t ha t ca r ry r e l e v a n t

i n f o r m a t i o n .

T h e n s u p e r r e a d b y r a p i d l y m o v i n g y o u r e y e s d o w n the

c e n t e r o f e a c h p a g e i n t h e s e c t i o n y o u h a v e c h o s e n . N o t i c e tha t

p a r t s o f t he tex t a t t rac t y o u a s b e i n g m o r e i m p o r t a n t . A t t h o s e

s e n t e n c e s o r p a r a g r a p h s , y o u w i l l " d i p " i n to t he tex t , r e a d i n g a

s e n t e n c e o r t w o un t i l y o u s e n s e tha t y o u h a v e r e c e i v e d w h a t y o u

w a n t f rom the p a s s a g e . T h e n r e s u m e s u p e r r e a d i n g .

I n t he P h o t o R e a d i n g c o u r s e , w e

of ten e x p l a i n s u p e r r e a d i n g w i t h a

v i s u a l i z a t i o n tha t i s s t ra igh t f rom t h o s e

sac red b a s t i o n s o f A m e r i c a n l i t e r a tu re—

c o m i c b o o k s . I m a g i n e t h a t y o u a re

S u p e r m a n c o m i n g t o E a r t h for t he first

t i m e .

F r o m a n aer ia l d i s t a n c e o f o n e

h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d m i l e s , y o u see E a r t h

as a s w i r l i n g b l u e b a l l . Y o u set a f l ight p a t h s t r a igh t t o w a r d the

p l a n e t . F r o m t en t h o u s a n d m i l e s a w a y , y o u can start t o m a k e ou t

t he o u t l i n e s o f c o n t i n e n t s . Y o u a l so n o t i c e h o w m u c h o f t he p l a n e t

i s c o v e r e d b y wa te r . Z o o m i n g i n c lose r , y o u n o t i c e t he v a r i e g a t e d

l and s u r f a c e s : de se r t s , r a in fores t s , p r a i r i e s , a n d m o u n t a i n s .

S u d d e n l y , y o u are a t t r ac t ed to a lush , g r e e n i s l a n d w i t h a

s a n d y b e a c h a n d a m a g n i f i c e n t o c e a n v i e w . Y o u t o u c h d o w n ,

s p e n d a shor t t i m e e x p l o r i n g t h e t e r r a in , and t a k e a q u i c k d ip in

t he w a t e r . Sat is f ied , y o u t a k e t o t h e sk ies aga in , s e a r c h i n g for

a n o t h e r p l a c e t o l a n d .

Super read and dip

Activate 59

T h i s i s a p e r f e c t m e t a p h o r for s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g .

S u p e r r e a d i n g a l l o w s y o u t o soar o v e r t he w h o l e p r i n t e d l a n d s c a p e .

D i p p i n g a l l o w s y o u t o t o u c h d o w n o n t h e p a r t s o f t e x t t h a t

d i r e c t l y s e r v e y o u r p u r p o s e .

T o s u p e r r e a d , y o u r g a z e m u s t r e m a i n o p e n , n o t t r y i n g h a r d

t o f ind spec i f ic i n f o r m a t i o n . W i t h a soft, o p e n g a z e , y o u r e y e s c a n

m o v e m o r e s m o o t h l y d o w n the t ex t . A t first, y o u r v i s u a l f ie ld

m a y b e r a t h e r n a r r o w . A s y o u c o n t i n u e e x p e r i m e n t i n g w i t h

n o t i c i n g m o r e , y o u r v i s u a l f ield o p e n s u p .

T r y t h i s : a s y o u r e a d t h e s e w o r d s , n o t i c e w h a t e v e r y o u r

p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n p i c k s u p a t t he s i d e s o f y o u . Y o u m i g h t l o se t h e

f low o f t h e t e x t t e m p o r a r i l y , b u t d o n o t let t h a t d i s t r a c t y o u f r o m

t h e e x p e r i m e n t . T h e m o m e n t y o u o p e n y o u r v i s u a l a w a r e n e s s ,

y o u r g a z e for t h e t e x t i n f ront o f y o u b e c o m e s softer, l e s s h a r d -

f o c u s e d . T h i s p e r m i t s y o u t o r e l a x a n d n o t i c e w h a t e v e r c a t c h e s

y o u r a t t e n t i o n — t h a t i s w h e r e y o u d i p .

H o w d o y o u k n o w w h e r e t o d i p ? J u s t fo l low y o u r h u n c h e s .

Y o u r b r a i n h a s b e e n e x p o s e d t o t h e e n t i r e t e x t b y P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

s o l e t y o u r i n t e r n a l s i g n a l s a t t h e p e r i p h e r y o f y o u r a w a r e n e s s b e

y o u r g u i d e . D o n o t w o r r y a b o u t j u s t i f y i n g y o u r d e c i s i o n e v e r y

t i m e y o u d e c i d e t o t o u c h d o w n for d i p p i n g ; t h o s e s i g n a l s a r e

p r e l o g i c a l a n d p r e - v e r b a l . M o n i t o r e d a t t h e p e r i p h e r y o f y o u r

c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s , t he s i g n a l s c o m e f r o m c o n n e c t i o n s m a d e i n

t he n o n c o n s c i o u s d a t a b a s e o f y o u r b r a i n . N o t i c e a n d h e e d t h e m .

F o l l o w t h e s e h u n c h e s a n d d i s c o v e r w h e r e t h e y l e a d y o u .

Y o u c a n u s e t h e s a m e t e c h n i q u e w h e n l o c a t i n g a n y t h i n g , b y

t h e w a y — n o t j u s t p l a c e s t o d i p . Y o u c a n d r a w u p o n t h e v a s t

k n o w l e d g e w i t h i n y o u i n m a n y s i t u a t i o n s .

M y wi f e L i b b y w e n t t o a n e s t a t e s a l e i n w h i c h a r o o m f u l o f

o ld b o o k s w e r e b e i n g so ld . A s she w a l k e d in, s u r r o u n d e d b y f loor

t o c e i l i n g s h e l v e s full o f b o o k s , s h e e n t e r e d P h o t o F o c u s . S h e

a s k e d h e r s e l f " Is t h e r e a n o l d o r r a r e b o o k i n h e r e t h a t P a u l w o u l d

w a n t ? " H e r e y e s i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y f l a s h e d o v e r t o o n e b o o k w h i c h

she w a l k e d a c r o s s t he r o o m t o p i c k u p . I t w a s t h e p e r f e c t b o o k for

m e . A l t h o u g h h e r m i n d t o l d h e r t h e r e w e r e n o o t h e r s , she s p e n t

t h e n e x t t w e n t y m i n u t e s l o o k i n g a t e v e r y t i t l e , o n l y t o d i s c o v e r

h e r m i n d w a s r i g h t — t h e r e w e r e n o o t h e r s .

W h e n s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g , f o l l ow y o u r i n t u i t i v e

s i g n a l s a b o u t w h e r e t o l o o k . S o m e t i m e s i t i s a s s i m p l e a s n o t i c i n g


w h e r e y o u r e y e s a r e p o i n t i n g a n d c h o o s i n g t h a t d i r e c t i o n .

S o m e t i m e s y o u w i l l f ind y o u r h a n d j u s t o p e n s t h e b o o k t o t h e

e x a c t p a g e . P a y a t t e n t i o n . N o t i c e w h a t e v e r s i g n a l s y o u r

m i n d offers.

S u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g , l i ke al l s t eps i n t he w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m , a re s t r a t e g i e s t h a t k e e p y o u a c t i v e , q u e s t i o n i n g , a n d a l i v e

t o y o u r p u r p o s e . Y o u e n d u p w i t h e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n t o m a k e

c r u c i a l d e c i s i o n s : w h e r e i s t h e s e n t e n c e o r p a r a g r a p h t h a t s u m s

u p the e s s e n t i a l p o i n t o f t h i s d o c u m e n t ? H o w m u c h o f t h i s t e x t i s

r e l e v a n t t o y o u r p u r p o s e ? D o y o u w a n t t o c o n t i n u e r e a d i n g th i s

o r g o t o a n o t h e r s o u r c e ?

W h i l e d i p p i n g , y o u m i g h t e x p e r i e n c e a c o m m o n p r o b l e m .

Y o u r t e n d e n c y , b e c a u s e o f y e a r s o f s c h o o l i n g , i s t o t h i n k y o u

s h o u l d d i p i n to e v e r y t h i n g . I f t h i s h a p p e n s , y o u a re r e a d i n g

u n n e c e s s a r y d e t a i l s t h a t d o n o t s e r v e y o u r p u r p o s e . F o r e x a m p l e ,

y o u d i p t o r e a d a n i l l u s t r a t i o n t h e a u t h o r i s m a k i n g a b o u t a n

i m p o r t a n t p o i n t . T h a t w o r k s . T h e n e x t s e v e r a l p a r a g r a p h s g i v e

a d d i t i o n a l , b u t r e d u n d a n t , i l l u s t r a t i o n s . I f y o u d i p i n to t h o s e , y o u

m a y j u s t b e w a s t i n g y o u r t i m e . I f y o u w a s t e t o o m u c h t i m e , y o u

b o g d o w n i n d e t a i l s a n d p o s s i b l y v e e r off c o u r s e i n t o m o r e

i r r e l e v a n t m a t e r i a l .

T h a t i s w h e n t h e o l d r e a d i n g p a r a d i g m i s o f ten r e a r i n g its

h e a d . Y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d m a y b e o n a gu i l t t r i p . F o r s o m e o f u s

i t i s a s i f o u r s e c o n d o r t h i r d g r a d e t e a c h e r i s r e p r i m a n d i n g u s b y

s a y i n g " S t o p ! Y o u m i s s e d a w o r d . G o b a c k o v e r t h a t m o r e

care fu l ly . Y o u a r e n o t r ea l ly r e a d i n g tha t . N o w d o i t r igh t ! "

W h e n y o u ge t t h e s e k i n d o f s i g n a l s , t h a n k t h a t p a r t o f y o u

for i ts c o n c e r n . L e t g o o f t h e w o r r y t h a t y o u a r e m i s s i n g t h i n g s a s

y o u s u p e r r e a d . Y o u r g r a d e s c h o o l t r a i n e d c o n s c i o u s m i n d w a n t s

y o u t o r e ad , c o m p r e h e n d , r e m e m b e r , a n d c r i t i q u e e v e r y t h i n g a s

y o u g o . B u t r e a d i n g e x p e r t s for o v e r fifty y e a r s h a v e sa id t h a t i s

t he w o r s t w a y t o r e a d . K e e p i n m i n d t h a t c o m p r e h e n s i o n c o m e s

i n l a y e r s . E a c h t i m e y o u s u p e r r e a d a n d d ip , y o u p e e l b a c k

a n o t h e r l a y e r o f " n o t - k n o w i n g " t o r e v e a l w h a t y o u n e e d a t t h e

c o r e o f y o u r tex t .

T r u s t y o u r i n t u i t i o n a n d d i p w h e n y o u feel s t r o n g l y m o v e d

t o d o so . I f y o u d i p in to i n f o r m a t i o n y o u d o n o t n e e d , r e m e m b e r

t h e p u r p o s e for y o u r r e a d i n g . T e l l y o u r s e l f t o l o o k for t h e s p o t

w h e r e t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n i s c o n t a i n e d a n d d i p t h e r e . W i t h a f i rm

Activate 61

The best way to dip

H e r e i s a g u i d e l i n e for s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g . W h e n

y o u s t op to d ip , l i m i t y o u r d i p p i n g to a p a r a g r a p h o r t w o a t a t i m e

for a r t i c l e s a n d a p a g e o r t w o for b o o k s . G o i n g b a c k t o o u r c o m i c

b o o k a n a l o g y , a s S u p e r m a n y o u c a n s a v o r t he s c e n e r y a n d

m i n g l e w i t h t he l o c a l s la ter . R i g h t n o w y o u r o v e r r i d i n g p u r p o s e

i s t o k e e p e x p l o r i n g t h e p l a n e t , n o t t o se t t le o n t h e i s l a n d a n d l ive

ou t t he res t o f y o u r d a y s .

D i p p i n g c l o s e l y r e s e m b l e s r e g u l a r r e a d i n g , w i t h a few

i m p o r t a n t d i s t i n c t i o n s . T h i n k o f i t a s r e a d i n g w i t h a l igh t , e a s y ,

a n d f luid m o v e m e n t . D r . J . M i c h a e l B e n n e t t , P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s

f rom t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a ca l l s i t " r h y t h m i c p e r u s a l . " I n

his Pour Powers for Greatness Personal Learning Course, published

b y L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n , h e d e s c r i b e s t h e p r o c e s s a s

f o l l o w s .

• L o c k in to y o u r m i n d y o u r p u r p o s e a n d the t i t le o r sub t i t l e

o f t he m a t e r i a l s y o u a r e r e a d i n g

• R e l a x y o u r face a n d e y e s a n d l i gh t ly focus in a w a y t h a t

a l l o w s y o u t o m o v e y o u r g a z e a c r o s s t h e u p p e r h a l f o f e a c h

s e n t e n c e

• T r a v e r s e e a c h l i ne in a s i ng l e , s m o o t h m o v e m e n t

• L o o k for m e a n i n g u n i t s s u c h a s p h r a s e s

p u r p o s e , y o u r b r a i n i s free t o u s e its n a t u r a l ab i l i ty t o b r i n g y o u

t o t he i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d .

As F r a n k S m i t h p o i n t s o u t in Reading Without Nonsense,

m a k i n g the effort t o m e m o r i z e t he c o n t e n t a s w e r e a d a c t u a l l y

in t e r f e re s w i t h c o m p r e h e n s i o n . A s w e w o r r y a b o u t f o r g e t t i n g

de t a i l s , w e c r e a t e a n x i e t y w h i c h b l o c k s c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

W h e n i n d o u b t , r e m e m b e r t he v i t a l s ta t i s t ic g i v e n b y R u s s e l l

Stauffer in his book Teaching Reading as a Thinking Process. He

c l a i m s t h a t o n l y 4 - 1 1 p e r c e n t o f t h e t ex t c a r r i e s t h e e s s e n t i a l

m e a n i n g . In fact, a c o m m o n w a y to t e s t t he r e a d a b i l i t y of a t e x t

for a p a r t i c u l a r a u d i e n c e i s to c r o s s o u t fou r o u t of e v e r y f ive

w o r d s . T h e n a s k m e m b e r s o f t he i n t e n d e d a u d i e n c e t o see i f t h e y

c a n sti l l s u m up i n a g e n e r a l w a y w h a t t he p a s s a g e i s a b o u t . I f t h e

t e x t i s w r i t t e n a t a n a p p r o p r i a t e r e a d i n g l eve l , m o s t a u d i e n c e

m e m b e r s w i l l b e a b l e t o d o t h i s .


• R e a d for t h o u g h t s , f e e l i ngs , a n d i d e a s — n o t w o r d s

I n t he s c h e m e o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m ,

e a c h t i m e y o u s u p e r r e a d a n d d ip , y o u i n c r e a s e y o u r f ami l i a r i t y

w i t h t h e tex t . Y o u e n t e r a n i n t e n s i v e c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e

a u t h o r ; p o s i n g q u e s t i o n s , a n d d i s c o v e r i n g t h e a n s w e r s a s y o u

s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p . T h i s i s o n e o f t h e m o s t p l ay fu l s t eps i n t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g s y s t e m .

As a P h o t o R e a d e r , y o u a re on a c r u s a d e for i d e a s t h a t c a n

h e l p s o l v e p r o b l e m s a n d r a i s e t h e q u a l i t y o f y o u r l ife. T h i s i s a

d r a m a t i c q u e s t w o r t h y o f any s u p e r h e r o .

A s y o u m a k e s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g p a r t o f y o u r l ife,

y o u m a y f ind w a y s t o a p p l y i t b e y o n d t h e w r i t t e n p a g e . A j e w e l e r

w h o a t t e n d s t r a d e s h o w s a n n u a l l y t o p u r c h a s e i n v e n t o r y d e c i d e d

t o u s e t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t o a c c o m p l i s h h i s

g o a l a t t he t r a d e s h o w .

He s t o o d a t o n e e n d o f t he a u d i t o r i u m to ge t a p a n o r a m i c

v i e w o f t h e e x h i b i t s . H e " P h o t o R e a d " t h e e n t i r e p l a c e b y w a l k i n g

q u i c k l y d o w n e a c h a i s le i n a P h o t o F o c u s s t a t e . H e c a l l e d t o m i n d

t h e k i n d o f s t o n e s h e w a s l o o k i n g for t o fill h i s s t o r e ' s i n v e n t o r y

a n d b e g a n " s u p e r r e a d i n g " a s h e w a l k e d d o w n o n e a i s l e a t a t i m e .

W h e n e v e r he g o t a c l e a r i n t u i t i v e s i g n a l to go to a c e r t a i n b o o t h ,

h e o b e y e d i t a n d " d i p p e d " i n t h e r e .

F o l l o w i n g th i s m e t h o d , h e m a n a g e d t o f ind al l h e n e e d e d i n

t w o h o u r s . I n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , h i s o ld m e t h o d o f m e t h o d i c a l l y

s e a r c h i n g a i s l e s u s u a l l y t o o k f ive d a y s t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e s a m e

e n d resu l t .

A s y o u i n t e g r a t e t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m in to

y o u r l i fe , y o u w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y d o a s t h e j e w e l e r d id . I n th i s w a y ,

P h o t o R e a d i n g b e c o m e s a n a l l - p u r p o s e t o o l . I t i s m o r e t h a n a

t e c h n i q u e for g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m b o o k s .

Search for the train of thought

W h e n y o u s u p e r r e a d a n d d ip , g o in to t h e p l a c e s w h e r e t h e

v a l u e i s g r e a t e s t . Y o u r b r a i n i s w e l l t r a i n e d b y t h e t i m e y o u a r e i n

n i n t h g r a d e to k n o w w h e r e to go in a t ex t . I t i s sk i l l ed a t s e a r c h i n g

for c u e s t h a t l e a d t o m e a n i n g .

F o r e x a m p l e , y o u r b r a i n k n o w s t h a t m o r e v i s u a l c u e s o c c u r

Activate 63

i n t he u p p e r h a l f o f o u r a l p h a b e t t h a n i n t h e l o w e r half. T a k e a

l o o k a t t h e f o l l o w i n g s e n t e n c e s :

V _ C U L V Li Q C C V V 1 L LI L L1 i LL_ LI 1 I Q L / U U L V 13 LI LI 1

S e e ? I t i s e a s i e r t o m a k e s e n s e o f t h e w o r d s w h e n y o u see t h e

u p p e r half. S i m i l a r l y , m o r e c u e s for m e a n i n g s h o w u p i n t h e t o p i c

s e n t e n c e o f a p a r a g r a p h , t h a n i n t h e r e s t o f t h e p a r a g r a p h . A n d ,

i n a five p a r a g r a p h t h e m e , m o r e c u e s a p p e a r i n t h e first a n d

las t p a r a g r a p h s .

W h e n a c t i v a t i n g a n a r t i c l e o r b o o k , l o o k for t h e c u e s t h a t

w i l l g i v e y o u t h e m o s t m e a n i n g . L o o k a t t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e

w r i t t e n p i e c e a n d d e t e r m i n e t h e a u t h o r ' s s c h e m e for w r i t i n g .

T h e n s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o f o l l o w t h e a u t h o r ' s s c h e m e .

H e r e i s w h a t I m e a n . P e r h a p s y o u k n o w t h a t t h e a u t h o r first

d e s c r i b e s a p r o b l e m , t h e n l a t e r i n t h e t e x t e x p l a i n s h o w t o s o l v e

t he p r o b l e m . L e t u s say y o u w a n t t h e a u t h o r ' s s t e p s for s o l v i n g

the p r o b l e m . B e c a u s e

y o u u n d e r s t a n d t h e

a u t h o r ' s s c h e m e for

w r i t i n g , y o u c a n

b y p a s s w h a t y o u d o

n o t n e e d a n d m o v e

q u i c k l y t o t h e p l a c e

f o r d i p p i n g a n d

a c h i e v i n g y o u r g o a l .

W e c a l l t h i s

" f o l l o w i n g the a u t h o r ' s t r a i n

o f t h o u g h t . " I n t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r

I u s e an i l l u s t r a t i o n to r e p r e s e n t t h i s :

• T h e p r o b l e m s t h e a u t h o r g r a p p l e s w i t h

d r i v e t h e t r a in .

• T h e m a i n a r g u m e n t o r a r g u m e n t s a b o u t w h e r e

t h e p r o b l e m s c o m e f r o m i s t h e m a i n " c a r g o " i n t h e f low o f

i n f o r m a t i o n . T h i s c a r g o i s b u i l t u p o n c e r t a i n p r o p o s i t i o n s t h e

a u t h o r i s t r y i n g to sel l y o u a n d i s composed of key terms.

• T h e s o l u t i o n s e m e r g e to s u g g e s t a r e m e d y for t h e

p r o b l e m s .

T h e t r a i n o f t h o u g h t i s o n e s c h e m e u s e d b y a u t h o r s t o

p r e s e n t i n f o r m a t i o n . D i s c o v e r o t h e r s t r u c t u r e s w i t h i n a r t i c l e s o r

C . ? S


b o o k s . T h e s e s t r u c t u r e s for p r e s e n t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n s h o w y o u

w h e r e t o s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o q u i c k l y ge t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n

y o u n e e d .

O n e m o r e p o i n t a b o u t s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g : t h o u g h

t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s m a y s o u n d l ike c o n v e n t i o n a l s p e e d r e a d i n g , t h e y

a r e n o t . S u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g t a k e p l a c e a f te r y o u

P h o t o R e a d — a f t e r e x p o s i n g t h e e n t i r e t e x t t o y o u r b r a i n a n d

d o w n l o a d i n g i t i n to y o u r n o n c o n s c i o u s m e m o r y s t o r a g e s y s t e m .

S o s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g h e l p y o u c o n s c i o u s l y c o n n e c t t o

t h e v a s t d a t a b a s e a l r e a d y w i t h i n a n d r e c o g n i z e w h a t y o u k n o w

t o b e i m p o r t a n t .

I n a d d i t i o n , t he g o a l i s n o t t o m e m o r i z e t h e m a t e r i a l o r m a k e

i t al l a v a i l a b l e t o t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d . I n s t e a d , s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d

d i p p i n g h e l p y o u s e n s e s t r u c t u r e , r e t r i e v e e s s e n t i a l i n f o r m a t i o n ,

c a t e g o r i z e t he m a t e r i a l i n a m e a n i n g f u l w a y , a n d b u i l d a m e n t a l

s u m m a r y . A s a r e su l t , y o u r c o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d l o n g - t e r m

r e t e n t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l i n c r e a s e s .

Skittering your way to success with text

P h o t o R e a d e r s w h o h a v e s t r o n g p r e f e r e n c e for a n a l y t i c a l

t h i n k i n g f ind t h a t a n a l t e r n a t i v e t o s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g

w o r k s w e l l . " S k i t t e r i n g , " a t e c h n i q u e d e v e l o p e d b y D r . J . M i c h a e l

B e n n e t t , g i v e s a n a l y t i c a l m i n d s a f ee l i ng o f g r e a t e r s e c u r i t y w h i l e

sti l l a l l o w i n g for r a p i d m o v e m e n t t h r o u g h t ex t . B e n n e t t p r e s e n t s

skittering in the Four Powers for Greatness Personal Learning Course

a s a t e c h n i q u e t h a t e x c e e d s t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f s p e e d r e a d i n g

t e c h n i q u e s . W h e n u s e d a s a n a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e , s k i t t e r i n g

offers a v a l u a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e to s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g .

S k i t t e r i n g a c h i e v e s v e r y fas t a n d s u r p r i s i n g l y a c c u r a t e

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f l e n g t h y m a t e r i a l t h a t i s i n f o r m a t i v e o r

i n s t r u c t i o n a l i n n a t u r e . T h e s t e p s i n t h e s k i t t e r i n g p r o c e s s a r e

u s e d t o c o v e r a n e n t i r e t e x t o r s e c t i o n o f a b o o k , a n d i t w o r k s

e q u a l l y w e l l for j o u r n a l s , r e p o r t s , a n d l e n g t h y w e b - b a s e d r e a d i n g .

O n e o f t h e s t e p s o f t h e p r o c e s s i n v o l v e s t h e r a p i d , e r r a t i c e y e

m o v e m e n t s r e f e r r ed t o a s s k i t t e r i n g , p e r se , a n d m a k e s a h u g e

d i f f e r ence .

T h e t e r m s k i t t e r i n g d e s c r i b e s a w i l d , d a n c i n g - a b o u t

m o v e m e n t l i ke t h a t o f a w a t e r b u g on t h e su r face o f a p o n d . T h i s

Activate 65

m o v e m e n t o f t h e e y e s g i v e s t h e b r a i n a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o l o o k a t al l

o f t he w o r d s i n a p a r a g r a p h t h a t s u p p o r t i ts m a i n p r e m i s e .

C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t o n l y 4 to 11 p e r c e n t o f a t e x t c a r r i e s

m e a n i n g , s k i t t e r i n g o v e r al l t he w o r d s le t s y o u r b r a i n c a p t u r e t h e

i m p o r t a n t o n e s a n d feel s e c u r e i n p a s s i n g o v e r t h e r e s t o f t h e m .

I n t h e s t eps o f s k i t t e r i n g t h a t fo l l ow, " r e a d " m e a n s r h y t h m i c

p e r u s a l — t h e s ty l e o f r e a d i n g u s e d e a r l i e r t o d e s c r i b e d i p p i n g .

• E n t e r y o u r i d e a l s ta te for r e a d i n g ; r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s

• R e v i e w y o u r p u r p o s e

• R e a d t h e t i t l e , s u b t i t l e a n d p r e f a c e (if t h e r e i s o n e )

• R e a d t h e first few p a r a g r a p h s o f t h e w r i t t e n p i e c e

• R e a d t h e first s e n t e n c e (a l so k n o w n a s t he t o p i c s e n t e n c e )

o f t h e p a r a g r a p h y o u a re g o i n g t o b e g i n s k i t t e r i n g o n

• M o v e y o u r e y e s i n a r a p i d p a t t e r n o v e r al l t h e w o r d s i n t h e

p a r a g r a p h , e x c e p t t h o s e i n t h e first a n d l a s t s e n t e n c e , n o t i c i n g

t h o s e w o r d s t h a t s e e m t o c a r r y m e a n i n g f u l s u p p o r t t o t h e p r e m i s e

i n t h e first s e n t e n c e . D r . B e n n e t t u s e s t he p h r a s e " s k i t t e r t h e

a u g m e n t a t i o n . " T h e m o v e m e n t o f y o u r e y e s c a n f o l l o w a z i g z a g

f rom t o p t o b o t t o m o r b o t t o m t o t o p . I t c a n f o l l ow c i r c u l a r p a t t e r n

c l o c k w i s e o r c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e a n d m o v e f r o m t h e c e n t e r ou t o r

f rom t h e e d g e s i n to t h e c e n t e r . T h e r e i s n o set p a t t e r n , b u t y o u w i l l

d i s c o v e r a p r e f e r e n c e for o n e o f t h e m . P l a y w i t h t h e m al l t o f ind

w h a t w o r k s b e s t for y o u . T h i s m o v e m e n t g i v e s y o u r b r a i n a

c h a n c e t o s p o t i d e a s t h a t a u g m e n t o r a d d t o t he m a i n c o n c e p t i n

a p a r a g r a p h .

• I f t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e p a r a g r a p h r e m a i n s u n c l e a r , r e a d t h e

l a s t s e n t e n c e . C o n t i n u e th i s p r o c e s s t h r o u g h e a c h s u c c e e d i n g

p a r a g r a p h u n t i l y o u n e a r t h e e n d o f t h e r e a d i n g s e l e c t i o n .

• R e a d t h e l a s t few p a r a g r a p h s c o m p l e t e l y .

• R e a d the s u m m a r y i f t h e r e i s o n e .

• R e v i e w a n d ref lect .

• C r e a t e a b r i e f m i n d m a p o f y o u r o w n w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e

t he p i e c e .

Create a mind map

W h i l e l o o k i n g t h r o u g h a b o x o f m y o l d g r a d u a t e s c h o o l

m a t e r i a l s , I d i s c o v e r e d a w o n d e r f u l c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n t w o t y p e s

o f c l a s s n o t e s . O n e t y p e o f n o t e s w a s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l l i n e a r o u t l i n e


After l o o k i n g a t t h i s m i n d m a p , y o u m i g h t d e d u c e t h e b a s i c

• g | 0 g u i d e l i n e s for t he t e c h n i q u e :

• P u t t he c o r e c o n c e p t i n t h e c e n t e r o f t he p a g e .

BuNets ^ W r i t e s u p p o r t i n g c o n c e p t s on c o n n e c t i n g l i n e s r a d i a t i n g

o f e v e r y t h i n g the p ro fe s so r s a i d — a n e n d l e s s ser ies o f u n i n t e l l i g i b l e

s c r a t c h i n g . I r e m e m b e r e d t r y i n g t o d e c i p h e r t h o s e n o t e s w h i l e

r e v i e w i n g for t e s t s ; w h a t a h o r r i d c h o r e .

T h e s e c o n d t y p e o f n o t e s w a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e , h i g h l y v i s u a l

set o f co lor fu l d i a g r a m s c a l l e d " m i n d m a p s . " T h e y r e m i n d e d m e

h o w fun i t w a s t o c r e a t e a n d r e v i e w c l a s s i n f o r m a t i o n . L o o k i n g

t h e m o v e r b r o u g h t b a c k a f lood o f v i v i d d e t a i l s . M i n d m a p p i n g ,

a s i t i s ca l l ed , h a d t r a n s f o r m e d m y c l a s s r o o m e x p e r i e n c e fo rever .

M i n d m a p p i n g i s fast a n d h i g h l y eff icient . I n a d d i t i o n , i t

p r o m o t e s l o n g - t e r m r e t e n t i o n . I t i s a n e x c e l l e n t w a y t o a c t i v a t e

a n d s y n t h e s i z e i n f o r m a t i o n after s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g .

F o l l o w i n g i s a m i n d m a p t h a t s u m s up the f ive s t eps o f t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

Activate 67

f rom the c e n t e r .

• U s e k e y t e r m s o n l y — o f t e n t h e y w i l l b e t r i g g e r w o r d s

i d e n t i f i e d i n y o u r p r e v i e w . E x p r e s s e a c h c o n c e p t i n t h r e e w o r d s

or less.

• I n c l u d e v i s u a l e l e m e n t s — c a r t o o n s , i m a g e s , s y m b o l s ,

i c o n s — w h e r e v e r t h e y s e e m a p p r o p r i a t e .

• A d d c o l o r . I n t h e a b o v e m i n d m a p , for e x a m p l e , a l l t h e

w o r d s p e r t a i n i n g t o S t e p 1 c o u l d b e w r i t t e n i n o n e co lo r , al l t h o s e

for S t e p 2 in a s e c o n d co lo r , a n d so on .

T w o o f t he b e s t b o o k s o n m i n d m a p p i n g e x p l a i n t h i s

t e c h n i q u e in m o r e de ta i l . T h e y a r e The Mind Map Book by T o n y

B u z a n and Mind Mapping by Joyce Wycoff.

W h e n m i n d m a p p i n g , y o u m a y a l s o f ind i t h e l p s t o u s e

s h e e t s o f p a p e r t h a t a re l a r g e r t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d 8 - 1 / 2 b y 1 1

i n c h e s . I f y o u d o s t i ck t o s t a n d a r d - s i z e d p a p e r , a t l e a s t t u r n t h e

p a p e r s i d e w a y s s o t h a t y o u a r e w r i t i n g o n a h o r i z o n t a l f r a m e .

M o s t p e o p l e f ind t h i s g i v e s t h e m m o r e r o o m t o r e c o r d i d e a s .

M i n d m a p s a r e h i g h l y i n d i v i d u a l . Y o u r m i n d m a p s w i l l

l o o k di f ferent f rom a n y o n e e l s e ' s , e v e n i f y o u a r e m a k i n g n o t e s o n

t h e s a m e m a t e r i a l . T h a t i s o k a y . I d e a l l y , y o u r m i n d m a p re f lec t s

y o u r e x p e r i e n c e . T h e i m a g e s a n d a s s o c i a t i o n s t h a t p r o m o t e y o u r

l o n g - t e r m m e m o r y a r e u n i q u e t o y o u .

E v e n i f i t feels a w k w a r d a t first, p l a y w i t h m i n d m a p p i n g a s

a n a c t i v a t i o n e x e r c i s e . B e c a u s e m i n d m a p p i n g u s e s v i s u a l m e m o r y

a n d s p a t i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e , i t a c c e s s e s t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l m e m o r y

c e n t e r s o f t he b r a i n . M o r e o v e r , m i n d m a p p i n g m i r r o r s t h e w a y

the m i n d w o r k s — l i n k i n g i d e a s t h r o u g h b r a n c h e s o f a s s o c i a t i o n

r a t h e r t h a n l i n e a r l o g i c . P e r h a p s t h a t i s w h y m i n d m a p s b e g i n t o

feel so n a t u r a l so s o o n .

O n t h e n e x t p a g e i s a n o t h e r m i n d m a p o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g s y s t e m , i l l u s t r a t i n g a d i f ferent f o r m a t :


Gain a new experience of memory

T h i s b o o k i s a b o u t sh i f t ing y o u r p a r a d i g m o f r e a d i n g a s a

w h o l e . T o a id t h a t p r o c e s s , w e n e e d t o r e c o n s i d e r t h e ro l e o f

m e m o r y .

I h a v e b e e n f a s c i n a t e d b y t h e w o r k o f G e r a l d E d e l m a n , M D ,

a N o b e l p r i z e w i n n i n g n e u r o l o g i s t a n d a u t h o r of The Remembered

Present and Bright Air, Brilliant Fire. E d e l m a n ' s ideas offer the

m o s t c o n v i n c i n g e x p l a n a t i o n I h a v e y e t f o u n d for w h a t m a y b e

h a p p e n i n g w h e n w e a c t i v a t e m a t e r i a l w e h a v e P h o t o R e a d .

E d e l m a n ' s t h e o r y c l a i m s t h a t m e m o r i e s a r e n o t s t o r e d i n a

l o c a l i z e d f a s h i o n i n t h e b r a i n b u t a r e r e i n v e n t e d e a c h t i m e w e

a c c e s s t h e m . W h a t h a p p e n s w h e n w e r e m e m b e r i s t h a t w e c r e a t e

a m e n t a l c o n t e x t for an idea , r e - e n t e r i m p o r t a n t c u e s o r b i t s o f

r e l a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d f o l l o w n e u r a l " t r a c k s " t h a t h a v e b e e n

Activate 69

l a id b y p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e . W h e n e n o u g h c u e s a re e n t e r e d a n d

t h e c o r r e c t n e u r a l p a t h w a y s a re s t i m u l a t e d , t he i d e a s a n d i m a g e s

w e w a n t t o " r e m e m b e r " a r e n o t r e c a l l e d f r o m s t o r a g e b u t a r e

r e c r e a t e d r i g h t o n t h e spot .

A p p l y i n g t h i s v i e w t o P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d a c t i v a t i n g , w e

b e g i n t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t m i g h t b e h a p p e n i n g t o p r o d u c e s u c h

r e m a r k a b l e r e s u l t s . W h e n w e P h o t o R e a d , t h e b r a i n p r o c e s s e s

w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s m o r e p h y s i o l o g i c a l l y t h a n c o g n i t i v e l y . T h a t

p h y s i c a l e x p o s u r e t o t h e b r a i n o p e n s n e u r a l n e t w o r k s i n s i d e t h e

b r a i n t h a t c a n l e a d t o l a t e r m e n t a l c o n n e c t i o n s .

T h e r e s u l t i s i n c r e a s e d s p e e d , f a m i l i a r i t y , a n d e a s e o f

c o m p r e h e n s i o n . Y o u w i l l h a v e t h e ab i l i t y t o c o n n e c t w i t h t h e

m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n a l m o s t i n s t a n t l y , r a t h e r t h a n t r y i n g

t o f igure i t o u t a s y o u r e a d . Y o u d o n o t h a v e t o w a s t e t i m e

i n v e s t i n g h o u r s i n a b o o k t o ge t t h e k n o w l e d g e y o u w a n t .

T h i s i s m u c h l i k e l a y i n g a set o f r a i l r o a d t r a c k s for a t r a i n to

t r a v e l o n la ter . P h o t o R e a d i n g l ays i n t h e t r a c k s . W h e n w e a c t i v a t e

t he m a t e r i a l , w e r e - e n t e r t h e o r i g i n a l i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h s u p e r

r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g , a n d t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d f o l l o w s t h e t r a c k s

t o t h e d e s t i n a t i o n o f full c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

I a d m i t I c a n n o t do j u s t i c e to E d e l m a n ' s t h e o r y o f m e m o r y

in a few sho r t p a r a g r a p h s . I t i s far m o r e i m p o r t a n t for y o u to

e x p e r i e n c e th i s p r o c e s s r a t h e r t h a n h a v e m e t ry t o e x p l a i n it. T h e

a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s o f m i n d p r o b i n g , s u p e r r e a d i n g , d i p p i n g ,

a n d m i n d m a p p i n g a re a l l g a t e w a y s t o t h a t e x p e r i e n c e .

I n r e v i e w o f t h e i d e a s o f t h i s c h a p t e r , y o u l e a r n e d :

• T h e r e a r e t w o t y p e s o f a c t i v a t i o n : s p o n t a n e o u s a n d

m a n u a l . T h i s b o o k i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h m a n u a l a c t i v a t i o n .

• C l e a r p u r p o s e i s e s s e n t i a l for a c t i v a t i o n .

• M i n d p r o b i n g , t he first s t ep i n a c t i v a t i o n , m e a n s a s k i n g

q u e s t i o n s t h a t y o u w a n t t o a n s w e r . T a k e f ive t o t e n m i n u t e s

i m m e d i a t e l y after P h o t o R e a d i n g t o e x p l o r e t he t ex t a n d f o r m u l a t e

q u e s t i o n s y o u w a n t t o a n s w e r .

• I t i s b e s t to w a i t after P h o t o R e a d i n g b e f o r e a c t i v a t i n g —

a t l eas t t w e n t y m i n u t e s , b u t i d e a l l y 2 4 h o u r s .

• S u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g i n v o l v e m o v i n g q u i c k l y o v e r

s e c t i o n s o f t e x t t h a t a t t r a c t y o u , t h e n r e a d i n g s e l e c t e d p a s s a g e s

t h a t a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n s .


A thirteen year old boy attended the first PhotoReading course in Mexico.

Al though he has been sighted in only one eye since birth, he applied the skills

of PhotoReading eagerly. A month after the course, one of his teachers asked,

"Does PhotoReading really work for you?" His response was to hand her his

dictionary, which he had PhotoRead several times. He told her, "Give me any

word , and I will tell you where the word is positioned on the page." He correctly

identified the position of nine out of ten words, to which the teacher

responded, " H m m m , maybe it does w o r k ! "

An electrical engineer at a large power generating utility found himself

contributing in a meeting—actually leading the group—on a topic for which he

had almost no experience. He was baffled by his obvious expertise. When back

in his office, he wondered where his sudden influx of knowledge came f rom.

Then he noticed a stack of trade journals on his shelf that he had recently

PhotoRead. Sure enough, the most recent journal contained an in-depth

analysis of the meeting's topic.

A postal employee entered zip codes into a computer while in the accelerative

learning state. He became more relaxed and made fewer mistakes

than before.

A home-brewer PhotoRead a new book on beer-making. That night he

dreamed of a new recipe which he later tr ied. It was his best batch to date.

• A n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t he a u t h o r ' s s c h e m e o r s t r u c t u r e

w i l l h e l p g u i d e y o u r s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g .

f » M i n d m a p p i n g i s a h i g h l y v i s u a l a n d spa t i a l w a y to t a k e

n o t e s . I t h e l p s a c t i v a t e m a t e r i a l s b e c a u s e i t u s e s t h e w h o l e m i n d .

• A c t i v a t i o n s t i m u l a t e s t h e b r a i n g i v i n g c u e s t o t h e

R e a c j a s s o c i a t i o n s y o u r b r a i n h a s c o n s t r u c t e d . A s a r e s u l t , y o u

Bullets c o n s c i o u s l y c o n n e c t , m e e t y o u r n e e d s , a n d satisfy y o u r p u r p o s e

for r e a d i n g .

T h e f inal s t e p o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i s t o

r a p i d r e a d w h i c h i s p r e s e n t e d i n C h a p t e r 7 .

7

Step 5: Rapid Read

D u r i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r , I a s k p a r t i c i p a n t s a

q u e s t i o n after w e h a v e p r e p a r e d , p r e v i e w e d , P h o t o R e a d , s u p e r

r e ad , a n d d i p p e d i n a b o o k : " H o w m a n y o f y o u w o u l d st i l l l ike t o

g e t m o r e o u t o f t h i s b o o k ? " U s u a l l y , 4 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e m w i l l r a i s e

t h e i r h a n d s . T h e n I a sk , " W h a t spec i f i ca l l y w o u l d y o u l ike t o g e t

out of the b o o k ? "

T o t h i s q u e s t i o n , s e v e r a l r e p l y p r e c i s e l y . T h e y k n o w e x a c t l y

w h i c h p a r t s o f t h e b o o k t h e y m a y w a n t t o s t u d y i n m o r e de t a i l .

F o r t h e m , t h e n e x t s t ep i s a d d i t i o n a l s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g

t o c o m p l e t e t h e i r g o a l .

O t h e r s s h r u g t h e i r s h o u l d e r s a n d say , " I d o n ' t k n o w ; I j u s t

w a n t m o r e . " T h i s u n s p e c i f i e d " m o r e " i s a s i g n a l for t h e f inal s t ep

o f t h e s y s t e m , r a p i d r e a d i n g . T h e c h o i c e t o r a p i d r e a d i s m a d e

w h e n y o u k n o w y o u w a n t m o r e f rom t h e t ex t , a n d t h e l a s e r - l i k e

p r e c i s i o n o f s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g w i l l n o t b r i n g y o u t h e r e .


I t a l so s e r v e s y o u b e s t for p l e a s u r e o r l e i s u r e r e a d i n g w h e n y o u

d e s i r e t o i m m e r s e y o u r s e l f i n t h e f e e l i n g s a n a u t h o r e v o k e s

i n y o u .

R a p i d r e a d i n g i s s i m i l a r t o a c c e l e r a t e d c o n v e n t i o n a l r e a d i n g

w i t h t w o s ign i f i can t d i f f e rences . F i r s t , r a p i d r e a d i n g c o m e s after

a l l t h e o t h e r s t eps o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

S e c o n d , t he s p e e d o f r a p i d r e a d i n g i s h i g h l y f l ex ib l e .

T o r a p i d r ead , m o v e swif t ly t h r o u g h the tex t , t a k i n g a s

m u c h t i m e a s y o u n e e d . G o f rom s ta r t t o f in i sh w i t h o u t s t o p p i n g .

D e p e n d i n g o n the c o m p l e x i t y a n d i m p o r t a n c e o f a p a r t i c u l a r

p a s s a g e , v a r y y o u r s p e e d .

Y o u w i l l r e a d fas te r w h e n :

• Y o u h a v e a l r e a d y r e a d t h a t p a r a g r a p h o r p a g e d u r i n g

o n e o f t h e o t h e r s t e p s . Y o u z i p p a s t it.

• Y o u r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i s s i m p l i s t i c o r

r e d u n d a n t . S i n c e y o u a l r e a d y u n d e r s t a n d it, y o u z o o m p a s t i t a t

s u p e r r e a d i n g s p e e d s .

• Y o u q u i c k l y see t h a t t h e s e c t i o n y o u a r e r e a d i n g i s

u n i m p o r t a n t t o y o u r p u r p o s e s o y o u c a n f l a s h p a s t a t

P h o t o R e a d i n g s p e e d s k e e p i n g y o u r i n t u i t i o n o p e n t o s t op y o u i f

i t t e l l s y o u t o c h e c k s o m e t h i n g ou t .

Y o u w i l l r e a d s l o w e r w h e n :

• T h e t e x t c o n t a i n s n e w i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h w h i c h y o u a r e

u n f a m i l i a r .

• Y o u s e n s e c o m p l e x i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t n e e d s m o r e careful

c o n s i d e r a t i o n .

• Y o u r e c o g n i z e a n e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t p a s s a g e y o u w a n t

t o e x p l o r e i n m o r e de t a i l .

T h e e n d r e s u l t i s t h a t y o u m o v e a t v a r y i n g s p e e d s t h r o u g h

the t ex t : s o m e t i m e s fas ter , s o m e t i m e s s l o w e r d e p e n d i n g u p o n

i m p o r t a n c e , c o m p l e x i t y , a n d y o u r p r i o r k n o w l e d g e o f t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n .

A n e s s e n t i a l p o i n t i n r a p i d r e a d i n g i s t h a t y o u k e e p m o v i n g .

N e v e r p a u s e t o s t r u g g l e w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n y o u m i g h t n o t

u n d e r s t a n d . I t i s c o m m o n t o s t o p w h e n y o u d o n o t fully

u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u a re r e a d i n g . T h a t i s p a r t o f t h e o l d p a r a d i g m .

I n s t e a d , j u s t k e e p r e a d i n g .

I f y o u s t o p a n d t ry t o w r e s t l e w i t h w h a t y o u d o n o t k n o w ,

y o u c a n ge t s i d e t r a c k e d a n d n e v e r f in ish . I f y o u k e e p g o i n g , s o o n

Rapid Read 73

y o u w i l l c o m e t o i n f o r m a t i o n y o u d o u n d e r s t a n d — d i s c o v e r i n g

c l u e s i n t h e t e x t w h i c h a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n s y o u w e r e s t u c k o n

p r e v i o u s l y . B y s t a y i n g i n a r e l a x e d , a l e r t s ta te w i t h r a p i d r e a d i n g

y o u k e e p e x t r a c t i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u w a n t — i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t

r e l a t e s d i r e c t l y t o y o u r p u r p o s e .

Rapid read or super read?

A c o m m o n q u e s t i o n i s , h o w d o e s r a p i d r e a d i n g differ f r o m

s u p e r r e a d i n g ? A t first g l a n c e , t h e t w o s t eps m i g h t s e e m s imi l a r .

R a p i d r e a d i n g , h o w e v e r , p r o c e e d s s t r a i g h t t h r o u g h t h e t e x t f r o m

b e g i n n i n g t o e n d o f a n i m p o r t a n t c h a p t e r o r t h e e n t i r e b o o k .

S u p e r r e a d i n g , a s t ep o f a c t i v a t i o n , s e e k s o u t s e c t i o n s o f t h e t e x t

y o u a re a t t r a c t e d t o a n d z ip s l i g h t l y d o w n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e p a g e .

R a p i d r e a d i n g m i g h t i n v o l v e s l o w i n g d o w n t o a m o r e

c o n v e n t i o n a l r e a d i n g s p e e d ; y o u

m i g h t do th i s to c o m p r e h e n d a

t e c h n i c a l d r a w i n g o r m a t h e m a t i c a l

f o rmu la , or to s a v o r a l ine of poe t ry .

I n c o n t r a s t , s u p e r r e a d i n g m e a n s

m a i n t a i n i n g a b r i s k s p e e d a n d

d i p p i n g in to t he t e x t a t a n y p o i n t ;

t h e r e i s n o r e q u i r e m e n t t o m o v e

t h r o u g h t h e p a g e s i n o r d e r .

S u p e r r e a d i n g h a s b e e n

c o m p a r e d t o t h e a c t i o n s o f a

S u p e r m a n s c a n n i n g the E a r t h f rom o u t e r s p a c e a n d d e c i d i n g t o

t o u c h d o w n o n c e r t a i n c o n t i n e n t s . W e n e e d a n o t h e r a n a l o g y for

r a p i d r e a d i n g — p e r h a p s t h a t o f t a k i n g a r i v e r k a y a k t r i p .

S o m e t i m e s y o u c a r e e n o v e r w h i t e w a t e r r a p i d s , t h e n p a d d l e

l e i s u r e l y o n p l a c i d w a t e r s . T h e n y o u m i g h t b e b a c k t o r a p i d s

a g a i n . T h e p o i n t i s t h a t w e s tay a c t i v e a n d aler t , a n d o u r s p e e d

v a r i e s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e m a t e r i a l b e i n g c o v e r e d .

R a p i d r e a d i n g i s n o t a l w a y s n e c e s s a r y . A t t i m e s , p r e v i e w i n g ,

P h o t o R e a d i n g , a n d a c t i v a t i n g m a y b e al l y o u n e e d t o a t t a i n y o u r

d e s i r e d r e a d i n g o u t c o m e . M a n y b u s i n e s s p e o p l e n e v e r n e e d t o

u s e t h e s t ep o f r a p i d r e a d i n g . W h e n r e a d i n g b u s i n e s s r e l a t e d

i n f o r m a t i o n , s u c h a s r e p o r t s a n d m a n u a l s , t h e y a c h i e v e t h e i r

p u r p o s e u s i n g t h e o t h e r s t e p s o f t h e s y s t e m .


S t u d e n t s s t u d y i n g a t e x t b o o k a n d p e o p l e r e a d i n g for

p l e a s u r e w i l l u s e r a p i d r e a d i n g q u i t e often, b e c a u s e i t g i v e s t h e

c o n s c i o u s m i n d m o r e t o e x p l o r e .

P h o t o R e a d e r s w h o en joy r e a d i n g n o v e l s w i l l p r e v i e w ,

P h o t o R e a d , t h e n m o v e d i r e c t l y i n t o r a p i d r e a d i n g , b y p a s s i n g t h e

a c t i v a t i o n s t e p s a l t o g e t h e r . P l a y w i t h t h e w o n d e r f u l o p t i o n s t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m p r o v i d e s y o u . Y o u w i l l f ind

t h e b e s t p a t h t o a c h i e v e y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g .

Demonstrate how the system worksfor you

T h e r a p i d r e a d i n g t e c h n i q u e i s r e a s s u r i n g , b e c a u s e i t b u i l d s

full c o n s c i o u s c o m p r e h e n s i o n o f t he m a t e r i a l s y o u a re s t u d y i n g .

L i k e t h e m a n u a l a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s c h a p t e r ,

r a p i d r e a d i n g w o r k s m o s t l y w i t h t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

A s y o u a c h i e v e y o u r r e a d i n g g o a l s u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m , y o u m i g h t w o n d e r w h i c h s t ep i s h a v i n g t h e

g r e a t e s t i m p a c t u p o n y o u r s u c c e s s . I t w i l l b e e a s y t o a s s u m e t h a t

t h e t e c h n i q u e s i n v o l v i n g t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d a r e t h e b i g g e s t

c o n t r i b u t o r s , b e c a u s e y o u g a i n c o n s c i o u s c o m p r e h e n s i o n w h e n

y o u u s e t h e m . I t m a y b e diff icul t t o t h i n k t h e n o n c o n s c i o u s s t ep

o f P h o t o R e a d i n g r ea l ly d id a n y t h i n g a t al l .

T h e s y s t e m w o r k s b e c a u s e it is a whole mind sys t em. B o t h the

c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d the o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s m i n d p a r t i c i p a t e .

B y al l m e a n s , enjoy the b e n e f i t s y o u r e c e i v e c o n s c i o u s l y . A t t h e

s a m e t i m e , k e e p n o t i c i n g o t h e r p o s i t i v e effects i n y o u r life t h a t w e

m i g h t a s s i g n t o t h e d o m a i n o f t h e n o n c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

T h e m o s t s t u n n i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

s t ep of ten c o m e a s s p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n . S t o r i e s o f s p o n t a n e o u s

a c t i v a t i o n f r o m P h o t o R e a d i n g g r a d u a t e s a r e w o n d e r f u l

e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o a l l b e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r s . T h e y al l h a v e

s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

T h e r e p o r t s s o u n d l ike t h i s : " I w a s i n t h e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h

I n e e d e d o r w a n t e d s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d i t s h o w e d u p . I w a s

n o t e v e n t r y i n g a t t h e t i m e t o r e m e m b e r it. I t j u s t h a p p e n e d . T h e

i n f o r m a t i o n j u s t a p p e a r e d , j u s t p o p p e d in to m i n d , n o t b e c a u s e I

w a s t r y i n g t o r eca l l it, b u t a l m o s t o n a w h i m . "

T h e " a h a ! " e x p e r i e n c e o f s p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n i s a

c o n v i n c i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n . I t h a s b e e n p r o o f for m a n y p e o p l e

Rapid Read 75

t ha t t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s t ep o f t he s y s t e m i s a c t u a l l y w o r k i n g for

t h e m . T h e p a r a d o x is , h o w d o y o u p l a n t o h a v e a s p o n t a n e o u s

e x p e r i e n c e ? Y o u c a n n o t — b e c a u s e i t m u s t b e s p o n t a n e o u s .

D o n o t sit a r o u n d w a i t i n g for s p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n

e x p e r i e n c e s . T h e r e a re o t h e r w a y s t o tes t t h e s y s t e m . I n m y

o r i g i n a l s t u d i e s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g , I h a d c o m p e l l i n g e v i d e n c e t h a t

P h o t o R e a d i n g w a s w o r k i n g . S o m e e v i d e n c e c a m e f r o m

s p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n , b u t m o s t l y i t c a m e f r o m m a n u a l

a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s .

F o r t h e first y e a r o f my g r a d u a t e s t u d i e s , I d id n o t h a v e t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . I n t he r e m a i n i n g e i g h t e e n

m o n t h s , I u s e d P h o t o R e a d i n g for e v e r y t h i n g . T h e c o n t r a s t w a s

e n o r m o u s . I k e p t o n t o p o f e v e r y subjec t , c o m p l e t i n g r e a d i n g

a s s i g n m e n t s a n d r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s w i t h e a s e . T h e p r e s s u r e s o f

k e e p i n g u p w i t h m y s t u d i e s v a n i s h e d .

S i n c e t h o s e ea r ly d a y s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g , I h a v e c o n s i s t e n t l y

s e e n t h a t s t u d e n t s i n s c h o o l h a v e t he b e s t o n g o i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s

t h a t P h o t o R e a d i n g w o r k s . W h y ? B e c a u s e t h e y a re u s i n g a n d

t e s t i n g t h e s y s t e m all t h e t i m e , b o t h o b j e c t i v e l y a n d s u b j e c t i v e l y .

I f y o u a re n o t i n s c h o o l , y o u n e e d t o set u p y o u r o w n

m e a s u r e s . I w a n t y o u t o h a v e a c o n v i n c i n g e x p e r i e n c e o f

P h o t o R e a d i n g . H e r e a re s o m e w a y s y o u m i g h t t e s t i t for you r se l f :

• F o r one w e e k , P h o t o R e a d e v e r y t h i n g and a c t i v a t e Read

a n y t h i n g tha t y o u n e e d t o c o m p r e h e n d . T h e n e x t w e e k , g o b a c k Bullets

t o r e g u l a r r e a d i n g . D e c i d e w h i c h w e e k w a s m o s t p r o d u c t i v e .

• W h e n y o u see a b o o k a t a f r i end ' s h o u s e t h a t he h a s

r e c e n t l y r e ad , a s k i f i t w a s w o r t h r e a d i n g a n d h o w l o n g i t t o o k t o

r ead . B o r r o w t h e b o o k a n d s p e n d o n e - t e n t h t h e t i m e w i t h t h e

b o o k (or o n e - t h i r d t he t i m e i f y o u a r e l ess d a r i n g ) , u s i n g the f ive

s t eps o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . T h e n , ge t t o g e t h e r

w i t h y o u r f r iend a n d d i s c u s s t he b o o k , w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g t h a t

th i s i s y o u r o w n p r i v a t e tes t . A f t e r w a r d s , le t y o u r f r iend d e c i d e

i f y o u u n d e r s t o o d t h e b o o k .

• F i n d a q u i e t t i m e to n o t i c e t he w a y y o u r b r a i n r e s p o n d s

t o P h o t o R e a d i n g . S e l e c t a n o v e l w i t h h i g h e m o t i o n a l c o n t e n t s u c h

as a lus ty r o m a n c e n o v e l or a s u s p e n s e thr i l le r . T h e n , go in a r o o m

w i t h f ew d i s t r a c t i o n s . L i g h t o n l y t he b o o k s o y o u c a n see l i t t le

e l se , k e e p the r o o m quiet , w e a r c o m f o r t a b l e c lo th ing , a n d m a i n t a i n

a c o m f o r t a b l e r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e . T h e i d e a i s t o m a k e i t a s e a s y a s


p o s s i b l e t o n o t i c e w h a t e v e r c o m e s u p f rom t h e n o n c o n s c i o u s

m e m o r y s t o r e s .

S p e n d m a y b e a m i n u t e g e t t i n g in to s ta te a n d e n t e r i n g t h e

q u i e t s c e n e w i t h i n y o u r m i n d . T a k e a f ew m o m e n t s t o s t u d y t h e

i m a g e s a n d f e e l i n g s w i t h i n y o u . T h e n P h o t o R e a d n o t i c e a n y

t h o u g h t s (p ic tu res , s o u n d s , fee l ings , e tc . ) t ha t c o m e in to a w a r e n e s s .

I f a p i c t u r e o r s t r o n g f ee l i ng p o p s i n t o y o u r m i n d , y o u c a n t u r n

b a c k a few p a g e s a n d r e a d the t ex t . C o m p a r e h o w y o u r i n n e r

e x p e r i e n c e m a t c h e s t he c o n t e n t o f t h e b o o k .

Af te r P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d u s i n g y o u r c l o s i n g a f f i r m a t i o n s ,

l o o k a r o u n d i n y o u r i n n e r q u i e t s c e n e a g a i n . N o t i c e a n y c h a n g e s

i n t h e i m a g e s , s o u n d s , o r f e e l i n g s w i t h i n y o u . T a k e t w o m i n u t e s

t o d r a w p i c t u r e s t h a t y o u see i n m i n d o r t o r e p r e s e n t a n y

e m o t i o n s y o u feel . Y o u c a n t h e n g o b a c k t h r o u g h t h e b o o k t o see

h o w y o u r e x p e r i e n c e m a t c h e s t he c o n t e n t o f t he b o o k . Or , b e t t e r

ye t , t e l l s o m e o n e w h o k n o w s t h e b o o k w h a t y o u e x p e r i e n c e d a n d

t h e n le t t h e m te l l y o u a b o u t t h e s to ry .

• B e f o r e a b u s i n e s s m e e t i n g , p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d f ive

b o o k s r e l a t e d t o t he t o p i c y o u w i l l d i s c u s s a t t h e m e e t i n g .

A f t e r w a r d s c o n s i d e r h o w y o u r p e r f o r m a n c e m a y h a v e dif fered

f r o m y o u r u s u a l p e r f o r m a n c e a t s u c h m e e t i n g s .

A l l o f t h o s e t e s t s a r e e a s y a n d l o w - r i s k . T h e y a l l o w y o u t o

e x p l o r e u s e s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . P l a y w i t h

t h e m a n d h a v e c o m p e l l i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f y o u r o w n .

Y o u d o n o t h a v e t o s t o p h e r e . T h e r e a r e m a n y w a y s t o

e x t e n d t h e s t eps i n t r o d u c e d s o far. U s e t h e s u g g e s t i o n s i n t h e

r e m a i n i n g c h a p t e r s t o d i s c o v e r m o r e a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r

P h o t o R e a d i n g . M a k e i t a ski l l y o u u s e da i ly for a l l y o u r r e a d i n g

n e e d s .

Take the five-day test

A r e v e a l i n g t e s t y o u s h o u l d c o n s i d e r r e l i a b l y d e m o n s t r a t e s

t he p o w e r o f P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d d o u b l e s a s a f i ve -day p l a n for

i m p r o v i n g a c t i v a t i o n . I n v e s t i n g th i r ty m i n u t e s o r l ess p e r d a y ,

t he p l a n h e l p s c o n d i t i o n y o u t o ge t w h a t y o u w a n t a n d n e e d f r o m

b o o k s y o u P h o t o R e a d . W h e n y o u w a n t a s t r o n g w a y t o c o n v i n c e

y o u r s e l f t h a t y o u r b r a i n c a n P h o t o R e a d s u c c e s s f u l l y , c o m m i t t o

Rapid Read 77

f o l l o w i n g the p l a n .

D a y 1 - S e l e c t a b o o k y o u a re i n t e r e s t e d in r e a d i n g . P r e p a r e

a n d P h o t o R e a d the b o o k .

D a y 2 - P r e p a r e , p r e v i e w for no m o r e t h a n t w o m i n u t e s , a n d

P h o t o R e a d the b o o k . P o s t v i e w for 1 5 t o 2 0 m i n u t e s , i n c l u d i n g

w r i t i n g t r i g g e r w o r d s a n d q u e s t i o n s y o u a re e a g e r t o a n s w e r .

D a y 3 - P r e p a r e a n d P h o t o R e a d . T h e n s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p so

t h a t y o u ge t t h r o u g h the e n t i r e b o o k i n t he th i r ty m i n u t e s . D o n o t

w o r r y a b o u t c o m p r e h e n s i o n . A t t he e n d , r e v i e w y o u r t r i g g e r

w o r d s t o g e t a f e e l i n g for h o w m u c h r e c o g n i t i o n m a y b e c o m i n g

t o g e t h e r for y o u .

D a y 4 - P r e p a r e a n d P h o t o R e a d . S p e n d t h e res t o f t he th i r ty

m i n u t e s s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g o r s k i t t e r i n g t he e n t i r e b o o k ,

a t a p a c e t h a t w i l l ge t y o u t h r o u g h t h e b o o k b y t h e e n d o f t h e

s e s s i o n . A g a i n , l o o k a t y o u r t r i g g e r w o r d s , a n d f o r m u l a t e

a d d i t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s f o l l o w i n g t h e m i n d p r o b i n g t e c h n i q u e .

D a y 5 - P r e p a r e a n d P h o t o R e a d . L o o k a t t h e T a b l e o f

C o n t e n t s a n d g o t o t he s e c t i o n s t h a t y o u feel y o u n e e d m o r e

i n f o r m a t i o n . S u p e r r e a d a n d d i p o r s k i t t e r t o a n s w e r spec i f ic

q u e s t i o n s . R a p i d r e a d i f y o u d o n o t h a v e spec i f ic q u e s t i o n s b u t

w a n t m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . S a v e t e n m i n u t e s a t t he e n d t o m i n d m a p

the b o o k . K e e p i t s i m p l e , l i m i t i n g t h e a m o u n t o f de t a i l . T h e g o a l

i s n o t t o m i n d m a p t h e e n t i r e c o n t e n t s o f t h e b o o k , b u t t o m i n d

m a p t h e b o o k a s i t r e l a t e s t o y o u r p u r p o s e for c h o o s i n g t h e b o o k

in t he first p l a c e .

A t t h i s p o i n t y o u h a v e s p e n t t w o h o u r s p l u s a b i t . M o s t

p e o p l e w i l l see t h e b o o k c o m i n g t o g e t h e r for t h e m . M a n y feel

t h e y h a v e e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t h a t t h e y k n o w t h e b o o k . T h e

g o a l i s n o t t o k n o w t h e b o o k 100 p e r c e n t — t h a t d o e s n ' t e v e n

h a p p e n w i t h r e g u l a r r e a d i n g . Y o u m a y w a n t t o s p e n d t w o m o r e

" D a y 4 s , " b u t i t i s l i ke ly y o u w i l l say t h a t y o u k n o w e v e r y t h i n g

i n t h e b o o k y o u n e e d . Y o u m a y f ind i t fun t o r e v i e w y o u r m i n d

m a p after a few d a y s t o r e c o g n i z e y o u r g r a s p o f t h e m a t e r i a l .

O v e r a l l , y o u s h o u l d f in i sh w i t h t h e b o o k i n a b o u t o n e - t h i r d t h e

t i m e i t w o u l d t a k e t o r e a d the b o o k i n t he t r a d i t i o n a l m a n n e r .


A PhotoReader was giving a radio interview about PhotoReading. She

PhotoRead a book by an author who had just been interviewed. The author

asked her specific questions about the book and the PhotoReader spoke in

great detail precisely answering the questions.

On another radio show, the astounded host exclaimed after hearing the

PhotoReader's answer to a question, "You are almost rereading this page. That

is page 97 randomly pulled out of the book. That's exactly what it says there."

Later in the show he said, "It sounds like I have the author o n . "

A man in his thirties wi th a neurological disorder PhotoRead books at the

university's medical library hoping to find clues. He later woke from a nap wi th

an unusual dream regarding the disorder. He called his doctor who said, "I

hadn't considered that. Let me consult a colleague."

A Systems Manager for the United States Air force used PhotoReading to get

his degree in Computer Information Systems Management. He took 15 credit

hours worth of exams in humanities, social sciences and world religions within

one week having never attended classes on the subject matter. To graduate he

had to pass these tests, so his motivation was high. He PhotoRead six books on

each topic a couple days before each exam. Not only did he pass and get 15

credit hours, but he got a B plus average on the exams. This score was higher

than the average of the students who took the exams after attending a semester

of classes. He is now using PhotoReading to earn a commission as an officer.

A college senior used PhotoReading to prepare for the final exams. As a senior

working to secure a job for after graduation, he dropped his regular studies

hoping to get caught up at the minute. He phoned a PhotoReading coach at

Learning Strategies Corporation in a panic the night before the exams. After

the conversation, he got into a relaxed state and PhotoRead his class materials.

He ate dinner, worked out, and went to bed relaxed. The next day he

confidently took his exam and passed. PhotoReading put him at ease and

allowed him to prepare mentally for the test.

Before giving a presentation on peripheral development to a technical college

supervisory management team, an instructor PhotoRead ten background

books. She activated the books using syntopic reading strategies. The

presentation went so well that the management team invited her to return as

the subject matter expert for another presentation.

An average student PhotoRead a novel for a literature exam and scored 100

percent.

Part Three:

Develop and Integrate Your Skills

8

Make the PhotoReading Whole Mind System

Part of Your Daily Life

$ N o w t h a t y o u h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d t o t h e s t eps o f t h e s y s t e m ,

y o u c a n c e r t a i n l y a p p l y t h e m t o th i s b o o k , i f y o u h a v e n o t d o n e

s o a l r e a d y . H e r e a r e m y s u g g e s t i o n s o n h o w t o p r o c e e d . R e a d • U s i n g th i s b o o k w h i c h y o u k n o w c a n s u p p o r t y o u i n y o u r Bullets

c u r r e n t life g o a l s , e s t a b l i s h a c l e a r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g i t a n d

e n t e r t h e i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d .

• P r e v i e w t h e b o o k for f ive m i n u t e s , n o t i n g t r i g g e r w o r d s

as y o u g o .

• P h o t o R e a d t h e b o o k b y f o l l o w i n g t h e s t e p s o f t h e

p r o c e d u r e i n C h a p t e r 5 . Y o u c a n P h o t o R e a d th i s b o o k i n f e w e r

t h a n t h r e e m i n u t e s b y f l i p p i n g a p a g e e v e r y t w o s e c o n d s . W h e n

f in i shed , g i v e y o u r s e l f t h e c l o s i n g a f f i rma t ions a n d r e l a x for a

few m o m e n t s .

• I d e a l l y , g e t up a n d t a k e a b r e a k for a s h o r t w h i l e . T h e n

c o m e b a c k t o a c t i v a t e .

• A c t i v a t e b y m i n d p r o b i n g t o f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s . Y o u

c a n p l a y w i t h t he b o o k t o a c c o m p l i s h t h i s i n five m i n u t e s .

• A c t i v a t e fu r the r b y s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g , o r

s k i t t e r i n g . C o n c e n t r a t e o n a c t i v a t i n g t he r e m a i n i n g c h a p t e r s o f

t h i s b o o k . T a k e n o m o r e t h a n t w e n t y m i n u t e s for t h i s .

• R e v i e w a n d s u m m a r i z e al l y o u g a t h e r e d d u r i n g y o u r first

a c t i v a t i o n s e s s i o n w i t h a o n e p a g e m i n d m a p o f t he e n t i r e b o o k .

• T a k e a m i n u t e to aff i rm y o u r ab i l i ty to a p p l y t h e s e

a d v a n c e d r e a d i n g s t r a t e g i e s i n y o u r da i ly l ife. A s y o u d o so , y o u

Make PhotoReading Part of Your Daily Life 81

a re t a k i n g a c t i o n t h a t c o u l d c h a n g e t h e w a y y o u r e a d fo rever .

• F i n i s h b y r a p i d r e a d i n g the l a s t s e c t i o n o f t h i s b o o k . T h i s

i s y o u r c h a n c e t o d i s c o v e r h o w m u c h fas te r y o u r r e a d i n g h a s

b e c o m e b y u s i n g the t r e m e n d o u s l y f lex ib le ski l l s y o u h a v e l e a r n e d .

Five instant time management strategies

O r g a n i z i n g y o u r t i m e a n d r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s c a n e n h a n c e

y o u r u s e o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . U s e t h e s e

s t r a t e g i e s a n d d i s c o v e r t he b e n e f i t s .

1 . P r i o r i t i z e y o u r r e a d i n g . Sor t y o u r p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l s in to

t h r e e l e v e l s o f p r i o r i t y : " A " for m a t t e r s t h a t a r e u r g e n t , "B " for

i t e m s t h a t a re i m p o r t a n t b u t n o t u r g e n t , a n d " C " for i t e m s t h a t

c a n b e t h r o w n a w a y . B e g i n u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m w i t h t he "A" p r i o r i t y i t e m s .

2 . H a n d l e p a p e r s o n l y o n c e . D e c i d e h o w y o u w i l l r e s p o n d

t o e a c h p i e c e o f p a p e r t he first t i m e y o u r e a d it. J o t y o u r d e c i s i o n

r i g h t o n l e t t e r s a n d m e m o s .

3 . A l w a y s c a r r y r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s w i t h y o u . U s e w a i t i n g

t i m e for r e a d i n g . Y o u w i l l b e s u r p r i s e d h o w m u c h y o u c a n

a c c o m p l i s h i n t h e five o r t e n m i n u t e s b e t w e e n a p p o i n t m e n t s

u s i n g t h e w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

4 . P r e v i e w e v e r y t h i n g that i s i m p o r t a n t . I f y o u do n o t h i n g

e l s e w i t h it, a t l e a s t p r e v i e w a d o c u m e n t for t h i r ty s e c o n d s b e f o r e

f i l ing it.

5 . U s e t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m a t e v e r y

o p p o r t u n i t y . P h o t o R e a d e v e r y t h i n g y o u c a n ge t y o u r h a n d s on .

W h e n t h e q u a r t e r l y t r a d e j o u r n a l a r r i v e s o r t he w e e k l y n e w s

m a g a z i n e i s d e l i v e r e d , P h o t o R e a d t h e m . J u s t t a k e a m o m e n t t o

d r o p in to s ta te a n d flip t h e p a g e s b e f o r e y o u r P h o t o F o c u s e d e y e s .

E v e n i f y o u d o n o t a c t i v a t e , t h e e x p o s u r e c a n s e r v e y o u i n

t he fu ture .

Use the PhotoReading whole mind system on all kinds of materials

P h o t o R e a d i n g c a n a c c o m m o d a t e al l p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l . T h i s

i n c l u d e s l e t t e r s , e m a i l , m e m o s , w e b p a g e s , n e w s p a p e r s , t r a d e

j o u r n a l s , m a g a z i n e s , n o v e l s , t e x t b o o k s , t e c h n i c a l m a n u a l s — a n y


d o c u m e n t s t h a t y o u e n c o u n t e r i n d a i l y l ife. A s y o u w o r k w i t h

t h e s e m a t e r i a l s , feel free t o a d a p t t h e s t r a t e g i e s o f t he s y s t e m a n d

y o u w i l l s i gn i f i can t ly r e d u c e t h e t i m e y o u s p e n d o n r o u t i n e

r e a d i n g .

• D a i l y n e w s — I n v e s t i n g a few m i n u t e s a d a y w i l l b u i l d a

p o w e r f u l m o m e n t u m t h a t l e t s y o u b l a s t t h r o u g h n e w s p a p e r s a t

t r e m e n d o u s r a t e s . I n m a n y m e t r o p o l i t a n n e w s p a p e r s , j o u r n a l i s t s

Read a re r e q u i r e d to p u t 90 p e r c e n t o f t h e r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n in t h e B u l l e t s t i t l e , s ub t i t l e , a n d first p a r a g r a p h s o f t h e i r a r t i c l e s . Y o u c a n

l e v e r a g e th i s fact t o k e e p o n t o p o f t h e n e w s .

S t a r t b y P h o t o R e a d i n g t h e e n t i r e n e w s p a p e r . T r y s t a n d i n g

u p a n d s e t t i n g t h e p a p e r o n a t a b l e i n front o f y o u s o t h a t y o u c a n

P h o t o F o c u s a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e o p e n p a p e r . T h e n n o t i c e a n y

h e a d l i n e s t h a t c a t c h y o u r a t t e n t i o n , b a s e d o n y o u r p u r p o s e s o r

n e e d s . S e l e c t t h r e e t o f ive a r t i c l e s t h a t c a r ry t h e h i g h e s t v a l u e a n d

p r e v i e w e a c h for t h i r ty s e c o n d s . I f y o u d e s i r e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n ,

s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o c a p t u r e t h e c o r e c o n c e p t . I n m o s t c a s e s ,

t o d a y ' s n e w s w a s p r e v i e w e d y e s t e r d a y , a n d w i l l c o n c l u d e

t o m o r r o w . U s e t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t o s p o t

r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n , q u i c k l y g r a b it, a n d m o v e on . A t t h e e n d o f

t h e day , s c a n the n e w s p a p e r for a n y t h i n g e l s e y o u m i g h t w a n t t o

r e a d i n m o r e de ta i l . Y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r a g r o w i n g c o n f i d e n c e t h a t

y o u h a v e a c q u i r e d w h a t y o u n e e d .

• M a g a z i n e s — B e p layfu l . C o n s i d e r b r o w s i n g f r o m b a c k t o

f ront i f y o u l i k e . G o t o t h e a r t i c l e s t h a t c o n t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n y o u

d e s i r e . P h o t o R e a d t h e n p o s t v i e w e a c h o f t h o s e a r t i c l e s . L i m i t

y o u r p o s t v i e w i n g t o n o m o r e t h a n t h r e e m i n u t e s for t h e l o n g e r

a r t i c l e s . S u p e r r e a d a n d d i p o r s k i t t e r t o ge t t h e c o r e c o n c e p t s y o u

w a n t . Y o u c a n a c t i v a t e m o s t t e n - p a g e a r t i c l e s i n s e v e n m i n u t e s .

Y o u c a n f in i sh s h o r t e r a r t i c l e s m u c h m o r e q u i c k l y . Af te r c o v e r i n g

al l y o u n e e d , d e t e r m i n e i f y o u w a n t a n y t h i n g m o r e .

• J o u r n a l s — T h e s e s h o u l d be r e a d w i t h a c r o s s b e t w e e n

m a g a z i n e s t r a t eg i e s a n d t e x t b o o k s t r a t eg i e s . M y favor i t e t e c h n i q u e

i n v o l v e s a b r i e f p r e v i e w o f t h e t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s . P h o t o R e a d t h e

e n t i r e j o u r n a l a n d fo l low i t w i t h a few m i n u t e s o f p o s t v i e w i n g to

d e t e r m i n e w h i c h a r t i c l e s d e s e r v e m o r e t i m e . R a n k o r d e r t h e

a r t i c l e s b y i m p o r t a n c e a n d b e g i n a c t i v a t i o n w i t h t h e m o s t

i m p o r t a n t o n e . I f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n p r o v i d e s a n a b s t r a c t o r s u m m a r y

a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a n a r t i c l e , r e a d t h a t a n d t h e n b r i e f ly p r e v i e w


t he a r t i c l e . F i n i s h y o u r a c t i v a t i o n w i t h a q u i c k s u p e r r e a d a n d d ip ,

o r y o u m a y w a n t t o s k i t t e r i t t o ge t w h a t y o u n e e d . M i n d m a p p i n g

c a n s e r v e y o u i f y o u w a n t t o c a p t u r e a n d r e t a i n w r i t t e n n o t e s for

fu ture u s e .

• N o v e l s — S o m e r e a d e r s en joy r e a d i n g a b o o k a s m u c h o r

m o r e t h a n g o i n g t o t h e m o v i e s . I f o u n d o u t t h a t w h e n m y w h o l e

m i n d i s e n g a g e d , r e a d i n g a n o v e l i s m o r e e x c i t i n g t h a n a m o v i e .

I p r e p a r e a s u s u a l b y f ix ing m y t a n g e r i n e p o i n t a n d e n t e r i n g t h e

a c c e l e r a t e d l e a r n i n g s ta te . N e x t , I p r e v i e w t h e s to ry , l o o k i n g for

t h e n a m e s o f s i gn i f i c an t p e r s o n s , p l a c e s , a n d t h i n g s . T h e n I

P h o t o R e a d t h e b o o k , w h i c h , o f c o u r s e , d o e s n o t spo i l t h e e n d i n g .

F i n a l l y , I f o l l ow P h o t o R e a d i n g w i t h r a p i d r e a d i n g . S u p e r r e a d i n g

a n d d i p p i n g s e r v e l i t t le o r no p u r p o s e for e n j o y m e n t o f a s t o ry .

• T e x t b o o k s or t echn ica l m a n u a l s — A strategy of p r e v i e w i n g

f o l l o w e d b y P h o t o R e a d i n g i s t he i d e a l s tar t . D e t e r m i n e t h e

c h a p t e r s o r m a j o r s e c t i o n s y o u w a n t t o a c t i v a t e first. C h o o s e y o u r

a c t i v a t i o n s t eps a c c o r d i n g t o h o w m u c h o f t h e c o n t e n t y o u w a n t

to r e c a l l a t a c o n s c i o u s l e v e l . I u s u a l l y s ta r t w i t h s u m m a r y

q u e s t i o n s a t t he e n d o f a c h a p t e r to do my m i n d p r o b i n g . W i t h a

p u r p o s e c l e a r l y i n m i n d a n d q u e s t i o n s w e l l f o r m u l a t e d , y o u c a n

u s e s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g o r s k i t t e r i n g t o g a t h e r t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d . H e r e y o u m i g h t c h o o s e t o e l i m i n a t e t h e

r a p i d r e a d i n g s t e p . I f y o u a re a s t u d e n t n e e d i n g to s t u d y for

s c h o o l o r a p r o f e s s i o n a l r e t u r n i n g to c l a s s e s for p r o f e s s i o n a l

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c o n t i n u i n g e d u c a t i o n , r e a d t h e s e c t i o n c o m i n g

u p t i t l ed " S t u d y w i t h y o u r w h o l e m i n d . "

Email, web pages, and electronic files

O n e e x e c u t i v e b e m o a n e d t h e d e l u g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n c o m i n g

to h e r e a c h d a y . " I f I am a w a y f r o m my office for a d a y or t w o , I

r e t u r n t o a n e m a i l i n - b o x w i t h o v e r o n e h u n d r e d e m a i l s ! " A n o t h e r

e x e c u t i v e u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m b o a s t e d

t h a t i n l e s s t h a n t e n s e c o n d s p e r p a g e h e c o u l d d i g e s t e m a i l t e x t

a n d e n t e r m e e t i n g s fully p r e p a r e d . " N o w I n e e d a c l a s s on

P h o t o T y p i n g ! "

S t u d i e s h a v e s h o w n t h a t p e o p l e r e a d f rom c o m p u t e r s c r e e n s

a t r a t e s 2 5 p e r c e n t s l o w e r t h a n w h e n r e a d i n g p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l s .

S p e e d o f t r a n s m i s s i o n a c r o s s t he i n t e r n e t u s e d t o b e t h e b i g g e s t


p r o b l e m i n i n f o r m a t i o n t r ans fe r . N o w i t a p p e a r s t h a t g e t t i n g t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n f rom t h e s c r e e n a n d i n t o t he m i n d for p r o c e s s i n g h a s

b e c o m e t h e b i g g e s t c h a l l e n g e . R e l a t e d p r o b l e m s o f l o w s c r e e n

r e s o l u t i o n , p o o r w r i t i n g qua l i t y , a n d i n a d e q u a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f

m a t e r i a l w i l l n o t s l o w d o w n the P h o t o R e a d e r . T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t r a i n s t he b r a i n t o q u i c k l y l o c a t e u n i t s o f

m e a n i n g a n d r e s p o n d w i t h p u r p o s e , w i t h o u t w a s t i n g t i m e a n d

e n e r g y f o c u s i n g o n e a c h w o r d o r s e n t e n c e i n a n e l e c t r o n i c t ex t .

S h o r t e l e c t r o n i c f i les , w e b p a g e s , a n d e m a i l a r e b e s t h a n d l e d

w i t h p r e v i e w i n g f o l l o w e d b y r a p i d r e a d i n g . L o n g e r p i e c e s a re

b e s t h a n d l e d u s i n g t h e full s y s t e m . T h e s p e e d a t w h i c h e l e c t r o n i c

p a g e s c a n f l ash o n t h e s c r e e n a d d s a t h r i l l i n g d i m e n s i o n t o

P h o t o R e a d i n g . I t i s n o t u n u s u a l for s o m e o n e t o P h o t o R e a d a t

s p e e d s f r o m 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 to 1 ,000,000 w o r d s a m i n u t e .

T e n s o f t h o u s a n d s o f b o o k s a re a l r e a d y a v a i l a b l e o n t h e

I n t e r n e t for P h o t o R e a d i n g . Y o u c a n P h o t o R e a d m a n y b o o k s i n a

w e b b r o w s e r w h i l e o t h e r s r e q u i r e d o w n l o a d i n g o n t o a c o m p u t e r

t o b e v i e w e d i n a w o r d p r o c e s s i n g p r o g r a m . A s h o w p r o d u c e d b y

a B r i t i s h t e l e v i s i o n c o m p a n y a n d p r e s e n t e d o n T h e L e a r n i n g

C h a n n e l s h o w e d t h e p r o g r a m ' s h o s t P a u l M c K e n n a P h o t o R e a d i n g

n o v e l s o n t h e i n t e rne t . H i s P h o t o R e a d i n g r a t e e x c e e d e d 2 5 0 , 0 0 0

w o r d s a m i n u t e , a n d h e a n s w e r e d t e s t q u e s t i o n s a t o v e r 7 0

p e r c e n t c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

W h e n y o u w a n t t o r e a d e l e c t r o n i c f i les , y o u s h o u l d m a k e

< g | £ j t he s a m e d e c i s i o n s t o p r e v i e w , P h o t o R e a d , s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p , A sk i t te r , a n d r a p i d r e a d a s y o u w o u l d w i t h r e g u l a r b o o k s . H o w e v e r ,

Read t h e m e c h a n i c s o f t h o s e s t eps w i l l c h a n g e d u e t o t he h i g h s p e e d s

Bullets pQssJbig u s i n g c o m p u t e r s . C o n s i d e r t he f o l l o w i n g m o d i f i c a t i o n s .

• P h o t o F o c u s — B e c a u s e e l e c t r o n i c f i les a re u s u a l l y n o t

p r e s e n t e d o n t w o s i d e - b y - s i d e p a g e s a s i s a b o o k , y o u w i l l n o t b e

a b l e t o see t h e b l i p p a g e . O n c e y o u h a v e m a s t e r e d P h o t o F o c u s ,

y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o u s e P h o t o F o c u s o n e l e c t r o n i c files w i t h o u t

n e e d i n g t h e b l i p p a g e for v e r i f i c a t i o n . L e s s e x p e r i e n c e d

P h o t o R e a d e r s s h o u l d f o l l o w t h e a l t e r n a t e P h o t o F o c u s s t r a t e g i e s

p r e s e n t e d in C h a p t e r 5 . A soft g a z e a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e c o m p u t e r

s c r e e n a s t e x t f l a shes s e e m s the b e s t s t r a t e g y for t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

s t ep .

• P a g e f l i p p i n g — N o p a g e s t o t u r n on t h e c o m p u t e r , so th i s

b e c o m e s fast a n d e a s y . " S c r o l l i n g " t h r o u g h t e x t t e n d s t o b e m o r e


c o n f u s i n g t o t h e b r a i n t h a n u s i n g t h e " p a g e d o w n " a n d " p a g e u p "

f u n c t i o n s on t h e k e y p a d . T r a n s f e r r i n g l a r g e fi les i n to a w o r d

p r o c e s s i n g p r o g r a m a n d m a n i p u l a t i n g i t w i t h t h e s e f u n c t i o n s

m a k e s for e a s y P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h e n , u s e t h e s c r o l l i n g f u n c t i o n t o

m o v e t h r o u g h t e x t for t h e o t h e r s t e p s o f t h e s y s t e m .

Study with your whole mind

T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m n a t u r a l l y c r e a t e s a

pe r fec t s t r a t egy for m o v i n g t h r o u g h a s e m e s t e r o f r e a d i n g . I m a g i n e

p r e v i e w i n g a n d P h o t o R e a d i n g e v e r y b o o k for t h e e n t i r e s e m e s t e r

o n t h e first d a y o f c l a s s . T h r o u g h o u t t he n igh t , i n y o u r d r e a m

s ta te , t h e m a t e r i a l i s r e v i e w e d a n d o r g a n i z e d a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r

n e e d s a n d p u r p o s e .

W h e n y o u r e c e i v e a r e a d i n g a s s i g n m e n t for a t e x t b o o k ,

p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d the c h a p t e r s , p l u s P h o t o R e a d o n e o r t w o

o n e i t h e r s ide o f t h e m . F o r e x a m p l e , i f y o u a r e a s s i g n e d C h a p t e r s

3 a n d 4 , p r e v i e w t h o s e a n d P h o t o R e a d C h a p t e r s 2 t h r o u g h 5 . U s e

r h y t h m i c p e r u s a l t o r e a d t h e c h a p t e r s u m m a r y a n d s t u d y

q u e s t i o n s a t t h e e n d o f t h e a s s i g n e d c h a p t e r s . T h e n , s u p e r r e a d

a n d d i p t o f ind t h e a n s w e r s t o t he q u e s t i o n s .

W h e n y o u a t t e n d c l a s s , y o u n a t u r a l l y a n d s p o n t a n e o u s l y

a c t i v a t e t h e c h a p t e r s . C r e a t e m i n d m a p s d u r i n g t h e l e c t u r e for al l

y o u r c l a s s n o t e s . F o r i n s t a n t r e v i e w o f t he e n t i r e l e c t u r e , t a k e y o u r

m u l t i p l e m i n d m a p s a n d c o m b i n e t h e m i n t o o n e . D e t e r m i n e i f

y o u n e e d a n y t h i n g e l se f r o m t h e r e a d i n g a s s i g n m e n t . W h e n y o u

n e e d spec i f ic i n f o r m a t i o n , s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o f ind it. T o h a n d l e

v a g u e f e e l i n g s o f u n c e r t a i n t y , u s e s k i t t e r i n g o r r a p i d r e a d i n g t o

c o v e r a n y t h i n g e l s e y o u w a n t t o s t u d y i n t he c h a p t e r s . M i n d m a p

i m p o r t a n t p o i n t s t h a t y o u n e e d t o m e m o r i z e , s u c h a s spec i f ic

fac ts , f o r m u l a s , t h e o r e m s , a n d h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t s .

B e f o r e w r i t i n g r e p o r t s , u s e s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g d e s c r i b e d i n

C h a p t e r 1 1 . Y o u c a n p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d d o z e n s o f b o o k s o n

the sub j ec t o f y o u r r e p o r t . T h e n s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p i n t h e m o s t

i m p o r t a n t t ex t s t o ge t t he c o r e c o n c e p t s y o u n e e d . M i n d m a p y o u r

first draft a n d w r i t e y o u r r e p o r t f rom y o u r m i n d m a p .

W h e n s t u d y i n g for t e s t s , l o o k o v e r y o u r m i n d m a p s ,

P h o t o R e a d y o u r a s s i g n m e n t s t o ge t y o u r s e l f i n t he f low s t a t e ,

t h e n u s e r a p i d r e a d i n g t o r e v i e w c h a p t e r s a s s i g n e d for t he tes t .


T h e n i g h t b e f o r e an e x a m , l i s t e n to t h e Memory Supercharger

P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e .

W i t h t h e s e p o t e n t s t u d y sk i l l s , t h e e a s e a n d p l e a s u r e o f

l e a r n i n g w i l l a s t o u n d y o u . A P h o t o R e a d e r , a t t e n d i n g a c o l l e g e

h u m a n i t i e s c l a s s , h a d n i n e b o o k s t o s t u d y d u r i n g t h e s e m e s t e r .

W i t h o n e b o o k o v e r s ix h u n d r e d p a g e s l o n g , s h e i n v e s t e d f e w e r

t h a n t h i r t y m i n u t e s w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g i n o r d e r t o w r i t e a p a p e r

t h a t r e c e i v e d an A g r a d e . S h e r e c e i v e d an A for t he s e m e s t e r a n d

c l a i m e d she h a d s p e n t a b o u t t w o h o u r s t o t a l u s i n g the s y s t e m .

I f y o u d o u b t t h e s to ry , p r o v e i t t o you r se l f . E x p e r i m e n t w i t h

t he f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e a s y o u s t u d y . T h e i d e a h e r e i s t o s t u d y

i n b l o c k s o f th i r ty m i n u t e s , w h i c h c o n t a i n m e n t a l p r e p a r a t i o n

a n d p h y s i c a l b r e a k s . T h e effect i s a n i n c r e a s e i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n ,

r e t e n t i o n , a n d r e c a l l o f al l y o u s t u d y .

1 . G a t h e r all t h e r e a d i n g m a t e r i a l s y o u i n t e n d t o u s e

d u r i n g t h e s t u d y s e s s i o n . L a y t h e m o u t i n f ront o f y o u .

2 . T a k e t h r e e t o f ive m i n u t e s t o s t a t e y o u r p u r p o s e a n d

e n t e r t h e idea l s tate o f m i n d . W h e n s ta t ing y o u r p u r p o s e c o n s i d e r

y o u r d e s i r e d o u t c o m e for t h i s s t u d y s e s s i o n . E n t e r t h e i d e a l s ta te

for l e a r n i n g a n d r e p e a t a f f i r m a t i o n s . P h r a s e y o u r a f f i r m a t i o n i n

t h e p r e s e n t t e n s e . F o r e x a m p l e :

• I am r e a d y to a b s o r b C h a p t e r s 5 a n d 6 of t h i s p h y s i c s t e x t

t o p r e p a r e for c l a s s t o m o r r o w a n d a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n s a t t h e

e n d o f t h e c h a p t e r .

• As I s t u d y for t h e n e x t t w e n t y m i n u t e s , I do so w i t h full

a l e r t n e s s a n d effor t less c o n c e n t r a t i o n .

• W h e n I am t h r o u g h s t u d y i n g , I feel r e f r e shed , r e l a x e d ,

a n d c o n f i d e n t .

• W h e n I ca l l u p o n th i s i n f o r m a t i o n in t he fu ture , I r e l a x

a n d le t go . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n f l o w s freely t h r o u g h my m i n d . I

e a s i l y r e t r i e v e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n I d e s i r e .

3 . B e g i n y o u r s t u d y i n t h e f l o w s ta te o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s .

P r e v i e w the m a t e r i a l for a f ew m i n u t e s , t h e n for t h e r e m a i n d e r o f

t he t w e n t y m i n u t e s u s e w h a t e v e r c o m b i n a t i o n o f P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

a c t i v a t i n g , o r r a p i d r e a d i n g su i t s y o u r p u r p o s e . G o for z e r o

d i s t r a c t i o n s .

4 . T a k e a f ive m i n u t e b r e a k . T h i s i s e s s e n t i a l . M o v e

c o m p l e t e l y a w a y f rom y o u r s t u d y a rea , b o t h p h y s i c a l l y a n d


m e n t a l l y . E v e n i f y o u a r e o n a ro l l a n d feel a s t h o u g h y o u c o u l d

s t u d y for h o u r s , t a k e t h e b r e a k ! Y o u a f f i rmed a spec i f i c t i m e

c o m m i t m e n t o f t w e n t y m i n u t e s . K e e p y o u r c o m m i t m e n t , b e c a u s e

i t n o t o n l y b u i l d s sel f t rus t , t h e b r e a k a l so h e l p s y o u r b r a i n a b s o r b ,

r e ta in , a n d r eca l l i n f o r m a t i o n y o u s t u d y .

5 . G o b a c k t o S t e p 2 a n d r e p e a t t h e c y c l e t w o m o r e t i m e s

f o r a t o t a l o f n i n e t y m i n u t e s . T h e n g i v e y o u r s e l f a f if teen m i n u t e

b r e a k b e t w e e n t h e n i n e t y m i n u t e c y c l e s .

P l a y i n g p l e a s a n t m u s i c softly i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d a s y o u

s t u d y m a y a d d t o y o u r r e l a x a t i o n . S t u d i e s h a v e f o u n d t h a t

c l a s s i c a l a n d N e w A g e m u s i c c a n h e l p m a k e a g r e a t e r i m p a c t o n

t he b r a i n w h i l e l e a r n i n g . T h e P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e Personal Genius i s

e x t r e m e l y v a l u a b l e p r i o r t o s t u d y i n g , b e c a u s e i t b o o s t s c o n f i d e n c e

a n d t r a i n s y o u r b o d y / m i n d t o e n t e r t h e i d e a l l e a r n i n g s ta te . T h e

Memory Supercharger P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e h e l p s after s t u d y i n g to

sol idi fy l e a r n i n g a n d b e f o r e t e s t s t o a id i n f luen t r e ca l l .

Take tests with your whole mind

W h e n t a k i n g t e s t s o n m a t e r i a l s y o u h a v e s t u d i e d u s i n g t h e

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m , f o l l o w t h e s e t i p s :

• G e t in to t h e i d e a l s ta te o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s .

• P h o t o R e a d all t h e q u e s t i o n s . T h e n r e a d the first ques t ion .

• A n s w e r all t h e q u e s t i o n s t h a t c o m e e a s i l y f irst . S t ay

f o c u s e d o n t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t . L e t g o o f t he p r e v i o u s q u e s t i o n ,

a s w e l l a s any a n t i c i p a t i o n o f t he n e x t q u e s t i o n .

• I f an a n s w e r d o e s n o t c o m e to y o u af ter r e a d i n g a

q u e s t i o n , let i t g o a n d m o v e t o t h e n e x t q u e s t i o n . T h e r e q u e s t for

a n a n s w e r t o t h e e a r l i e r q u e s t i o n h a s a l r e a d y b e e n g i v e n t o y o u r

m i n d . W h e n y o u h a v e a n s w e r e d al l t h e q u e s t i o n s t h a t c o m e

ea s i l y , g o b a c k a n d r e r e a d t h o s e y o u p a s s e d u p . T h e s e c o n d

r e a d i n g r e i n f o r c e s t he r e q u e s t a n d h e l p s t he a p p r o p r i a t e a n s w e r s

a p p e a r i n y o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

• D i s c o v e r h o w y o u r d e e p e r m i n d s i g n a l s y o u t h a t i t h a s

a c o r r e c t o r a p p r o p r i a t e a n s w e r to a t e s t q u e s t i o n . R a t h e r t h a n

o v e r a n a l y z i n g t h e t e s t q u e s t i o n , s tudy t h e r e s p o n s e y o u r b r a i n

offers a s y o u n o t i c e y o u r i n t u i t i v e s i g n a l s . F o r e x a m p l e , i m a g i n e

a traffic l i gh t w h i c h w i l l g ive y o u d i r e c t i o n . G r e e n m e a n s g o .

Y e l l o w m e a n s m a y b e y o u k n o w the a n s w e r , b u t y o u s h o u l d


p r o c e e d c a u t i o u s l y . R e d m e a n s s t o p ; d o n o t a n s w e r th i s o n e .

• R e l e a s e a n y n e e d y o u m a y h a v e t o p e r f o r m w e l l . T h e

r e su l t s o f any s i n g l e t e s t fade i n i m p o r t a n c e o v e r t i m e . M o r e of ten

t h a n not , force o n l y l e a d s t o f rus t ra t ion . G e t w h a t y o u n e e d b y

l e t t i n g g o o f y o u r n e e d t o h a v e it.

• W h e n t a k i n g t e s t s , p a u s e m a n y t i m e s t o r e l a x d e e p l y .

• T h e n i g h t b e f o r e y o u r e x a m , l i s t e n t o a u d i o c a s s e t t e

tapes such as Memory Supercharger and Personal Genius that

p r o m o t e r e l a x a t i o n , l e a r n i n g , a n d m e m o r y sk i l l s .

Integrate your skills

Y o u are b o r n w i t h a b r a i n e q u i p p e d for P h o t o R e a d i n g .

H o w e v e r , y o u a r e n o t b o r n w i t h al l t h e sk i l l s o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . T h e s y s t e m — a c l u s t e r o f l e a r n e d s k i l l s —

m u s t b e u s e d i n o r d e r t o i n t e g r a t e t h e m a n d m a k e t h e m s e c o n d

n a t u r e t o y o u .

P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d t h e o t h e r s t eps i n t h e s y s t e m a re l e a r n e d

j u s t l i ke any o t h e r ski l l , s u c h a s p l a y i n g t h e p i a n o o r u s i n g a

p e r s o n a l c o m p u t e r . I f y o u w a n t to t u r n a n e w ski l l i n to a hab i t ,

f o l l ow t h e s t r a t egy o f l e a r n i n g s p e c i a l i s t s D a v i d W . J o h n s o n f r o m

the U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a a n d F r a n k P . J o h n s o n f rom t h e

U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d . Y o u c a n a p p l y t h e i r a p p r o a c h t o l e a r n i n g

t h e sk i l l s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m :

• U n d e r s t a n d w h y t h e ski l l s a r e i m p o r t a n t a n d h o w t h e y

w i l l be o f v a l u e to y o u . To l e a r n a ski l l , y o u m u s t feel a n e e d for

it. Y o u r d e t e r m i n a t i o n m e a n s e v e r y t h i n g . D e t e r m i n e t h a t y o u

w a n t t h e s e sk i l l s a n d t h e r e su l t s t h e y w i l l p r o d u c e .

• U n d e r s t a n d t h e o u t c o m e o f u s i n g t h e sk i l l s a n d m a s t e r

i t s c o m p o n e n t b e h a v i o r s . U s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m h e l p s y o u t o ge t y o u r r e a d i n g d o n e i n t h e t i m e y o u h a v e

a v a i l a b l e a t t he l e v e l o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n y o u n e e d . T h i s l a r g e r ski l l

c o n s i s t s o f f ive s t eps ; p r e p a r i n g , p r e v i e w i n g , P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

a c t i v a t i n g , a n d r a p i d r e a d i n g . E a c h s t ep c o n t a i n s a s e q u e n c e o f

c o m p o n e n t b e h a v i o r s . P e r f o r m t h e b e h a v i o r s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s s e v e r a l t i m e s u n t i l y o u k n o w the s e q u e n c e o f s t eps

to p e r f o r m .

Of ten i t h e l p s t o o b s e r v e s o m e o n e w h o h a s a l r e a d y m a s t e r e d

t he skil l p e r f o r m i t s e v e r a l t i m e s . A t t e n d i n g a l i ve P h o t o R e a d i n g


seminar or listening to the PhotoReading Personal Learning Course

p r o v i d e s c o a c h i n g a s y o u e x a m i n e a n d p e r f o r m e a c h c o m p o n e n t

b e h a v i o r i n a s t e p - b y - s t e p m a n n e r . O n c e y o u k n o w w h i c h sk i l l s

y o u w a n t t o p e r f o r m , w i t h m e n t a l r e h e a r s a l a n d sk i l l ed p r a c t i c e

y o u c a n q u i c k l y a c q u i r e t h e m . T h e P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e t i t l ed New

Behavior Generator c a n h e l p r e m o v e b a r r i e r s to l e a r n i n g a n d

g u i d e s y o u r m i n d t o i n s t a l l t h e n e w ski l l s i n y o u r o n g o i n g

b e h a v i o r .

• F i n d s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h y o u c a n u s e t h e sk i l l s . T o m a s t e r

a ski l l , u s e i t a g a i n a n d a g a i n . U s e t h e ski l l for a s h o r t t i m e e a c h

d a y in a v a r i e t y of s e t t i n g s . T h e Belief Paralimmal t a p e h e l p s y o u

d e v e l o p y o u r c a p a b i l i t i e s a s a P h o t o R e a d e r a n d b u i l d s t h e

c o n f i d e n c e for s t r e t c h i n g b e y o n d p r e v i o u s c o m f o r t z o n e s .

• A s k s o m e o n e t o w a t c h a n d te l l y o u h o w w e l l y o u a re

p e r f o r m i n g . G e t t i n g f e e d b a c k i s n e c e s s a r y for s t a y i n g o n c o u r s e

t o y o u r g o a l . I n t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r a n d p e r s o n a l l e a r n i n g

c o u r s e , w e g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h P h o t o R e a d i n g b o o k s , e x p l o r e

v a r i o u s f o r m s o f a c t i v a t i o n , a n d p r o v i d e n u m e r o u s a s s e s s m e n t s

o f y o u r p r o g r e s s t h a t g i v e y o u d i r e c t f e e d b a c k .

• Be p e r s i s t e n t . K e e p d o i n g it! T h e r e i s a r h y t h m to l e a r n i n g

m o s t sk i l l s : a p e r i o d of s l o w l e a r n i n g f o l l o w e d by a p e r i o d of fast

i m p r o v e m e n t a n d t h e n a p e r i o d i n w h i c h p e r f o r m a n c e r e m a i n s

a b o u t t h e s a m e . T h e s e p l a t e a u s a re q u i t e c o m m o n i n ski l l l e a r n i n g .

I f y o u e n c o u n t e r o n e , j u s t k e e p u s i n g t h e sk i l l a n d r e m i n d

y o u r s e l f t h a t a n o t h e r p e r i o d o f r a p i d i m p r o v e m e n t i s o n t h e w a y .

T h e Automatic Pilot P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e f ac i l i t a t e s t h e ef fec t ive u s e of

any sk i l l . I t h e l p s y o u e l i m i n a t e s e l f - s a b o t a g e a n d a c c o m p l i s h

g o a l s w i t h g r e a t e r e a s e .

• L o a d y o u r l e a r n i n g t o w a r d s u c c e s s . A s y o u s t r e t c h y o u r

c a p a c i t y , a d d r e f i n e m e n t s t h a t y o u c a n eas i ly m a s t e r . F o r e x a m p l e ,

u s i n g a s t o p w a t c h , d e t e r m i n e h o w l o n g i t t a k e s t o r e a d t h e

m o r n i n g n e w s p a p e r i n y o u r u s u a l m a n n e r . T h e n d o s a m e l e v e l o f

r e a d i n g i n f ive m i n u t e s l ess t i m e t o m o r r o w . A c c o m p l i s h th i s b y

r e f in ing y o u r u s e o f p r e v i e w i n g , s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g , o r

s k i t t e r i n g .

• A s k f r i e n d s t o e n c o u r a g e y o u t o u s e t h e ski l l . W h e n y o u

t a k e a P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r , y o u w i l l h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

e x c h a n g e s u p p o r t w i t h o t h e r P h o t o R e a d e r s . T h e b e s t s u p p o r t

n e t w o r k y o u w i l l e v e r f ind for y o u r u s e o f P h o t o R e a d i n g i s t h e


p e o p l e w i t h w h o m y o u a t t e n d t h e s e m i n a r o r w h o u s e t h e

PhotoReading Personal Learning Course. Share the PhotoReading

i d e a w i t h s u p p o r t i v e f r i ends a n d h a v e t h e m c h e e r y o u on .

• U s e t h e s k i l l s u n t i l t h e y f e e l r e a l . T h e m o r e y o u u s e a ski l l ,

t he m o r e n a t u r a l i t b e c o m e s . W h i l e l e a r n i n g a ski l l , y o u m a y feel

s e l f - c o n s c i o u s a n d a w k w a r d . I t m a y s e e m a s t h o u g h y o u a re

s i m p l y g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e m o t i o n s . D o n o t le t t h i s n o r m a l

a w k w a r d n e s s s t op y o u f r o m m a s t e r i n g t h e sk i l l . P e o p l e d o n o t

l e a r n t o t y p e b y t y p i n g o n l y w h e n i t feels n a t u r a l . I t i s t h r o u g h

u s i n g t h e t e c h n i q u e s a n d w o r k i n g t h r o u g h t h e in i t i a l d i s c o m f o r t

t h a t sk i l l s a re l e a r n e d .

I n s u m m a r y , i t i s u p t o y o u t o a p p l y t h e t e c h n i q u e s p r e s e n t e d

i n t h i s b o o k a n d a p p l y t h e m i n w a y s t h a t a c h i e v e y o u r p u r p o s e s .

I f y o u w a n t t o m a s t e r w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g , t h e n f o l l o w t h e s e

t h r e e s u g g e s t i o n s : u s e it, u s e it, a n d u s e it.

A v o i d c r e a t i n g a n art if icial " p r a c t i c e t i m e . " T h i s c a n b e c o m e

d r u d g e r y . Y o u h a v e r e a d i n g y o u w a n t a n d n e e d t o d o . U s e t h e

s y s t e m ! Y o u m a y e v e n c o n s i d e r e n r o l l i n g i n a P h o t o R e a d i n g

seminar or l istening to the PhotoReading Personal Learning Course.

I n t h e m e a n w h i l e , d i g i n to t h o s e p i l e s o f b o o k s l a y i n g a r o u n d

t h e h o u s e .

Choose how you will use the PhotoReading whole mind system

As y o u f in i sh th i s c h a p t e r , t h i n k o f a spec i f ic r e a d i n g t a s k

t h a t y o u of ten face , s u c h a s r e a d i n g r e p o r t s a n d t r a d e j o u r n a l s ,

s t u d y i n g t e x t b o o k s , o r c r u i s i n g t he in te rne t . U s e t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g s y s t e m i n w a y s t h a t w i l l a c c o m p l i s h

y o u r g o a l .

I m a g i n e h o w a n d w h e n y o u w i l l u s e t h e t e c h n i q u e s . F o r

e x a m p l e , y o u m i g h t see y o u r s e l f p r e v i e w i n g t h e m o r n i n g p a p e r

b y s c a n n i n g t h e h e a d l i n e s a n d p h o t o c a p t i o n s . D e t e r m i n e t h e

spec i f ic t i m e a n d p l a c e y o u w i l l u s e t he t e c h n i q u e y o u c h o s e .

T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i s a t o o l w i t h

c o u n t l e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s . Y o u h a v e j u s t s e e n y o u r s e l f e x p e r i e n c i n g

s o m e o f t h e m . N o w , a d d a n o t h e r a p p l i c a t i o n t o y o u r r e a d i n g

r e p e r t o i r e a s y o u l e a r n h o w t o . . .

9

Share Information Through Group Activation

I h e a r m a n y b u s i n e s s p e o p l e c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h i ck , u g l y

d o c u m e n t s t h e y e n c o u n t e r a t w o r k — s p e c i f i c a t i o n m a n u a l s ,

r e q u e s t s for p r o p o s a l s , s t a c k s o f c o m p u t e r p r i n t o u t s , t e c h n i c a l

m a n u a l s for e q u i p m e n t , so f tware m a n u a l s , a n d so on . I see t h e s e

p e o p l e ' s e y e s s p a r k l e w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n , i f no t a m a z e m e n t , w h e n

I s u g g e s t an a l t e r n a t i v e t h a t i n v o l v e s P h o t o R e a d i n g .

W h e n I first p r e s e n t e d P h o t o R e a d i n g a t I D S / A m e r i c a n

E x p r e s s i n M i n n e a p o l i s , I w o r k e d w i t h a n i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m s

a n d d a t a p r o c e s s i n g g r o u p . A f t e r a c l a s s s e s s i o n , s e v e r a l

p a r t i c i p a n t s c a m e u p t o m e . T h e o n e h o l d i n g a s t ack o f r e p o r t s

sa id , " T h i s s e m i n a r h a s b e e n v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g . B u t h o w d o w e u s e

t he t e c h n i q u e s o n these?" H e d r o p p e d the s t ack o n the t a b l e w i t h

a t h u d . F e e l i n g a b i t t h r e a t e n e d , I t o l d h i m we w o u l d c o v e r

a p p l i c a t i o n s o f t h i s sor t d u r i n g the n e x t s e s s i o n .

T h a t a f t e r n o o n , I c l e a r e d m y d e s k a n d t o o k t h e first

d o c u m e n t — a b l u e c o v e r e d , c o m p u t e r g e n e r a t e d r e p o r t — a n d set

i t i n front o f m e . I r e a d t he front c o v e r w h i c h sa id " C A T S

U n s c h e d u l e d D i s b u r s e m e n t s , S y s t e m s E x t e r n a l S p e c i f i c a t i o n s . "

M y b r a i n i n s t an t l y o v e r l o a d e d a n d b l e w a fuse. M y h e a r t s t a r t ed

r a c i n g a t t he t h o u g h t o f t e a c h i n g the n e x t s e s s i o n . I c o u l d h e a r t he

r i d i cu l e a n d feel t he h u m i l i a t i o n . M y p a l m s g o t s w e a t y . N o d o u b t

a b o u t it, I w a s in d o c u m e n t s h o c k .

I n u m b l y o p e n e d the front c o v e r a n d t r i ed to r e a d the t a b l e

o f c o n t e n t s . N o t h i n g m a d e s e n s e . I t w a s all c o m p l e t e g i b b e r i s h .

N o w m y p a n i c w a s c o m p l e t e .


A l m o s t i n s t i n c t i v e l y , I s t o p p e d e v e r y t h i n g , t o o k in a d e e p

b r e a t h , a n d d r o p p e d in to t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e . I o p e n e d

m y e y e s , e n t e r e d P h o t o F o c u s , a n d P h o t o R e a d t h e r e p o r t — o n c e

r i g h t s i d e u p , o n c e u p s i d e d o w n a n d b a c k w a r d s . A f t e r

P h o t o R e a d i n g , I c l o s e d m y e y e s a n d g a v e m y s e l f t h e c l o s i n g

a f f i rmat ion .

T h e n c a m e t h e a m a z i n g pa r t . I o p e n e d m y e y e s a n d l o o k e d

a t t h e t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s a g a i n . M i r a c u l o u s l y , e v e r y t h i n g m a d e

s e n s e . I w e n t o n t o p r e v i e w t h e r e p o r t a n d c o u l d c l e a r l y see t h e

s t ruc tu re o f t he en t i r e d o c u m e n t , i n f o r m a t i o n c o v e r e d , t he p u r p o s e

for it, a n d t h e c o n c l u s i o n s d r a w n . I s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p p e d , a n d

i n m i n u t e s I k n e w e x a c t l y w h a t d a t a p r o c e s s i n g m a n a g e r s n e e d e d

t o k n o w f r o m it. F a n t a s t i c !

I b o u n c e d t h r o u g h t h e o t h e r d o c u m e n t s l i ke a k i d in a c a n d y

s to r e . I t t o o k m e b e t w e e n 1 1 a n d 1 3 m i n u t e s t o r e a d a n y o n e o f

t h e m w e l l e n o u g h t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d d i s c u s s .

I m a g i n e m y c o n f i d e n c e a t t he n e x t s e s s i o n . I d e s c r i b e d h o w

t o r e a d t h e r e p o r t s u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

O n e m a n a g e r c o m m e n t e d t h a t I u n d e r s t o o d the r e p o r t s b e t t e r

t h a n h e d id , a n d h i s d e p a r t m e n t g e n e r a t e d s i m i l a r d o c u m e n t s

q u a r t e r l y .

R e a d i n g s t a c k s o f b u s i n e s s o r t e a c h e r g e n e r a t e d p a p e r s i s

s i m p l e u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . I f y o u n e e d

f ami l i a r i t y w i t h a d o c u m e n t , p r i o r to a m e e t i n g o r c l a s s , t h e

s t r a t e g y t h a t f o l l o w s is a w i n n e r .

Group activation

S a y t h a t y o u m a n a g e a g r o u p o f t h r e e p e o p l e , a n d t h a t e a c h

o f t h e s e p e o p l e h a s d i f fe r ing d e g r e e s o f e x p e r t i s e a b o u t w h a t

h a p p e n s i n y o u r c o m p a n y a s a w h o l e . O n e p e r s o n , for e x a m p l e ,

o f ten w o r k s w i t h t h e h u m a n r e s o u r c e d e p a r t m e n t , a n o t h e r t a l k s

f r e q u e n t l y t o s y s t e m s a n a l y s t s i n t he d a t a p r o c e s s i n g d e p a r t m e n t ,

a n d t h e t h i r d p e r s o n h a s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n m a r k e t i n g a n d p r o d u c t

d e v e l o p m e n t .

O n e d a y y o u a re h a n d e d t h e so f tware m a n u a l for a n e w

c o m p a n y - w i d e c o m p u t e r s y s t e m . L o o k i n g a t t he t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s ,

y o u f ind t h a t y o u h a v e s ix h u n d r e d p a g e s o f e x t r a r e a d i n g t o

c o m p l e t e i n t h e n e x t w e e k . O n e o p t i o n for h a n d l i n g t h i s s i t u a t i o n

Group Activation 93

i s t he t r a d i t i o n a l o n e : y o u a n d e a c h o f y o u r p e o p l e s l o g t h r o u g h

t h e m a n u a l f rom s ta r t t o f inish, r e l e a s i n g m u c h h o p e o f s l e e p for

t he n e x t few n i g h t s .

I n s t e a d , t ry t h i s : h a n d e a c h o f y o u r staff a c o p y o f t h e

m a n u a l . A s k e a c h o f t h e m t o t a k e t h e m a n u a l h o m e for o n e n igh t ,

p r e v i e w i t for five t o e i g h t m i n u t e s , a n d t h e n s p e n d a n o t h e r few

m i n u t e s P h o t o R e a d i n g i t b e f o r e t h e y g o t o s l e e p . D u r i n g t h e n e x t

w o r k i n g day , m e e t a s a g r o u p t o a c t i va t e a n d d i s c u s s t he d o c u m e n t .

I n t he m e e t i n g , g o a r o u n d t h e g r o u p a n d a sk w h a t t h e y

k n o w f r o m p r e v i e w i n g t h e m a n u a l . T h i s w i l l i n s u r e e v e r y o n e i s

s t a r t i n g f r o m a s i m i l a r f r a m e o f r e f e r e n c e . N e x t , g i v e y o u r g r o u p

a n a c t i v a t i o n a s s i g n m e n t . A s k e a c h p e r s o n t o s p e n d s e v e n t o t e n

m i n u t e s s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d d i p p i n g i n t h e m a n u a l t o f ind spec i f i c

i n f o r m a t i o n . G i v e t h e m spec i f ic t o p i c s t o f ocus o n w i t h spec i f ic

q u e s t i o n s r e l a t e d t o a r e a s o f p e r s o n a l o r p r o f e s s i o n a l i n t e re s t .

F o r e x a m p l e , a s k y o u r h u m a n r e s o u r c e e x p e r t t o s u p e r r e a d

a n d d i p i n to t h e m a n u a l t o j u d g e h o w t h i s n e w s y s t e m w i l l affect

t he c o m p a n y ' s n e e d for n e w p e r s o n n e l o r t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s . A s k

y o u r s y s t e m ' s m a n a g e r t o j u d g e t h e t e c h n i c a l fit w i t h e x i s t i n g

s y s t e m s , a n d s o on .

Af te r c o m p l e t i n g th i s a s s i g n m e n t , t h e n e x t s t ep i s t o a c t i v a t e

t h e m a n u a l i n a g r o u p d i s c u s s i o n . H a v e e a c h p e r s o n s p e n d f ive

m i n u t e s d e s c r i b i n g w h a t t h e y l e a r n e d f rom s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d

d i p p i n g in to t h e t ex t . L e t o n e p e r s o n c r e a t e a g i a n t m i n d m a p t h a t

p o o l s t h e m a i n p o i n t s d e s c r i b e d . F o l l o w t h e m i n d m a p p i n g w i t h

a n o p e n d i s c u s s i o n , a l l o w i n g y o u r e m p l o y e e s t o a s k e a c h o t h e r

q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t he spec i f ic p o i n t s t h e y h a v e m a d e .

E x p e r i m e n t w i t h th i s s t r a t e g y , a n d y o u w i l l b e s u r p r i s e d a t

t h e r i c h n e s s a n d v a l u e o f t he e n s u i n g d i s c u s s i o n . A s y o u r

e m p l o y e e s a s k a n d a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s , t h e y h e l p e a c h o t h e r a c t i v a t e

t he m a t e r i a l t h e y h a v e r e a d . I n effect, t h i s i s P h o t o R e a d i n g

f o l l o w e d b y g r o u p a c t i v a t i o n .

W a t c h i n g g r o u p s u s e th i s s t r a t e g y , I h a v e s e e n t h e m r e d u c e

r e a d i n g c h o r e s f r o m s e v e r a l h o u r s o f w a s t e d t i m e t o a m a t t e r o f

a few h i g h l y e f fec t ive m i n u t e s . W h a t ' s m o r e , t h i s p r o c e s s p r o m p t s

p e o p l e t o s h a r e i n f o r m a t i o n a c r o s s s p e c i a l t i e s — s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s

s u r p r i s i n g l y r a r e i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a g e . T h e p a y o f f i s c o n c r e t e :

h i g h l e v e l p e o p l e a re f reed f rom p l o w i n g t h r o u g h m a n u a l s for

h o u r s a t a t i m e ; i n s t e a d , t h e y c a n r e t u r n t o w h a t t h e y d o b e s t .


G r o u p s t u r n i n to p r o d u c t i v e d e c i s i o n m a k i n g fo rces , u s i n g s h a r e d

in fo rma t ion a n d l ea rn ing to b e c o m e e v e n m o r e effective a s they go .

T h i s i s o n e o f t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l t o o l s I k n o w a b o u t for

c o p i n g w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d a n d d o c u m e n t s h o c k . I t i s n o

l o n g e r f e a s i b l e t o e x p e c t a n y o n e p e r s o n t o m a s t e r al l t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n o n a g i v e n t o p i c . I n s t e a d , u s e t he P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t o c r e a t e a r e g u l a r p r o c e s s o f s h a r i n g

i n f o r m a t i o n a c r o s s d e p a r t m e n t s a n d a r e a s o f e x p e r t i s e .

I f y o u w i s h t o u s e th i s p r o c e s s i n a s t r u c t u r e d w a y , t h e

f o l l o w i n g f o r m a t d e s c r i b e s e a c h s t ep . U s e i t w h e n e v e r s e v e r a l

p e o p l e n e e d t o s h a r e a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a d o c u m e n t .

1 . P r e - S e s s i o n A s s i g n m e n t

T h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s a m e m o f r o m t h e

g r o u p l e a d e r w i t h t h e r e a d i n g a s s i g n m e n t a t t a c h e d . T h e m e m o

s t a t e s t h e p u r p o s e a n d i n t e n d e d o u t c o m e o f t he m e e t i n g .

2 . I n d i v i d u a l P r e p a r a t i o n

C o m p l e t e t h e a s s i g n e d r e a d i n g i n s t a g e s :

• P r e p a r e ( o n e to t w o m i n u t e s ) .

• P r e v i e w t h e m a t e r i a l ( t h ree t o e i g h t m i n u t e s ) .

• P h o t o R e a d ( o n e to t h r e e m i n u t e s ) .

• O p t i o n a l : s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p ( t en m i n u t e s m a x i m u m ) .

• B e f o r e s l e e p , v i s u a l i z e a c t i v a t i n g t h e m a t e r i a l s a n d

succes s fu l l y a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h e g r o u p ' s o u t c o m e .

3 . G r o u p A c t i v a t i o n

R e s t a t e t he g r o u p ' s i n t en t . S u m m a r i z e t h e r e a d i n g b y

d e s c r i b i n g t h e d o c u m e n t i n g e n e r a l t e r m s , d i s c u s s i n g t h e t y p e o f

r e p o r t o r a r t i c l e , t h e m a i n p o i n t o f it, a n d q u e s t i o n s t h e a u t h o r

a d d r e s s e s .

N e x t , a s s i g n the s e c t i o n s t o b e a n a l y z e d a n d t h e spec i f ic

k i n d o f a n a l y s i s y o u w a n t f r o m e a c h p e r s o n . F o r e x a m p l e , o n e

p e r s o n c o u l d l o o k a t t he r e p o r t f rom t h e p o s i t i o n o f a m a n a g e m e n t

e x p e r t . O n e p e r s o n c o u l d e x p l o r e t he p r o b l e m s r a i s e d . A n o t h e r

p e r s o n c o u l d e x a m i n e s h o r t r a n g e i m p l i c a t i o n s .

A s k e a c h g r o u p m e m b e r t o r a p i d r e a d the a s s i g n e d s e c t i o n

o r s u p e r r e a d the e n t i r e t ex t for t h e k e y i d e a s t h e y a re e x p l o r i n g .

R e m e m b e r t o specify t h e t i m e for c o m p l e t i n g t he t a sk . ( T r a i n e d

P h o t o R e a d e r s g e n e r a l l y a c t i v a t e a f if teen to th i r ty p a g e r e p o r t i n

s e v e n t o t w e l v e m i n u t e s . )

Group Activation 95

4. D i s c u s s i o n — A n a l y t i c a l F o r m a t

O u t l i n e t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d c o n t e n t o f t he e n t i r e d o c u m e n t :

• L i s t t r i g g e r w o r d s . W h a t a re t h e i r m e a n i n g s ? D o t h o s e

m e a n i n g s shift a t a n y p o i n t i n t h e t e x t ? (Refer b a c k to C h a p t e r 4

o n p r e v i e w i n g for i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h i s . )

• L i s t t h e m a i n p r o p o s i t i o n s . W h a t i d e a s c a p t u r e t he o p i n i o n

a n d fac ts p r e s e n t e d i n t h e d o c u m e n t ? A r r a n g e t h e s e o p i n i o n s

a n d facts i n a l o g i c a l s e q u e n c e to d i s c o v e r t he k e y a r g u m e n t s . I f

y o u f ind t h e c o n c l u s i o n first, t h e n l o o k for t h e s u p p o r t i n g r e a s o n s .

I f y o u f ind t h e r e a s o n s first, see w h e r e t h e y l ead .

• E x a m i n e t h e d e f i n e d p r o b l e m s a n d t h e p r o p o s e d

s o l u t i o n s . W h a t p r o b l e m s d o e s t h e a u t h o r s o l v e ? A r e t h e r e any

t h a t r e m a i n u n s o l v e d ?

• C r i t i q u e t h e t ex t . D i s c u s s t h e m e r i t s a n d d r a w b a c k s o f

t h e i d e a s p r e s e n t e d . W h a t a r g u m e n t s d o y o u a g r e e w i t h ? W h a t

a re t h e p o i n t s o f d i s a g r e e m e n t ?

D i s c u s s i o n — C r e a t i v e F o r m a t

Y o u r g r o u p m i g h t c h o o s e t o e n g a g e i n a c r e a t i v e d i s c u s s i o n

i n s t e a d o f a n a n a l y t i c a l o n e . I f t h a t i s t h e c a s e , t h i s f o r m a t w i l l b e

m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e .

• D e s c r i b e y o u r " f ee l ing r e s p o n s e " t o t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s .

K e e p i n m i n d t h a t f e e l i n g s set a s t a g e for h o w i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l b e

i n t e r p r e t e d .

• S t a t e t h e facts a n d i n f o r m a t i o n y o u h a v e r e c e i v e d f r o m

t h e t ex t .

• C o n d u c t a b r a i n s t o r m i n g s e s s i o n a b o u t t h e m e a n i n g ,

r e l a t i o n s h i p , a n d r e l e v a n c e o f t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e g r o u p ' s

o u t c o m e .

• P l a n w h a t t o d o a b o u t a l l t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d e s t a b l i s h

t h e g r o u p ' s n e x t s t e p .

T h e b e n e f i t s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m c a n

r i p p l e t h r o u g h o u t y o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d c h a n g e t h e w a y y o u ge t

t h i n g s d o n e a t w o r k . S h a r e d d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g o c c u r s w h e n

e v e r y o n e s h a r e s t he s a m e b a s e o f i n f o r m a t i o n . U s i n g t h e s e

t e c h n i q u e s , i n d i v i d u a l s k e e p u p w i t h a l m o s t n o effort o r s t r u g g l e .

A few m i n u t e s d e v o t e d t o p r e v i e w i n g a n d P h o t o R e a d i n g a t

n i g h t i s n o t a m a j o r p r o j e c t . T a k i n g t e n m i n u t e s in a m e e t i n g to

t u r n o n t h e w h o l e m i n d a n d a c t i v a t e r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h a


s t r o n g p u r p o s e f u l a p p r o a c h t o p r o b l e m s o l v i n g i s e n o r m o u s l y

p r o d u c t i v e . W h e n s h a r i n g t h e a c t i v a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e g r o u p i s

t o t a l l y f o c u s e d o n d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g .

Succeed in any group

A l t h o u g h t h i s c h a p t e r h a s f o c u s e d o n b u s i n e s s a p p l i c a t i o n s

o f g r o u p a c t i v a t i o n , y o u c a n u s e t h e s e sk i l l s w h e n e v e r s h a r i n g

i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h o t h e r s . C o n s i d e r b o o k c l u b s a s a n e x c e l l e n t

o p p o r t u n i t y t o u s e a n d r e f i ne y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g s k i l l s .

C o m m u n i t y l i b r a r i e s a n d b o o k s t o r e s c a n of ten refer y o u t o

e x i s t i n g g r o u p s t h a t w e l c o m e n e w m e m b e r s . I f y o u c a n n o t f ind

o n e , s tar t y o u r o w n !

M a n y P h o t o R e a d e r s a t t e n d s t u d y g r o u p s w i t h i n t h e i r

r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t i e s . U s e t h e s t r a t e g y o u t l i n e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r

t o s t u d y s c r i p t u r e a n d d i s c o v e r h o w q u i c k l y y o u g a i n t he b e n e f i t s

y o u seek . P h o t o R e a d i n g m a y b e o n e o f t h e b e s t t h i n g s for

s u p p o r t i n g y o u r sp i r i t ua l g r o w t h .

I f y o u a t t e n d c o l l e g e c l a s s e s , s o o n e r o r l a t e r y o u w i l l f ind

y o u r s e l f i n a g r o u p p r o j e c t w h e r e r e a d i n g i s i n v o l v e d . U s e t h e

t e c h n i q u e s p r e s e n t e d h e r e t o e n s u r e y o u a re a l w a y s p r e p a r e d .

T h e o t h e r g r o u p m e m b e r s w i l l r e c o g n i z e y o u r l e a d e r s h i p

c a p a b i l i t i e s b e c a u s e o f y o u r a m a z i n g g r a s p o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n

y o u s t u d y .

A n o t h e r t y p e o f g r o u p , c a l l e d s u c c e s s t e a m s , a r e g r o u p s o f

t h r e e t o five P h o t o R e a d e r s w h o m e e t r e g u l a r l y t o h e l p e a c h o t h e r

a c c o m p l i s h p e r s o n a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t o b j e c t i v e s . I t

i s a b i g c o m m i t m e n t t o m e e t e v e r y m o n t h t o P h o t o R e a d w i t h

o t h e r s , b u t i t h a s a l w a y s p a i d off for t h o s e w h o h a v e d o n e it. F o r

m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n s u c c e s s t e a m s , P h o t o R e a d Teamworks! b y

B a r b a r a S h e r a n d A n n G o t t l i e b .

Get your group involved

H o w d o y o u ge t y o u r g r o u p m e m b e r s s t a r t ed t o d a y u s i n g

P h o t o R e a d i n g ? B u y c o p i e s o f t h i s b o o k for t h e m . T e l l t h e m t o

p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d the w h o l e b o o k , t h e n a c t i v a t e j u s t t h i s

c h a p t e r . D o y o u t h i n k t h a t w i l l s t i m u l a t e t h e i r c u r i o s i t y ?

Group Activation 97

Needing to learn French, a business woman PhotoRead the English/French

dictionary repeatedly for two weeks before attending French classes at the

Berlitz school in Brussels. Each night after class, she PhotoRead the course

manuals and the dictionary. Within three days, she had advanced to the second

book. School administrators told her she was performing two and a half t imes

better than their previous best student.

An insurance salesman didn't have enough time to study for his exams, which

have always been difficult for him. He used the PhotoReading whole mind

system saying, "The worst that can happen is that I fail and have to retake the

class." He passed.

An office manager said retrieving misfiled files became very easy." I get into the

state for PhotoReading, and the files seem to jump out of the drawer at me."

S e r i o u s l y , i t i s a g o o d i d e a t h a t e v e r y o n e l e a r n t h e s e sk i l l s .

Te l l t h e m t o u s e t h e g u i d e a t t he b e g i n n i n g c a l l e d " H o w t o R e a d

This B o o k " and read the book to Leve l 2. This is a one-hour

inves tmen t . C o n s i d e r pu rchas ing the PhotoReading Personal

Learning Course. In it I will guide y o u th rough learning the

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m o n a u d i o t a p e . T h i s b o o k i s

i n c l u d e d w i t h t h e p a c k a g e .

A n o t h e r w a y to g e t o t h e r s i n v o l v e d i s t o b r i n g a ce r t i f i ed

P h o t o R e a d i n g i n s t r u c t o r i n t o y o u r c o m p a n y o r c o m m u n i t y for a

t r a in ing . Ca l l L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n n o w for i n f o r m a t i o n

o n s p o n s o r i n g a n i n - c o m p a n y t r a i n i n g .

Y o u c a n say g o o d - b y e t o w o r r y i n g a b o u t h o w t o c o n t r i b u t e

i n m e e t i n g s b e c a u s e y o u d id n o t r e a d t h e r e p o r t . G o n e a r e t h e

n i g h t s o f l u g g i n g p a p e r s h o m e , o n l y t o i g n o r e t h e m , a n d t h e n

s h a m e f u l l y let t h e m p i l e . N o w y o u c a n s t a n d u p a n d t a k e a

p o w e r f u l l e a d w h e r e v e r y o u a r e . I n f o r m a t i o n i s p o w e r for t h o s e

w h o k n o w h o w t o a c c e s s i t a n d s h a r e i t i n use fu l w a y s .

S i m p l y d o it. T h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f s u c c e s s w i l l h a p p e n .

Y o u c a n t a k e spec i f ic s t eps t o s t r e n g t h e n y o u r a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s e

i d e a s a s y o u l e a r n h o w t o . . .

10

Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience

Y o u b e c o m e m o r e s k i l l e d a t P h o t o R e a d i n g w h e n y o u p u t

t h e t e c h n i q u e s t o w o r k for y o u . P l a i n a n d s i m p l e : j u s t d o it. U n l i k e

s p e e d r e a d i n g i n s t r u c t o r s t h a t i n s i s t o n e n d l e s s r e p e t i t i o n o f

p e r f u n c t o r y d r i l l s , P h o t o R e a d i n g i n s t r u c t o r s e n c o u r a g e t a k i n g

r e l a x e d , p l a y f u l , a n d e x p l o r a t i v e i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h r e a d i n g

m a t e r i a l s . D o i n g s o p r o m o t e s fast, c o n t i n u o u s ski l l d e v e l o p m e n t .

T h e c o n c e p t o f " n o p a i n , n o g a i n " i s a b s u r d w h e n i t c o m e s

t o m a t t e r s o f t h e m i n d . Y o u s i m p l y c a n n o t b e c o m e s k i l l e d a t

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h i l e b e a t i n g y o u r s e l f u p . U s i n g t h e s t eps o f t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i n al l r e a d i n g e n d e a v o r s h a s

p r o v e n t o b e t he b e s t r o u t e t o b u i l d i n g sk i l l s .

I a l so e n r i c h my u s e o f t h e s y s t e m w h e n I e x p l o r e r e l a t e d

a r e a s o f sel f d e v e l o p m e n t . D i s c o v e r for y o u r s e l f t h a t b e c o m i n g

m o r e sk i l l ed w i t h e l e m e n t s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g a c t u a l l y i m p r o v e s

t h e q u a l i t y o f y o u r e n t i r e life.

Cultivate the eye-mind connection

E x t r e m e l y fast r e a d e r s a r e v i s u a l r e a d e r s . T h e y re ly on a

d i r e c t c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n the e y e a n d t h e b r a i n . T h e y d o n o t

n e e d t o s u b v o c a l i z e — t h a t is , m e n t a l l y h e a r t h e w o r d s o n t h e

p a g e — i n o r d e r t o c o m p r e h e n d w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s . S t u d i e s i n d i c a t e

t h a t s u b v o c a l i z i n g i s n o t c r i t i ca l t o c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

D e p e n d o n y o u r e y e s a l o n e t o d e l i v e r t he i n f o r m a t i o n y o u

w a n t f rom r e a d i n g . M a n y o f u s h a v e s p e n t y e a r s d e v e l o p i n g a

Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience 99

c o n f l i c t i n g hab i t : r e c e i v i n g v i s u a l a n d a u d i t o r y s i g n a l s i n o r d e r t o

u n d e r s t a n d o u r r e a d i n g . Y o u r b r a i n m o s t l ike ly w i l l n o t ad jus t t o

a t o t a l shift o v e r n i g h t . To e n c o u r a g e y o u r d e v e l o p m e n t , r e l a x

w h e n y o u r e a d . D o n o t s w e a t t h e c o m p r e h e n s i o n o n t h e first o r

s e c o n d p a s s t h r o u g h m a t e r i a l . A n d p r a i s e y o u r s e l f for d o i n g a n y

a n d al l t e c h n i q u e s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

Consider vision training

V i s i o n T h e r a p y , a l so k n o w n a s F u n c t i o n a l V i s i o n T r a i n i n g

o r S e n s o r y P e r c e p t u a l T r a i n i n g , m a y b e a w a y t o a d v a n c e y o u r

r e a d i n g sk i l l s . S u c h t r a i n i n g s t r e n g t h e n s y o u r e y e s a n d y o u r

b r a i n ' s ab i l i ty t o p r o c e s s w r i t t e n i n f o r m a t i o n .

V i s i o n t r a i n i n g I r e c e i v e d i n c l u d e d e x e r c i s e s for c o n v e r g i n g

a n d d i v e r g i n g t h e e y e s , a c c o m m o d a t i n g m y focus f r o m far t o

nea r , t r a c k i n g m o v i n g o b j e c t s s m o o t h l y , e x p a n d i n g s h o r t t e r m

v i s u a l m e m o r y s t o r a g e , a n d e n l a r g i n g m y p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n .

D e v e l o p i n g t h e s e sk i l l s r e s u l t s i n a s t r o n g e r , m o r e b a l a n c e d

v i s u a l s y s t e m . T h e p a y o f f i s t r e m e n d o u s ef f ic iency i n al l v i s u a l

t a s k s , e s p e c i a l l y r e a d i n g .

Expand your peripheral awareness

D e v e l o p i n g p e r i p h e r a l a w a r e n e s s i n v o l v e s l o o k i n g a t y o u r 31

v i s u a l f ie ld a n d n o t i c i n g w h a t e v e r i s n o t i n h a r d f o c u s . T h e

o b j e c t i v e i s t o p u l l i n i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t u s u a l l y e l u d e s t he c o n s c i o u s

m i n d . T h e b e n e f i t i s t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n i n th i s o t h e r 9 9 p e r c e n t o f

t he v i s u a l f ield c a n b e a t t e n d e d to , a n d r e s p o n d e d to , w i t h

r e m a r k a b l e e f f ic iency .

P u p i l d i l a t i o n i n c r e a s e s p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n . T h i s o c c u r s

n a t u r a l l y w h e n l igh t i n t e n s i t y d e c r e a s e s o r w h e n the e y e s d i v e r g e ,

a s i n t he P h o t o F o c u s s t a t e . As an a id t o th i s p r o c e s s , I r e c o m m e n d

t h a t y o u P h o t o R e a d i n w a r m e r , sof ter l igh t .

P h o t o R e a d i n g i s d e s i g n e d t o o p e n o u r v i s u a l f ield. L i k e

r e m o v i n g t h e " f l ight b l i n d e r s " o f a s t u d e n t p i lo t , p r a c t i c i n g

P h o t o R e a d i n g h e l p s y o u n o t i c e m o r e o f w h a t i s t h e r e i n front o f

y o u — f o r e x a m p l e , t h e e d g e s o f t h e b o o k r a t h e r t h a n a s i n g l e

w o r d o r w o r d p h r a s e .


T h e r e a re o t h e r a p p l i c a t i o n s for i n c r e a s e d p e r i p h e r a l

a w a r e n e s s . W i t h it, y o u i n c r e a s e y o u r r e s p o n s i v e n e s s t o v i s u a l

c u e s i n t he e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e a p p l i c a t i o n s b e c o m e l i m i t l e s s . F o r

e x a m p l e , y o u c a n d r i v e m o r e d e f e n s i v e l y , i n c r e a s e y o u r

p r o f i c i e n c y i n spo r t s s u c h a s r a c q u e t b a l l a n d t e n n i s , r e s p o n d

b e t t e r w h e n p l a y i n g c a r d s , s i n g i n c h o i r s w i t h g r e a t e r e a s e ,

f u n c t i o n in a b u s y office e n v i r o n m e n t m o r e eas i ly , f ind i t e m s in

s to res m o r e q u i c k l y , a n d i n c r e a s e y o u r t y p i n g s p e e d .

H e r e a re s o m e s i m p l e w a y s t o w o r k w i t h p e r i p h e r a l

a w a r e n e s s :

• W h e n d r i v i n g t h e c a r a n d l o o k i n g d o w n the r o a d , n o t i c e

t h e s ide s o f t he r o a d , p i c k ou t m o v e m e n t s i n t he s ide v i e w

m i r r o r s , a n d r e a d b i l l b o a r d s w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t t h e m .

• W a l k w i t h a soft g a z e , l o o k i n g a t a p o i n t on t he h o r i z o n ,

a n d t a k e i n t he w i d e p a n o r a m a o f t h e w o r l d a r o u n d y o u .

• W h e n i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , n o t i c e w h a t i t e m s o f c l o t h i n g o r

j e w e l r y p e o p l e a re w e a r i n g w h i l e l o o k i n g o n l y a t t h e i r face .

• W h e n P h o t o R e a d i n g , p a y a t t e n t i o n t o t he e d g e s o f t h e

b o o k o r t he s p a c e s b e t w e e n the p a r a g r a p h s .

• W o r k w i t h a m a r t i a l a r ts e x p e r t . T h e s c h o o l s o f T ' a i C h i

a n d A i k i d o , w h i c h a re c o n s i d e r e d t h e " s o f t e r " f o r m s , are i d e a l .

• P h o t o R e a d b o o k s t h a t t e a c h th i s k i n d o f o p e n , r e l a x e d

a w a r e n e s s . B o o k s o n Z e n a n d m e d i t a t i o n a re e x c e l l e n t r e s o u r c e s .

T h e Inner Game b o o k s by T i m G a l l w e y d e s c r i b e m a n y o f t he

c o n c e p t s o f Z e n m e d i t a t i o n i n a n a p p l i c a t i o n - o r i e n t e d ,

W e s t e r n i z e d w a y . T h e s e b o o k s s u g g e s t m a n y e x e r c i s e s tha t

b u i l d sk i l l s r e l a t e d t o P h o t o R e a d i n g .

A f t e r P h o t o R e a d i n g b o o k s o n m e d i t a t i o n a n d o p e n

a w a r e n e s s , d o n o t a c t i v a t e t h e m m a n u a l l y for a f ew d a y s a n d

n o t i c e w h a t h a p p e n s . L e t y o u r m a g n i f i c e n t b r a i n s u r p r i s e a n d

d e l i g h t y o u w i t h i n c r e a s e d sk i l l s . N o t i c e y o u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d

d i s c o v e r t h a t m a g i c a l m o m e n t s b e c o m e m o r e c o m m o n p l a c e a s

t h e qua l i t y o f y o u r life i m p r o v e s . See C h a p t e r 13 , " D i s c o v e r Y o u r

G e n i u s P o t e n t i a l W i t h D i r e c t L e a r n i n g , " for m o r e i n s i g h t i n to

h o w th i s w o r k s .

Enter states of relaxed alertness

D e c a d e s o f r e s e a r c h s h o w u s tha t o u r b e s t r e s o u r c e s for


l e a r n i n g a n d p e r s o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t a re n o t a v a i l a b l e t o u s w h e n

w e ca l l o n o u r c o n s c i o u s m i n d , t h e p a r t t h a t u s e s t he f ive s e n s e s

a n d f o c u s e s o u t w a r d l y . A n e x p a n d e d r a n g e o f b r a i n r e s o u r c e s

a re a v a i l a b l e a s we c h a n g e o u r s ta te o f c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s t o a

m o r e i n w a r d focus a n d re ly o n i n n e r s e n s e s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e

w o r l d . U s i n g t h e e x p a n d e d p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e b r a i n

w e c a n a c c e l e r a t e l e a r n i n g , i m p r o v e s p o r t p e r f o r m a n c e , a n d

e n h a n c e p e r s o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t .

Y o u m a y k n o w t h a t t h e h u m a n b r a i n p r o d u c e s a n e l e c t r i c a l

f r e q u e n c y . T h e w a v e s o f e l e c t r i c a l e n e r g y c a n b e m e a s u r e d i n

H e r t z ( H z ) o r c y c l e s p e r s e c o n d ( cps ) w i t h a d e v i c e k n o w n a s a n

e l e c t r o e n c e p h a l o g r a p h ( E E G ) . T h e b r a i n n o r m a l l y o p e r a t e s i n a

r a n g e o f f r e q u e n c i e s f rom 1 to 3 0+ c y c l e s p e r s e c o n d ( c p s ) .

S m a l l e r f r e q u e n c y r a n g e s w i t h i n t h e n o r m a l r a n g e a re a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h a v a r i e t y o f b r a i n f u n c t i o n s o r c a p a b i l i t i e s .

Dr . F. N o a h G o r d o n , in h i s b o o k Magical Classroom, de sc r ibes

t h e s m a l l e r f r e q u e n c y r a n g e s a s " b r a i n c h a n n e l s , " s i m i l a r t o r a d i o

o r t e l e v i s i o n c h a n n e l s . A t e a c h f r e q u e n c y s e t t i n g , d i f fe ren t

i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e t o u s . A s w i t h c h a n g i n g c h a n n e l s o n t h e

t e l e v i s i o n , w e c a n c h a n g e o u r b r a i n c h a n n e l s a n d a c c e s s m o r e o f

t h e b r a i n ' s full p o t e n t i a l .

T h e four c h a n n e l s a r e m a j o r s t a t e s o f a w a r e n e s s t h a t a re o n

ca l l for e a c h o f u s a t al l t i m e s . T h e s e c h a n n e l s a r e :

C h a n n e l 1—Act ion C h a n n e l ( 1 6 - 3 0 c p s ) , a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

o u t w a r d p e r f o r m a n c e , c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g , a n d s t r e s s .

C h a n n e l 2 — R e l a x a t i o n C h a n n e l (12 -15 c ps ) , a s t r e s s - r e l ea se

g a t e o p e n i n g i n w a r d t o p h y s i c a l l y a n d m e n t a l l y a l e r t s t a t e s .

C h a n n e l 3 — L e a r n i n g C h a n n e l ( 8 - 1 2 c p s ) , t h e h o m e o f t h e

r ea l l e a r n e r w h e r e w e p r o c e s s n e w l e a r n i n g , a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

c a l m , e f for t less , r e l a x e d i n n e r a w a r e n e s s .

C h a n n e l 4 — H i g h C r e a t i v i t y / P a t t e r n - M a k e r C h a n n e l (5 -7

c p s ) , t h e p l a c e o f h i g h e s t r e s o u r c e s a n d s u p e r a b i l i t i e s , a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h r e v e r i e , i n t u i t i o n , c r e a t i v i t y , a n d t h e g e n i u s self.

I h a v e c o n d u c t e d n u m e r o u s E E G m e a s u r e m e n t s o n

P h o t o R e a d e r s u s i n g a d e v i c e c a l l e d t he I n t e r a c t i v e B r a i n w a v e

V i s u a l A n a l y z e r ( p r o d u c e d b y I B V A T e c h n o l o g i e s ) . A u n i q u e set

o f f r e q u e n c i e s a re r e l i a b l y p r o d u c e d w h e n s o m e o n e e n t e r s

P h o t o F o c u s a n d P h o t o R e a d s a b o o k . T h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c " b r a i n

s i g n a t u r e " a p p e a r s a l m o s t i n s t a n t a n e o u s l y u p o n e n t e r i n g

The PhotoReading Wliole Mind System 102

P h o t o F o c u s , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t the idea l b r a i n s ta te for P h o t o R e a d i n g

m a y b e l i n k e d m o r e t o t h e s ta te o f t he e y e s t h a n t o t h e p h y s i c a l

r e l a x a t i o n o f t he b o d y . H o w e v e r , t h o s e w h o l e a r n t o m a i n t a i n

s t a t e s o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s h a v e t h e e a s i e s t t i m e d e v e l o p i n g t h e i r

P h o t o R e a d i n g sk i l l s .

F o l l o w the i n s t r u c t i o n s offered in C h a p t e r 5 a n d e n t e r

a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s ta te . N o t i c e t h a t y o u c a n c h a n g e the qua l i t y

o f t h i n k i n g a n d f ee l i ng a t w i l l . I n tu rn , t h i s s t a t e w i l l i n f l u e n c e

y o u r p h y s i o l o g y s u c h a s t he a u t o n o m i c n e r v o u s s y s t e m , h e a r t

r a t e , p u p i l d i l a t i on , p e r s p i r a t i o n , a n d a d r e n a l i n e s e c r e t i o n . A l l

t h e s e func t ions a r e c o n t r o l l e d a t n o n c o n s c i o u s l eve l . T h i s m e a n s

t h a t p e a c e f u l t h o u g h t s c a n r e g i s t e r d i r e c t l y i n t h e b o d y .

I t f o l l o w s t h a t w h e n y o u are p h y s i c a l l y r e l a x e d a n d m e n t a l l y

a l e r t y o u h a v e t h e m o s t f lex ib i l i ty a n d c o n t r o l o v e r t h e w a y y o u

t h i n k a n d feel . S i n c e l e a r n i n g i s a p r o c e s s o f c h a n g i n g t h e w a y y o u

t h i n k a n d feel , l e a r n i n g c a n t a k e p l a c e m o s t e a s i l y i n th i s

a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e .

T o s t r e n g t h e n y o u r ski l l a t a c h i e v i n g r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s :

• E s t a b l i s h s i m p l e c o n t r o l o v e r d i e t a n d e x e r c i s e . A s t r o n g

a n d w e l l n o u r i s h e d b o d y a n d b r a i n l e a d t o a b a l a n c e d a n d

h e a l t h y m i n d . E a t l o w fat, l o w s u g a r f o o d s . F o r P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

d r i n k lo t s o f w a t e r b e c a u s e w a t e r h e l p s t he b l o o d ca r ry o x y g e n t o

t h e b r a i n .

• T a k e a m o m e n t n o w a n d t h e n t o b r e a t h e w i t h d e e p

i n h a l a t i o n s a n d s l o w e x h a l a t i o n s . N o t i c e t h e r e l a x a t i o n a n d

s o o t h i n g f ee l ings w h i c h f low c o m f o r t a b l y t h r o u g h y o u r b o d y .

• L i s t e n t o P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s a n d o t h e r r e l a x i n g a u d i o

p r o g r a m s .

• P h o t o R e a d r e l e v a n t b o o k s on a u t o g e n i c t r a i n i n g , self-

h y p n o s i s , g u i d e d f a n t a s y , S i l v a m e t h o d s , m e d i t a t i o n , a n d

c o n t e m p l a t i v e p r a y e r . R e m e m b e r , y o u d o n o t h a v e t o a c t i v a t e

e v e r y b o o k i n o r d e r for t h e c o n c e p t s t o b e n e f i t y o u r l ife.

• E x p l o r e m e d i t a t i o n . Y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r c o u n t l e s s v a r i e t i e s

i n c l u d i n g , Y o g a a n d Z e n . M a n y r e p u t a b l e t e a c h e r s a n d c e n t e r s

t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d t e a c h c o u r s e s i n m e d i t a t i o n .

• U s e Q i g o n g ( p r o n o u n c e d " c h e e g u n g " ) , t h e C h i n e s e

s y s t e m o f f o c u s e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d b r e a t h i n g . A n e x c e l l e n t self-

s tudy c o u r s e i n t h e s e t e c h n i q u e s i s a v a i l a b l e t h r o u g h L e a r n i n g

S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n .


Use supportive audio tapes

A p r o v e n w a y t o r e in fo r ce a n d e n r i c h w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g

sk i l l s i s w i t h t he u s e o f a u d i o c a s s e t t e t a p e s . T h e b e s t t a p e s af f i rm

y o u r a b i l i t i e s t o l e a r n , r e l a x , a n d e s t a b l i s h n e w b e h a v i o r s . U s e

t h e m often.

I d e v e l o p e d P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s w h i c h c o m b i n e p r o g r e s s i v e

r e l a x a t i o n w i t h t h e t e c h n o l o g y o f N L P . T h e s e t a p e s b l e n d s e p a r a t e

t r a c k s o f n a r r a t i o n . O n e t r a c k i s m o r e a n a l y t i c a l a n d " l e f t -b ra ined , "

g u i d i n g y o u i n a s t e p - b y - s t e p p r o c e s s t o h e l p y o u a c c o m p l i s h

y o u r g o a l . A n o t h e r t r a c k i s m o r e " r i g h t - b r a i n e d , " u s i n g s t o r i e s

a n d s y m b o l i c i m a g e r y t o r e i n f o r c e t h e t a p e ' s c e n t r a l m e s s a g e .

P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s c o n t a i n n o s u b l i m i n a l m e s s a g e s a n d a r e

n o t d e s i g n e d t o i n d u c e h y p n o t i c t r a n c e s . R a t h e r , t h e y a c t u a l l y

b r e a k t h e n e g a t i v e o r s e l f - l i m i t i n g t r a n c e s t h a t h a v e k e p t s o m a n y

p e o p l e s t u c k a n d u n r e s o u r c e f u l .

S e v e r a l o f t h e s e t a p e s a re spec i f i ca l ly d e s i g n e d t o s u p p o r t

t h e s t e p s o f t h e w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

Personal Genius h e l p s y o u ge t i n t o t he f low s ta te a n d u s e t h e

full r e s o u r c e s o f y o u r i n n e r m i n d for l e a r n i n g .

Memory Supercharger g i v e s y o u a c c e s s to t he v a s t m e m o r y

s t o r a g e o f y o u r w h o l e b r a i n . U s e th i s t a p e b e f o r e a p r e s e n t a t i o n

o r e x a m t o h e l p y o u p e r f o r m a t y o u r b e s t .

Automatic Pilot h e l p s y o u g e t i n to t h e f low s ta te a n d m o v e

t o w a r d y o u r g o a l s w i t h o u t self-

s a b o t a g e . T h i s t a p e is g r e a t i f y o u Paraliminal Tapes and other

h a b i t u a l l y t a l k y o u r s e l f o u t o f r e a d i n g p r o d u c t s b y P a u l S c h e e l e a r e

avai lable f r om Learning t h i n g s y o u w a n t o r n e e d .

° J Strategies Corporat ion at Get Around To It h e l p s e l i m i n a t e 900 East Wayzata Boulevard,

p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n a n d m o t i v a t e s y o u t o Wayzata, Minnesota 5 5 3 9 1 .

t a k e a c t i o n n o w . I f y o u f ind y o u r s e l f F e e l f r e e t o c a N 8 0 0 - 7 3 5 ¬

,. „ 8273 or 952-476-9200, and p u t t i n g off r e a d i n g , t h e n t h i s t a p e c a n

ask for a free catalog. r e a l l y h e l p . Also vis i t our w e b s i t e :

New Behavior Generator he lps www.LearningStrategies com

e s t a b l i s h t h e h a b i t o f r e a d i n g a n d

o v e r c o m e r e s i s t a n c e .

New History Generator h e l p s o v e r c o m e a h i s t o r y of b e i n g a

p o o r r e a d e r o r o f n o t b e i n g g o o d a t s c h o o l .

Anxiety-Free h e l p s o v e r c o m e a n x i e t i e s a r o u n d r e a d i n g ,

http://www.LearningStrategies


t a k i n g t e s t s , a n d t a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for y o u r o w n s u c c e s s .

Beliefhelps c h a n g e l i m i t i n g b e l i e f s w h i c h m a y k e e p y o u

f r o m e n j o y i n g al l t h e b e n e f i t s o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m .

Dream Play h e l p s y o u p r o g r a m a n d r e c a l l y o u r d r e a m s

w h i c h c a n b e a n ef fec t ive a c t i v a t i o n t o o l for P h o t o R e a d i n g .

Prosperity h e l p s y o u en joy t h e b e n e f i t s o f P h o t o R e a d i n g b y

a t t r a c t i n g p r o m o t i o n s , h i g h e r p r o d u c t i v i t y , b e t t e r g r a d e s , e t c .

Deep Relaxation h e l p s a c c e s s t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s ta te of

r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s .

Self-Esteem Supercharger h e l p s b u i l d a p o s i t i v e s e l f - c o n c e p t .

10-Minute Supercharger h e l p s y o u r m i n d b e c o m e m e n t a l l y

a l e r t a n d p h y s i c a l l y r e v i t a l i z e d . I t i s g r e a t for l o n g s t u d y s e s s i o n s .

Establish outcomes; raise commitment

H a v i n g c lea r , w e l l - f o r m e d g o a l s i s e s s e n t i a l t o a c h i e v i n g

m e a n i n g f u l r e s u l t s i n life. T h e b r a i n i s a g o a l - s e e k i n g d e v i c e a n d

m u s t a i m a t a spec i f ic t a r g e t i n o r d e r t o h i t t h e m a r k . To a c h i e v e

s i g n i f i c a n t b e n e f i t f r o m P h o t o R e a d i n g , c o n t i n u a l l y set c l e a r

t a r g e t s . E s t a b l i s h a p u r p o s e e a c h t i m e y o u r e a d . S o m e s u g g e s t e d

w a y s t o s u p p o r t t h i s a c t i v i t y a r e t h e s e :

• I n c l u d e a n o t e on y o u r d a i l y "to d o " l is t to u s e t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . I n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e s e sk i l l s

h a p p e n s a s y o u a p p l y t h e m . D o n o t w o r r y a b o u t p r a c t i c i n g t h e m ;

s i m p l y u s e t h e m w h e n e v e r y o u r e a d . T h e w o r d " p r a c t i c e " i m p l i e s

a r t i f i c ia l ly c r e a t e d t i m e t o d o s o m e t h i n g y o u h a v e t o d o . T a k e t h e

p r e s s u r e off a n d j u s t a d d th i s w h o l e m i n d a p p r o a c h t o h a n d l e

y o u r e v e r y d a y r e a d i n g p r i o r i t i e s .

• S e t s p e c i f i c r e a d i n g g o a l s a n d s h a r e t h e m w i t h a

" P h o t o R e a d i n g b u d d y " w h o c a n r e v i e w y o u r p r o g r e s s . A s y o u

e s t a b l i s h y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g , set y o u r s e l f u p t o w i n . R a t h e r

t h a n p r e s s u r i n g y o u r s e l f w i t h g o a l s y o u t h i n k y o u " s h o u l d "

a c c o m p l i s h , set fun g o a l s w h i c h r e p r e s e n t w h a t y o u t ru ly w a n t .

Se t g o a l s w h i c h s t r e t c h y o u r c a p a b i l i t i e s ; a t t h e s a m e t i m e , set

g o a l s y o u c a n r e a s o n a b l y a c c o m p l i s h .

• I f y o u d o n o t g e t t h e r e s u l t s y o u w a n t , g o e a s y o n

y o u r s e l f . K e e p p l a y i n g w i t h o p t i o n s . Af t e r al l , i f y o u a l w a y s d o

w h a t y o u ' v e a l w a y s d o n e , y o u w i l l a l w a y s ge t w h a t y o u ' v e


a l w a y s g o t t e n . D o t h i n g s d i f fe ren t ly , c o n f r o n t o l d h a b i t s , a n d

aff i rm y o u r m i n d ' s p o t e n t i a l .

• N o t i c e y o u r p r o g r e s s . K e e p t r a c k o f any c o n c r e t e i n d i c a t o r

o f s u c c e s s i n t he d i r e c t i o n o f y o u r g o a l s . L e t g o o f p e r f e c t i o n i s t i c

t e n d e n c i e s tha t e x p e c t o n l y t o t a l s u c c e s s o r c o m p l e t e f a i lu re .

C e l e b r a t e al l o f y o u r s u c c e s s e s , n o m a t t e r h o w s m a l l t h e s t ep m a y

b e t o w a r d y o u r e n d g o a l .

Use memory techniques

T h e " t ip o f t h e t o n g u e " p h e n o m e n o n i s a n e x a m p l e o f

k n o w i n g s o m e t h i n g b u t n o t b e i n g a b l e t o c o n s c i o u s l y a r t i c u l a t e

it. F o r m a n y p e o p l e , t h i s i s c o m m o n w i t h r e m e m b e r i n g n a m e s .

T h e b e s t t e c h n i q u e o f l e t t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n b u b b l e u p f r o m

t h e o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s m i n d in to t h e c o n s c i o u s m i n d i s t o g i v e

y o u r s e l f t h e s p a c e t o r e m e m b e r . F o r e x a m p l e , te l l y o u r s e l f : " I

k n o w th i s p e r s o n ' s n a m e . H i s n a m e i s c o m i n g t o m e n o w . " T h e n ,

d i smis s the i ssue f rom y o u r m i n d a n d a l low y o u r m i n d to re t r i eve it.

C o n s i d e r t h i s r u l e : want i t to h a p p e n ; expect i t to h a p p e n ; ge t

o u t o f t h e w a y a n d let i t h a p p e n . T h i s i s t h e e s s e n c e of a p o s i t i v e

a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s your se l f . I t r e p r e s e n t s a b a s i c t r u s t t h a t y o u r

m i n d i s p o w e r f u l a n d c a p a b l e , r e a d y t o s e r v e y o u w h e n e v e r y o u

w a n t . A p o s i t i v e fa i th i n t h e i n t e g r i t y o f y o u r m i n d i s t h e

c o r n e r s t o n e o f succes s fu l w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g .

Play with your dreams

T h e b r a i n n a t u r a l l y u s e s d r e a m s t o p r o c e s s i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t

i t r e c e i v e d p r e c o n s c i o u s l y . N o t i c i n g y o u r d r e a m s h e l p a c t i v a t e

b o o k s y o u h a v e P h o t o R e a d b e c a u s e w h e n y o u r e m e m b e r y o u r

d r e a m s , y o u b u i l d a b r i d g e t o y o u r c o n s c i o u s a n d n o n c o n s c i o u s

m i n d . I n tu rn , t h i s g i v e s y o u m o r e c o n s c i o u s a c c e s s t o t h e v a s t

" d a t a b a n k " o f t h e b r a i n .

P l a y w i t h n o t i c i n g y o u r d r e a m s . A t first, s i m p l y r e m e m b e r

y o u r d r e a m s w h e n y o u a w a k e n . A s y o u d o so , y o u m a y f ind

y o u r s e l f h a v i n g l u c i d d r e a m s — t h o s e i n w h i c h y o u c o n s c i o u s l y

r e s p o n d t o t h e e v e n t s o f y o u r d r e a m . T h e m o r e f r e q u e n t l y y o u

r e m e m b e r d r e a m s , a n d the c l e a r e r a n d m o r e d e t a i l e d y o u r d r e a m

i m a g e s , t h e m o r e l i k e l y y o u a re t o h a v e l u c i d d r e a m s .


M o t i v a t i o n i s key . F o r the m o s t part , i f y o u w a n t t o r e m e m b e r

y o u r d r e a m s , y o u w i l l . F o r m a n y p e o p l e , s i m p l y h a v i n g t h e

i n t e n t i o n t o r e m e m b e r a n d r e m i n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s o f t h i s i n t e n t i o n

j u s t b e f o r e g o i n g t o b e d i s e n o u g h .

T o s t r e n g t h e n th i s r e s o l v e , k e e p p e n a n d p a p e r b e s i d e y o u r

b e d , a n d c r e a t e a m i n d m a p o f y o u r d r e a m s e v e r y t i m e y o u w a k e

u p . T h i s a c t i v i t y h e l p s y o u r e m e m b e r m o r e d r e a m s i n t h e fu ture .

A n o t h e r m e t h o d for r e m e m b e r i n g d r e a m s i s a s k i n g y o u r s e l f

e a c h t i m e y o u w a k e u p : w h a t w a s I j u s t d r e a m i n g ? T h i s m u s t b e

y o u r first t h o u g h t u p o n a w a k e n i n g ; o t h e r w i s e , y o u m a y fo rge t

s o m e o r al l o f t h e d r e a m .

B e p a t i e n t a s y o u t ry t o r e m e m b e r d r e a m s . W h e n y o u

a w a k e n i n t h e m o r n i n g , d o n o t m o v e o r t h i n k o f a n y t h i n g e l s e .

P i e c e s a n d f r a g m e n t s o f t h e d r e a m w i l l c o m e t o y o u . E x a m i n e

y o u r t h o u g h t s a n d f e e l i n g s a s y o u l ie i n b e d . T h i s o f ten p r o v i d e s

t h e n e c e s s a r y c u e s for r e t r i e v i n g t h e e n t i r e d r e a m . K e e p a t it, e v e n

i f y o u r eca l l n o t h i n g o f y o u r d r e a m s a t first.

I d e v e l o p e d t h e Dream Play P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e to a id in

r e c a l l i n g d r e a m s . Y o u c a n a l so u s e t h i s b o o k a s a s p r i n g b o a r d

t o n i g h t . M u c h o f t h i s b o o k i s f i l led w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w i l l

c h a n g e t h e w a y y o u l o o k a t p r i n t e d p a g e s fo r eve r . T h i s b o o k c a n

h e l p y o u t a p i n t o t he p o w e r f u l r e s e r v e s o f y o u r b r a i n . U s e i t a s

o n e o f t h e m a n y t o o l s a t h a n d b y P h o t o R e a d i n g i t b e f o r e y o u

s l eep .

Take the PhotoReading seminar

E n r o l l i n a P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r . T h e s e m i n a r i s d i f fe ren t

t h a n the b o o k i n t h a t y o u w i l l b e a s s i s t e d b y a p r o f e s s i o n a l l y

t r a i n e d , L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n cer t i f ied , P h o t o R e a d i n g

i n s t r u c t o r w h o u s e s s p e c i a l s t u d e n t c o u r s e m a t e r i a l p u b l i s h e d b y

u s . E a c h i n s t r u c t o r h a s g u i d e d t h e i n d i v i d u a l s u c c e s s e s o f m a n y

p a r t i c i p a n t s b e f o r e y o u . Y o u r i n d i v i d u a l n e e d s a n d q u e s t i o n s c a n

b e a d d r e s s e d a s y o u t h i n k o f t h e m . M o r e i n - d e p t h i l l u s t r a t i o n s

a n d e x a m p l e s a re of fered t h a t m e e t y o u r l e a r n i n g s ty le . P l u s ,

m a n y e x p e r i e n c e s d u r i n g the s e m i n a r c a n n o t b e fully d e s c r i b e d

i n b o o k fo rm. T h e y b r i n g r i ch m e a n i n g t o t h e c h a p t e r s y o u h a v e

r e a d h e r e .


I n a d d i t i o n t o l e a r n i n g the t e c h n i q u e s , y o u w i l l l e a r n :

• H o w t o P h o t o R e a d a n d a c t i v a t e y o u r b r a i n t o a c h i e v e

y o u r r e a d i n g g o a l s w i t h h i g h e r c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

• H o w to r e l i a b l y e n t e r t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s ta te in a

m a t t e r o f m o m e n t s .

• H o w t o o p e n y o u r p e r c e p t u a l f i e ld a n d s ee w i t h y o u r

m i n d w h a t c a n n o t b e p e r c e i v e d b y y o u r e y e s .

• H o w t o i n s t a n t l y b a l a n c e t h e h e m i s p h e r e s o f y o u r b r a i n

w i t h s i m p l e p h y s i c a l m o v e m e n t , t h e r e b y m a k i n g r e a d i n g m o r e

effective.

• H o w t o p r o g r a m y o u r m i n d for n e w h a b i t a c q u i s i t i o n

a n d h e l p b r e a k t h e c o m p u l s i o n t o r e a d w i t h inef f ic ien t r e a d i n g

t e c h n i q u e s .

• H o w t o u s e y o u r d r e a m s a s a n a c t i v a t i o n t e c h n i q u e .

• H o w t o m a k e f r i ends w i t h y o u r i n n e r m i n d , t r u s t i n g

y o u r i n t u i t i v e g u i d a n c e t o s o l v e p r o b l e m s u s i n g t h e v a s t d a t a

b a s e o f y o u r n o n c o n s c i o u s r e s e r v e s o f m i n d .

T h e b i g g e s t a d v a n t a g e t o a t t e n d i n g a n i n t e n s i v e s e m i n a r

s e t t i n g i s t h e p o w e r o f d o i n g s o m e t h i n g a n d g e t t i n g f e e d b a c k .

D u r i n g t h e s e m i n a r , y o u w i l l P h o t o R e a d a n d a c t i v a t e b o o k s

u s i n g al l t h e t e c h n i q u e s d e s c r i b e d i n th i s b o o k . W e e v e n t e a c h

y o u h o w t o P h o t o R e a d a d i c t i o n a r y , t h i n k o f a w o r d , a n d k n o w

w h e r e i t i s o n t h e p a g e .

W h e n y o u m e e t o t h e r s w i t h l i k e - m i n d e d a t t i t u d e s i n a

c o u r s e , y o u g a i n t h e s u p p o r t n e e d e d t o g e t y o u t h r o u g h t h e s t a g e s

o f l e a r n i n g . Y o u m a y e v e n f i n d s o m e n e w f r i ends i n t h e p r o c e s s .

Use the PhotoReading Personal Learning Course

I n e v e r e n j o y e d l e a r n i n g f rom " s e l f - s t u d y " t a p e p r o g r a m s .

S o , w h e n i t c a m e t i m e for t o p r o d u c e o n e , i t h a d t o b e o n e I w a n t e d

to h e a r . Af te r e i g h t e e n m o n t h s o f d e v e l o p m e n t , t he PhotoReading

Personal Learning Course w a s ready to ship to our eager c u s t o m e r s .

I t t u r n e d o u t to be a s m a s h - h i t .

I r e c e i v e d a ca l l f r o m t h e h u m a n r e s o u r c e s d i r e c t o r a t a l a r g e

M i n n e s o t a b u s i n e s s w h o a s k e d , " W o u l d y o u b e o p e n t o s o m e

f e e d b a c k o n y o u r c o u r s e . " I g u l p e d o n c e a n d sa id , " S u r e . "

D r e a d i n g t h e w o r s e , I w a s a m a z e d a t t h e p r a i s e h e l a v i s h e d

u p o n m e . " I w a n t e d t o let y o u k n o w t h i s i s t he b e s t t a p e l e a r n i n g


p r o g r a m I h a v e e v e r u s e d , a n d I 've o w n e d a lo t o f t h e m .

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s on e x c e l l e n t w o r k . " I s i g h e d in relief.

" Y o u w o u l d n e v e r g e t m e in to a s e m i n a r , " h e sa id . " I ' m j u s t

n o t c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h t h e t y p i c a l l e v e l o f s e l f - d i s c l o s u r e i n v o l v e d

i n p u b l i c p r o g r a m s . Y o u r se l f -s tudy p r o g r a m g a v e m e t r e m e n d o u s

p e r m i s s i o n t o p r o c e e d a t m y o w n r a t e , w i t h e x p l i c i t d e c i s i o n

p o i n t s t o go on o r s t o p . I f i n i shed t h e e n t i r e p r o g r a m in five d a y s

by s p e n d i n g a few h o u r s e a c h af ternoon, I f igured a total of 15

h o u r s . "

I felt s i n c e r e l y a c k n o w l e d g e d . T h e d i l i g e n t w o r k o f t h e

g r e a t c r e w t h a t h e l p e d m e p u t t h e p r o g r a m t o g e t h e r h a d p a i d off.

N o t h i n g s u b s t i t u t e s for t h e p o w e r o f t h e l ive s e m i n a r . B u t ,

the PhotoReading Personal Learning Course is an excellent alternative

i f s o m e o n e c a n n o t a t t e n d t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r offered b y

cer t i f i ed i n s t r u c t o r s .

T h r o u g h o u t th i s b o o k I h a v e e n c o u r a g e d y o u t o r e a d o t h e r

b o o k s , e n r o l l i n t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r o r u s e t he se l f - s tudy

c o u r s e , a n d l i s t e n t o s u p p o r t i v e a u d i o p r o g r a m s s u c h a s m y

P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s . I d o t h i s b e c a u s e , t h e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u

h a v e , t h e m o r e a c c o m p l i s h e d y o u w i l l b e i n t r u l y u s i n g t h e i n n a t e

t a l e n t s y o u p o s s e s s . E x p l o r e t h e b e n e f i t s y o u c a n a c h i e v e u s i n g

o u r p r o g r a m s l i s t ed a t t h e b a c k o f t h i s b o o k .

B e free t o d i s c o v e r w h a t a u t h o r P e t e r K l i n e ca l l s " the

e v e r y d a y g e n i u s " w i t h i n y o u . I c a n n o t c o n v i n c e a n y o n e t h a t t h e y

p o s s e s s g e n i u s t a l e n t s . E a c h p e r s o n m u s t f ind t h i s t r u t h w i t h i n .

M y s i n c e r e w i s h i s t h a t y o u d i s c o v e r th i s t r u t h for your se l f .

A s y o u s t r e n g t h e n y o u r e y e - m i n d c o n n e c t i o n , e x p a n d

p e r i p h e r a l a w a r e n e s s , c u l t i v a t e p o w e r f u l m e n t a l s t a t e s , a n d

r e m e m b e r y o u r d r e a m s , y o u w i l l d e e p e n a n d e x p a n d y o u r sk i l l s

a t P h o t o R e a d i n g . Y o u w i l l e x p e r i e n c e t h e c u l m i n a t i o n o f y o u r

n e w sk i l l s a s y o u d i s c o v e r s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g i n C h a p t e r 1 1 .

11

Use Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration

My p r o f e s s o r in g r a d u a t e s c h o o l t o ld t he c l a s s to p i c k a

sub jec t i n t he field o f h u m a n r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t . " G o r e a d all

t h e b o o k s y o u c a n find on the sub jec t and w r i t e a t en to t w e n t y

p a g e r e p o r t o n w h a t y o u l ea rn . "

I f o u n d t w e l v e b o o k s . U s i n g the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m I f in i shed all t he b o o k s a n d c o m p l e t e d a m i n d m a p of my

r e p o r t — a l l i n o n e a f t e rnoon . I w r o t e t h e r e p o r t f rom t h e m i n d

m a p a n d t u r n e d i t i n .

W h e n the p a p e r w a s r e t u r n e d t o m e i t h a d on ly t w o m a r k s

o n i t : " 1 0 0 % " a n d " E x c e l l e n t ! " N e v e r b e f o r e i n m y u n d e r g r a d u a t e

o r g r a d u a t e w o r k h a d s u c h a p ro j ec t e v e r b e e n so e a s y .

M y c o l l e a g u e P a t r i c i a D a n i e l s o n , w h o s e ear ly c o n t r i b u t i o n s

t o P h o t o R e a d i n g led m e t o ca l l h e r c o - d e v e l o p e r , r e f ined the i d e a

i n to a n e x e r c i s e c a l l e d " s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g . " S h e o r i g i n a l l y t e s t e d

i t in E u r o p e , and i t p r o v e d w i l d l y s u c c e s s f u l .

T h e s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g e x e r c i s e e n r i c h e s t he l e a r n i n g o f

P h o t o R e a d i n g . T o s y n t o p i c a l l y r e ad , y o u m u s t d r a w u p o n all t h e

ski l l s y o u h a v e d e v e l o p e d and g o t o t h e n e x t l e v e l o f m a s t e r y .

I m a g i n e r e a d i n g t h r e e to five b o o k s on a sub jec t i n j u s t o n e

a f t e rnoon . Y o u c a n w i t h t h e b a s i c s t eps o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g

d e s c r i b e d i n th i s c h a p t e r .

How it works

L e t us say y o u h a v e an in t e re s t in a sub jec t a n d find a b o o k

y o u r ea l ly w a n t t o r e a d . B y P h o t o R e a d i n g and a c t i v a t i n g t h r e e


a d d i t i o n a l b o o k s o n the s a m e sub jec t , y o u c a n k n o w t h e o n e b o o k

b e t t e r . B u t h e r e i s t h e b e s t n e w s : i t t a k e s l e s s t i m e t o a p p l y o u r

s y s t e m t o all four b o o k s t h a n i t t a k e s t o r e a d o n e u s i n g y o u r o l d

r e a d i n g t e c h n i q u e s .

T h i n k o f r e a d i n g a s a p a t h o f l i f e long e x p l o r a t i o n . As we

fo l l ow th i s pa th , w e s o o n d i s c o v e r t h e r e a r e o p p o s i n g v i e w p o i n t s

o n e v e r y s ign i f i can t t o p i c . F o r t he s k i l l e d r eade r , d i f fer ing v i e w s

c r e a t e a t e n s i o n t h a t i n v i t e s t h e n e x t l eve l o f r e s o l u t i o n . S y n t o p i c

r e a d i n g p r o v i d e s a n e w v a n t a g e p o i n t a n d a n easy r o u t e t o t h e

s y n t h e s i s o f e x i s t i n g v i e w p o i n t s .

P e o p l e w h o r e a d w e l l u n d e r s t a n d m a n y s ides o f a t o p i c a n d

c o m e t o t h e i r o w n c o n c l u s i o n s . S y n t o p i c r e a d i n g e n s u r e s t h a t

m o r e o f y o u r i d e a s a re b a s e d o n y o u r o w n t h i n k i n g . T h i s i s d o n e

b y e x p o s i n g y o u r s e l f t o v a r i o u s v i e w p o i n t s a n d c h o o s i n g o r

c o n s t r u c t i n g o n e t h a t u l t i m a t e l y r i n g s t r u e for y o u . Y o u r t r u t h

c o m e s f rom y o u r r e a s o n i n g , o v e r a l l k n o w l e d g e , a n d r e f l ec t ion o n

e x p e r i e n c e — a n d n o t j u s t f r o m t h e las t b o o k y o u read . Often, i n

fact, y o u m u s t r e a d s e v e r a l b o o k s o n the s a m e s u b j e c t t o g a i n a

d e e p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g .

T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o n e P h o t o R e a d i n g s t u d e n t d e m o n s t r a t e d

h o w e a s i l y she g a i n e d the a d v a n t a g e s o f r e a d i n g m u l t i p l e b o o k s

on a subjec t . S h e h a d r e t u r n e d t o s c h o o l 25 y e a r s after h i g h s c h o o l

t o ge t h e r c o l l e g e d e g r e e in a l o c a l c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e . P r i o r t o

t a k i n g a n e s s a y e x a m i n h e r h i s t o r y c l a s s , s h e P h o t o R e a d s e v e n

b o o k s r e l a t i n g t o t he sub jec t she w a s s t u d y i n g .

S h e b e a m e d a s she d e s c r i b e d t o m e h o w the w o r d s f l o w e d

d u r i n g t h e e x a m . She h a d n e v e r felt s o r e l a x e d a n d c o n f i d e n t

d u r i n g a n e s s a y e x a m , a n d she p r o u d l y a d d e d , " I g o t a n A o n the

e x a m ! " S h e h a d n a t u r a l l y f o u n d the t r a n s i t i o n f rom P h o t o R e a d i n g

t o s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g .

S y n t o p i c r e a d i n g w a s first d e s c r i b e d fifty y e a r s a g o i n

M o r t i m e r A d l e r a n d C h a r l e s V a n D o r e n ' s c l a s s i c t e x t How to Read

a Book. A d l e r c o n s i d e r e d t he t h i n k i n g sk i l l s u s e d in s y n t o p i c

r e a d i n g t o b e t he u l t i m a t e g o a l o f a w e l l - r e a d p e r s o n . W e a d d e d

the sk i l l s o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t o s y n t o p i c

r e a d i n g t o h e l p s y n t h e s i z e i d e a s m o r e ef f ic ient ly .

O n e m a n in a c l a s s o f m i n e w a s in a u n i v e r s i t y d o c t o r a l

p r o g r a m i n e d u c a t i o n . W r i t i n g p a p e r s h a d a l w a y s b e e n a t i m e -

c o n s u m i n g p r o b l e m for h i m . H e w o u l d h a v e t o r e a d s e v e r a l

? p t I 0 1

Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration 111

b o o k s , d i s t i l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n , g e n e r a t e h i s o w n i d e a s , a n d w r i t e

t he p a p e r . Af te r l e a r n i n g s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g , h e a p p l i e d h i s sk i l l s t o

w r i t i n g p a p e r s . H e c a l l e d m e s e v e r a l m o n t h s la te r . " T h i s i s

u n b e l i e v a b l e ! " h e e x c l a i m e d . " I c a n n o t t e l l y o u h o w e a s y

P h o t o R e a d i n g h a s m a d e i t for m e . I c a n f inish, i n o n e a f t e r n o o n ,

a p a p e r t h a t u s e d t o t a k e m e t w o o r t h r e e d a y s . "

H o w c a n i t b e ? I t i s all i n t he b a s i c s t e p s o f w h o l e m i n d

s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g w h i c h fo l l ow:

1. Establish a purpose

T h e first a c t i v e s t e p o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g i s to s ta te a p u r p o s e

t h a t h a s m e a n i n g a n d v a l u e for y o u . ^ , . 3 • , „ Read, Be c l e a r a n d s p e c i f i c — i t i s c r u c i a l . S u p p o s e y o u r p u r p o s e i s ,„,„„(

to l e a r n m o n e y m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g i e s . An ef fec t ive p u r p o s e all 1 0

s t a t e m e n t c o u l d b e : steps

• I w a n t to l e a r n e f fec t ive m e t h o d s to s a v e m o n e y a n d

i n v e s t w i s e l y s o I c a n b u i l d m y f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e .

T h a t s t a t e m e n t i s c l e a r a n d spec i f i e s a p u r p o s e w i t h p e r s o n a l

m e a n i n g . M e a n i n g a l so i n c r e a s e s l o n g - t e r m r e t e n t i o n . N o t i c e

h o w m u c h m o r e k i c k i t h a s t h a n a b r o a d e r s t a t e m e n t l ike " I w a n t

t o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t f i n a n c i a l p l a n n i n g . "

2. Create a bibliography

T h e s e c o n d a c t i v e s t e p i s t o c r e a t e a b i b l i o g r a p h y — a l i s t o f

b o o k s t h a t y o u p l a n t o r ead . P r e v i e w y o u r b o o k s t o d e t e r m i n e i f

t h e y fit y o u r p u r p o s e . F o r t h i s e x e r c i s e , c h o o s e n o n f i c t i o n b o o k s

b y d i f f e r e n t a u t h o r s o n a s u b j e c t t h a t y o u r e a l l y w a n t

t o u n d e r s t a n d .

3. PhotoRead all materials the day before activating

T h e m i n d n e e d s i n c u b a t i o n t i m e t o c r e a t e n e w c o n n e c t i o n s .

P h o t o R e a d y o u r s e l e c t e d b o o k s t h e d a y b e f o r e y o u p l a n t o

a c t i v a t e t h e m . P h o t o R e a d i n g m a k e s t h e d i f fe rence i n y o u r ab i l i ty

t o p r o c e s s i d e a s a t h i g h s p e e d s . D u r i n g s l e e p , y o u r b r a i n f inds

w a y s t o c a t e g o r i z e i n f o r m a t i o n e x p o s e d t o i t d u r i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g .


Keymnt s related.

v to theme

T i t l e

A u t h o r j Keywtnt

/ tothfime.

to theme

S ' l U e

KATwnt retorted. to theme 3> T h e m e 1

\ iei

to theme

T h e m e A

T u r p o S f t

b t h e m e T h e m e 3

Ky-pxiit A related

4 A to theme

I L t t e \ YeLcded.

Author I to theme.

re(Aie<± . T t l e to theme. . AuhrjT

retaKed. to theme

T

Yetted. to theme

( W r i t e t h e w o r d s about t h e m a j o r thentes a n d c o n c e p t s

a r o u n d t h e e d g e s . T h e s e a r e y o u r o w n w o r d s t o describe t h e t o p i c

as a w h i l e . )


T a k e o u t y o u r b o o k s , a l a rge s h e e t o f p a p e r , a n d c o l o r e d

m a r k e r s for m i n d m a p p i n g . U s e m i n d m a p p i n g for m a k i n g n o t e s

d u r i n g t h e r e m a i n i n g s t e p s o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g . L o o k a t t h e c h a r t

s h o w n a s a s u g g e s t i o n for h o w t o o r g a n i z e y o u r m i n d m a p . Y o u r

in i t i a l s t a t e m e n t o f p u r p o s e t a k e s a p r o m i n e n t p l a c e i n t h e c e n t e r

o f y o u r s h e e t o f p a p e r . L e a v e e n o u g h r o o m t o r e v i s e y o u r

p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t l a t e r i f y o u d e s i r e . T h e p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t i n

t h e c e n t e r w i l l h e l p r e m i n d y o u t h a t y o u r m i n d m a p i s ab o u t y o u r

p u r p o s e , no t a b o u t the b o o k s . U s e i t to cap tu re ma te r i a l f rom all the

b o o k s tha t speak t o y o u r p u r p o s e . T h e c o n t e n t o f a n y i n d i v i d u a l

b o o k t a k e s l e s s p r i o r i t y o v e r t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f y o u r p u r p o s e .

5. Find relevant passages

S u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t h r o u g h e a c h o f t h e b o o k s f i n d i n g

p a s s a g e s r e l e v a n t t o y o u r p u r p o s e . I n t h i s s t ep , y o u r p u r p o s e

r e i g n s s u p r e m e o v e r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e a u t h o r s . T h e r e a s o n for

h o l d i n g y o u r p u r p o s e a s t h e g u i d i n g l i g h t i s t o p u l l o u t t h e

o t h e r w i s e o b s c u r e p a s s a g e s t h a t c a n s e r v e y o u r p u r p o s e . C o n t i n u e

m i n d m a p p i n g the p a s s a g e s y o u f ind.

L e t g o o f y o u r d e s i r e t o r e a d i n t o o m u c h d e t a i l a t t h i s p o i n t .

U s e o n l y l i gh t d i p p i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e b o o k s , a n d r e s t r i c t y o u r

d i p p i n g t o r e l e v a n t p a s s a g e s . Y o u m a y f ind d u r i n g th i s s t ep t h a t

y o u r p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t w i l l b e r e f i ned a s t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f t h e

t o p i c b e c o m e c l e a r e r .

T h i n k o f t h i s a s a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h t he a u t h o r s o f t h e s e b o o k s .

I m a g i n e t h e s e a u t h o r s s i t t i ng a r o u n d i n a c i r c l e w i t h y o u . A s k

t h e m a q u e s t i o n a n d let t h e m s p e a k t o y o u r p u r p o s e . T h e o b j e c t i v e

i s n o t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r b o o k s ; i t i s t o u n d e r s t a n d y o u r p u r p o s e .

6. Summarize in your own words

I f y o u s t ep b a c k a n d l o o k a t y o u r m i n d m a p , y o u w i l l n o t i c e

a n u m b e r o f i m p o r t a n t c o n c e p t s b e i n g a d d r e s s e d . B r i e f l y

s u m m a r i z e w h a t y o u t h i n k a b o u t t he sub j ec t s o far.

I t h e l p s t o c r e a t e n e u t r a l , j a r g o n - f r e e t e r m i n o l o g y o f y o u r

4. Create a giant mind map


o w n . Di f fe ren t a u t h o r s m a y u s e d i f fe ren t w o r d s t o say t he s a m e

t h i n g s . F i n d i n g a n e u t r a l se t o f t e r m s c r e a t e s m e a n i n g f u l

a s s o c i a t i o n s a n d m a k e s t h e c o n c e p t s y o u r o w n .

7. Discover themes

E x p l o r e y o u r m i n d m a p a n d y o u r b o o k s for s i m i l a r i t i e s a n d

d i f f e rences a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s a u t h o r s ' v i e w p o i n t s . W h e n y o u

r e a c h th i s s t a g e , y o u w i l l b e g i n t o u n c o v e r t h e c e n t r a l t h e m e s t h a t

al l o r m o s t o f t h e a u t h o r s a re a t t e m p t i n g t o a d d r e s s . M a k e n o t e

o f t h e s e .

8. Define the issues

W h e n a u t h o r s h a v e o p p o s i n g v i e w p o i n t s , t h e s e d i f f e rences

are p o i n t s o f c o n t e n t i o n o r i s s u e s . U n c o v e r d i f fer ing v i e w p o i n t s ,

a n d y o u w i l l e n h a n c e y o u r k n o w l e d g e a b o u t t he sub jec t .

I n th i s s t e p , y o u s u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o f ind k e y p o i n t s

r e l a t e d t o t h e s e i s sue s . P i c t u r e y o u r s e l f a s a n i n v e s t i g a t i v e r e p o r t e r

i n a r o o m w i t h y o u r a u t h o r s . P o s e t h e c e n t r a l q u e s t i o n s t o e a c h

o f t h e m .

G o q u i c k l y f r o m o n e b o o k t o a n o t h e r , a n s w e r i n g o n e

q u e s t i o n a t a t i m e . As s o o n a s y o u f ind i t i n o n e b o o k , l e a v e t h a t

b o o k a n d s tar t f l i pp ing t h r o u g h the n e x t o n e .

9. Formulate your own view

A s y o u d i s c o v e r i s s u e s a n d e x p l o r e v a r i o u s v i e w p o i n t s ,

y o u a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e g i n t o s y n t h e s i z e y o u r o w n v i e w p o i n t . L o o k

a t al l s i de s a n d t a k e no s ide s a t first. M a k e a d e l i b e r a t e effort to

r e m a i n o b j e c t i v e a n d a v o i d b e i n g p a r t i a l i n y o u r a n a l y s i s .

Af te r g a t h e r i n g e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n , c r e a t e y o u r o w n

p o s i t i o n . F o r m u l a t e y o u r o w n o p i n i o n b a s e d o n y o u r r e s e a r c h .

10. Apply

After c h o o s i n g y o u r p o s i t i o n o n the subjec t , y o u m u s t

c r e a t e a n a r g u m e n t t o suppo r t y o u r v i e w , b a s e d o n specific

in fo rma t ion from y o u r b o o k s .


O r d e r t h e k e y i s s u e s i n s u c h a w a y a s t o t h r o w m o r e l i gh t o n

t h e sub jec t . B e spec i f ic i n c r e a t i n g a n y a r g u m e n t for y o u r p o s i t i o n .

T o a d d c r e d i b i l i t y t o y o u r a r g u m e n t y o u s h o u l d b e p r e p a r e d t o

q u o t e y o u r s o u r c e s . I n th i s c a s e , i t h e l p s t o a l w a y s a c c o m p a n y a

s t a t e m e n t o f a n a u t h o r ' s v i e w w i t h a n a c t u a l q u o t a t i o n f r o m t h e

tex t , r e f e r e n c e d b y t h e p a g e n u m b e r . C r e a t e a n o t h e r m i n d m a p o f

y o u r v i e w p o i n t b e f o r e w r i t i n g a f o r m a l r e p o r t . T h i s s a v e s t i m e

a n d h e l p s y o u p r e s e n t y o u r i d e a s c l e a r l y .

M o s t b u s i n e s s p e o p l e a n d s t u d e n t s fulfill t h e i r n e e d s b y t h e

e n d o f t h e p r e v i o u s s t ep . T h a t m a y b e a s far a s t h e y w a n t t o g o

w i t h t h e i r sub jec t . B u t for t h e p e r s o n w r i t i n g a c o l l e g e l e v e l p a p e r

o r d e t a i l e d b u s i n e s s r e p o r t , t h i s a d d i t i o n a l s t ep i s i m p o r t a n t .

H o w m u c h t i m e d o y o u e x p e c t t o i n v e s t i n s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g ?

W e s u g g e s t y o u t a k e o n l y t w o 4 5 - m i n u t e p e r i o d s for a c t i v a t i o n .

T h a t i s a l l . T h e i n v e s t m e n t b e f o r e i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 10 to 15

m i n u t e s p e r b o o k t o p r e v i e w , a n d P h o t o R e a d . W h e n f i n i shed ,

m o s t p a r t i c i p a n t s r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e y h a v e a c h i e v e d 8 0 t o 9 0

p e r c e n t o f w h a t t h e y r e a l l y w a n t a n d n e e d .

W h e n y o u s y n t o p i c a l l y r e a d t h r e e t o five b o o k s , y o u m a y

f ind o n e w o r t h y o f fu r the r s tudy , o n e t h a t s e e m s t o c a p t u r e t h e

sub j ec t m o s t c o n c i s e l y . I f y o u a r e i n t e r e s t e d , c o m p l e t e y o u r s t u d y

o f t h a t b o o k u s i n g t h e a c t i v a t i o n s t eps o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m . P e r h a p s a q u i c k r a p i d r e a d w i l l b e suff ic ient t o

g a t h e r t h e r e m a i n i n g i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d . D e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e

sub j ec t a n d the b o o k , y o u m i g h t f in i sh th i s i n t w e n t y m i n u t e s o r

fou r h o u r s .

The cumulative power of syntopic reading

W h e n y o u l o o k a t a l l t h e a u t h o r s l i s t ed i n t h e b i b l i o g r a p h y

t o t h i s b o o k , y o u w i l l see t h a t t h e s e a r e s o u r c e s f rom m y s y n t o p i c

r e a d i n g . S i m i l a r l y , t he P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r i s a p r o d u c t o f

e x a m i n i n g m a n y a u t h o r s a n d m a n y r e s e a r c h e r s . M a n y a u t h o r s

c i t e d h e r e a l so r e f e r e n c e d m a n y a u t h o r s — s o m e t i m e s fifty t o o n e

h u n d r e d d i f ferent b o o k s a n d j o u r n a l s .

E v e r y t i m e y o u s y n t o p i c a l l y r ead , y o u h a v e t h e a c c u m u l a t e d

m e n t a l e n e r g i e s o f h u n d r e d s o f t h i n k e r s w i t h t h o u s a n d s u p o n

t h o u s a n d s o f h o u r s o f l a b o r a n d e x p e r i e n c e b a c k i n g y o u i n


a c h i e v i n g y o u r p u r p o s e . W h e n y o u feel t h e p o w e r o f t h i s , y o u

r ea l ly u n d e r s t a n d t h e th r i l l o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g . S i n c e y o u c h o o s e

t he u n i q u e c o m b i n a t i o n o f a u t h o r s , y o u m a y s t u m b l e o n a n e w

p o i n t o f v i e w t h a t h a s n o t b e e n c o n s i d e r e d b y a n y o n e .

A s t u n n i n g e x a m p l e i s r e p o r t e d b y P a t r i c i a D a n i e l s o n a b o u t

o n e o f h e r s t u d e n t s . A p h y s i c i a n f r o m B r u s s e l s u s e d s y n t o p i c

r e a d i n g i n h i s f ield o f h o m e o p a t h y . E v e r y q u a r t e r , a n u m b e r o f

h o m e o p a t h i c p h y s i c i a n s f r o m a c r o s s E u r o p e g a t h e r t o s h a r e

r e s e a r c h p a p e r s . In p r e p a r a t i o n for a p r e s e n t a t i o n , he s y n t o p i c a l l y

r e a d a n d m i n d m a p p e d t h e m a j o r t e x t b o o k s o f h o m e o p a t h y .

W h e n h e l o o k e d a t h i s m i n d m a p s , t h e y s e e m e d n o n s e n s i c a l . H e

p u t t h e m in a file for l a t e r r e v i e w .

T w o m o n t h s la te r , h e p u l l e d o u t h i s m i n d m a p s a n d l a id

t h e m o n t h e f loor . A m a z i n g l y , t h e y al l m a d e to t a l s e n s e t o h i m . I n

fact, t h e n e w i d e a s t h a t c a m e t o h i m w e r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y . H e

q u i c k l y p r e p a r e d h i s p a p e r a n d a f ew w e e k s l a t e r p r e s e n t e d i t a t

t h e q u a r t e r l y m e e t i n g .

D o c t o r s a t t he m e e t i n g w e r e a s t o u n d e d w i t h t he i n s i g h t s

t h i s m a n h a d r e v e a l e d . O n e d o c t o r c o m m e n t e d t h a t n e v e r i n

t w e n t y y e a r s h a d h e m a d e t h e c o n n e c t i o n s e x p l a i n e d i n t h i s

p r e s e n t a t i o n . W h e n the a s s e m b l y i n q u i r e d h o w t h e P h o t o R e a d e r

h a d m a d e s u c h l e a p s i n h i s t h i n k i n g , h e d e s c r i b e d t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g p r o c e s s a n d s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g . T h e n e x t

P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r i n B r u s s e l s h a d s e v e n o f t h o s e d o c t o r s i n

a t t e n d a n c e .

Visualize the process

T a k e a m o m e n t t o i n t e g r a t e t h e t e n s t e p s o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g

w i t h a q u i c k v i s u a l i z a t i o n . T h i n k o f a s u b j e c t t h a t y o u w o u l d l i k e

t o s t u d y . W h a t p u r p o s e d o y o u d e s i r e t o fulfill? I m a g i n e g o i n g t o

t h e l i b r a r y a n d s e l e c t i n g a d o z e n b o o k s o n t h e sub jec t . Br ie f ly l o o k

t h e m o v e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h i c h t h r e e t o f ive y o u w i l l t a k e h o m e

w i t h y o u . T h e s e a r e t h e o n e s y o u feel w i l l m e e t y o u r p u r p o s e .

I m a g i n e t h a t e v e n i n g , p r e v i e w i n g a n d P h o t o R e a d i n g t h e

b o o k s . T h e n e x t d a y y o u a w a k e n r a r i n g t o g o . Y o u c r e a t e a g i a n t

m i n d m a p , e s t a b l i s h i n g a c l e a r p u r p o s e s t a t e m e n t a n d w r i t i n g i t

a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e m i n d m a p .


A successful real estate developer was a true self-made man. He dropped out

of school in the tenth grade and never looked back. In his entire life of fifty years,

he had read a mere three books. After learning PhotoReading, he repor ted , " It's

just wonder fu l . I've read a dozen books in the last two weeks, and I'm loving

it. The PhotoReading course has been one of the most enjoyable experiences

of my l i fe." For many years, he never considered himself a person who could

learn. Through PhotoReading, he demonstrated he could.

A minister PhotoRead a section of the Bible before sleeping one evening. He

dreamed about a Bible story and how it related to a problem in the life of one

of his parishioners. He was able to use his insights to counsel the parishioner.

Several PhotoReaders wi th strong eyeglass prescriptions have reported a shift

in their vision impairment. Within a year of PhotoReading regularly, their annual

eye exams did not fol low the usual course of increasing prescription intensity.

In fact, they reported a reversal to a lesser prescription. In each case, the

optometrists claimed such reversals were extremely rare.

A 17-year old high school student disliked reading. Now she reads more than

ever before. "It's turned my life around. "

A certified public accountant was asked to serve on a panel of business

professionals discussing raising venture capital. Her hectic schedule, left only an

afternoon for preparation. She selected several books to PhotoRead and

activate. She felt as well prepared as if she had spent several days reading and

wr i t ing. She presented the information concisely, and it was well received.

S u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t o f ind r e l e v a n t p a s s a g e s a n d m i n d m a p

t h e s e . A s y o u n o t i c e p a t t e r n s e m e r g i n g , a d d a l is t o f y o u r o w n

t e r m s a r o u n d the b o r d e r o f y o u r m a p t o s u m m a r i z e y o u r f i n d i n g s .

E x p l o r e t h e t h e m e s b e i n g a d d r e s s e d . M i n d m a p t h e s e a l o n g w i t h

s ign i f i can t p o i n t s o f v i e w w h i c h r e l a t e t o i s s u e s o f c o n t e n t i o n

b e t w e e n a u t h o r s . R e m e m b e r , y o u r o b j e c t i v e i s n o t t o f igure o u t

t h e b o o k s . Y o u r o b j e c t i v e i s t o fulfill y o u r p u r p o s e .

F e e l t h e c u m u l a t i v e p o w e r o f al l t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . I t i s a s i f

t h e a u t h o r s w e r e a l l p r e s e n t , s p e a k i n g t o y o u r p u r p o s e . I m a g i n e

a p p l y i n g t h e v a l u a b l e i n s i g h t s y o u g a i n i n a m o s t m e a n i n g f u l

w a y for y o u . A s y o u c o n c l u d e y o u r v i s u a l i z a t i o n , e x p e r i e n c e t h e

th r i l l o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g .

12

Questions and Answers for the Beginning PhotoReader

S i m p l y k n o w i n g a b o u t t he c o m p o n e n t sk i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s

o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i s n o t e n o u g h . Y o u m u s t

d e v e l o p a n d u s e t h e sk i l l s i n r ea l life. T h a t i s w h e n q u e s t i o n s

ar ise .

T h e m o s t c o m m o n q u e s t i o n a s k s , " A m I d o i n g i t r i g h t ? " T o

k n o w t h e a n s w e r w i t h c e r t a i n t y , f o l l o w t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s for e a c h

s t ep y o u p e r f o r m . T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s f o u n d i n t h i s b o o k h a v e b e e n

d e v e l o p e d , re f ined , a n d e x p l a i n e d t o h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f

p e o p l e b e f o r e y o u . I f y o u h a v e d o u b t s a b o u t any o f t h e s t e p s ,

r e r e a d t h e c h a p t e r a n d c l o s e l y f o l l o w t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s a g a i n .

E a c h s t ep o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m p r o d u c e s

a n effect w h e n y o u u s e it. F o r e x a m p l e , w h e n y o u h a v e p r e v i e w e d

a b u s i n e s s r epo r t , w i t h i n 3 m i n u t e s y o u w i l l k n o w t h e s t r u c t u r e

a n d f o r m a t o f t h e r epor t , t he k e y t e r m s b e i n g u s e d , a n d w h e t h e r

i n v e s t i n g any m o r e t i m e i n i t w i l l b e w o r t h w h i l e t o y o u . D i d y o u

a c h i e v e t he r e s u l t s y o u e x p e c t e d w i t h t h e t e c h n i q u e ? I f no t , t h e r e

is a g o o d r e a s o n .

W e h a v e f o u n d t h a t o c c a s i o n a l l y a c o u r s e p a r t i c i p a n t w i l l

r e a d o r h e a r o n e t h i n g , t h i n k a n o t h e r , a n d p e r f o r m i t d i f ferent ly

t h a n e i the r . A r e y o u p e r f o r m i n g the s t eps a s e x p l a i n e d i n t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s ? E v e n i f y o u d o n o t a c h i e v e y o u r final g o a l w i t h a

s i n g l e t e c h n i q u e , y o u w i l l m o s t l i ke ly r e c e i v e i n d i c a t o r s tha t y o u

a re o n t r a c k a n d m o v i n g i n t he d i r e c t i o n o f y o u r g o a l . P a y c l o s e

a t t e n t i o n t o a n y c o n c r e t e i n d i c a t o r o f s u c c e s s , n o m a t t e r

h o w s m a l l i t m a y b e . T h i s w i l l q u i c k l y r e a s s u r e y o u t h a t y o u

a r e o n t r a c k .

Questions and Answers ng

I f y o u h a v e f o l l o w e d i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d p r o d u c e c o n f l i c t i n g

r e s u l t s , t h e n y o u r a p p r o a c h t o t he t a sk c o u l d b e t h r o w i n g y o u off

c o u r s e . I n t he v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s o f th i s c h a p t e r t h a t fo l low, w e

e x p l o r e h o w t o e n s u r e y o u m a i n t a i n t h e i d e a l m i n d s e t d u r i n g t h e

u s e o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . U s e t h e i d e a s

p r e s e n t e d h e r e a n d y o u w i l l c h a r g e a h e a d w i t h c o n f i d e n c e a n d

s u c c e s s .

How can I quickly learn to use PhotoReading?

S i n c e t he n i n t h g r a d e , y o u h a v e b e e n a b l e t o r e c o g n i z e

w o r d s i n s t a n t l y , w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o s o u n d t h e m ou t . Y o u a r e

a l r e a d y w e l l - v e r s e d i n t he e x q u i s i t e a r r ay o f v i s u a l p a t t e r n s t h a t

w e ca l l w r i t t e n w o r d s . W h y t h e n d o w e feel c o m p e l l e d t o s o u n d

ou t e v e r y w o r d ? L e a r n i n g to r e a d i n s t a l l e d a set o f t r a i n i n g

w h e e l s w h i c h m a y h a v e n e v e r c o m e off. P h o t o R e a d i n g n o t o n l y

r e m o v e s t h e m ; i t h e l p s i n s t a l l r o c k e t s i n t he i r p l a c e .

L e a r n i n g a n e w ski l l w i l l con f ron t y e a r s o f e s t a b l i s h e d

h a b i t u a l b e h a v i o r . Y o u n e e d t o g o e a s y o n yourse l f . L e a r n i n g c a n

b e f rus t ra t ing , e s p e c i a l l y i f y o u h a v e g r e m l i n s .

G r e m l i n s a re h a b i t s a n d d i s e m p o w e r i n g b e l i e f s t h a t c r e a t e

n e g a t i v e f ee l ings a n d s t op u s f rom l e a r n i n g . T h e y a r e w o r r i s o m e

l i t t le c r e a t u r e s a c c o r d i n g t o R i c h a r d C a r s o n i n h i s b o o k Taming

Your Gremlin.

H o w d o y o u d e a l w i t h g r e m l i n s ? I f y o u t ry t o e x t e r m i n a t e

t h e m , s a y s C a r s o n , t h e y o n l y ge t b i g g e r . I n s t e a d , p l a y w i t h t h e m .

L o v e t h e m t o d e a t h . M o r e spec i f i ca l ly , cal l t o m i n d t h e " N O P S "

f o r m u l a : N o t i c e it, O w n it, P l a y w i t h it, S t ay w i t h it. W i t h N O P S ,

any f ru s t r a t i on y o u m a y feel c a n b e e a s i e r t o h a n d l e a n d n e e d n o t

b e c o m e a n o b s t a c l e t o fur ther l e a r n i n g .

" N " — N o t i c e y o u r f e e l i n g s . F e e l i n g s are n o t r i g h t o r w r o n g ;

t h e y j u s t a re .

"O"—Own y o u r e x p e r i e n c e . A d m i t a n y f r u s t r a t i o n .

P r o b l e m s w e o p e n l y a c k n o w l e d g e a re s o l v a b l e ; t h o s e w e d e n y

w i l l o n l y c o n t i n u e .

Y o u c a n cal l u p m a n y c o m f o r t i n g t h o u g h t s w h e n e v e r y o u

feel f rus t ra ted w i t h l e a r n i n g . T a k e a n e w t w i s t o n a n o l d s a y i n g :

i f a t first y o u d o n ' t s u c c e e d , y o u a re n o r m a l . So do i t a g a i n .

The PhotoReading WJiole Mind System 120

" P " — P l a y w i t h y o u r e x p e r i e n c e . P u s h in to t h e t a i l s p i n and

see w h a t h a p p e n s . G o d e e p e r in to y o u r con fus ion . A s k y o u r s e l f

q u e s t i o n s . D o i n g so m a y lead t o e v e n g r e a t e r c o n f u s i o n a t first. Be

c h i l d l i k e — i t i s o k a y to l ea rn .

" S " — S t a y w i t h it. T o o of ten we i n t e r p r e t f rus t r a t ion as a

s ign to g ive u p . I n s t e a d , see t h i s e m o t i o n a s an i n v i t a t i o n to forge

a h e a d . I f y o u d o , y o u w i l l s t a r t p r o d u c i n g n e w r e s u l t s

f rom r e a d i n g .

W i t h N O P S i n m i n d , l e a r n i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m i s a fast a n d g e n t l e e x p e r i e n c e . I t h e l p s us e n t e r t h e

m i n d s e t o f a ch i ld l e a r n i n g to w a l k . F a l l i n g d o w n i s n o t a t i m e for

s e l f - ca s t i ga t i on or p u b l i c h u m i l i a t i o n . I t i s a s igna l to get u p ,

adjust y o u r a p p r o a c h , and try aga in . U s i n g t h e N O P S f o r m u l a ,

y o u c a n b e y o u r b e s t c h e e r l e a d e r and q u i c k l y m a s t e r t h e s k i l l s .

How can I measure my performance during the PhotoReading step?

* - W h e n i t c o m e s t o t he P h o t o R e a d i n g s t ep , a s s e s s i n g y o u r

p e r f o r m a n c e m u s t b e d o n e i n a n o n t r a d i t i o n a l w a y . B e c a u s e

d u r i n g the P h o t o R e a d i n g s t ep , t h e goa l i s t o k e e p c o n s c i o u s

i n t e r f e r e n c e t o a m i n i m u m . I f y o u a s k y o u r s e l f w h i l e

P h o t o R e a d i n g , " A m I d o i n g th i s c o r r e c t l y ? " , i t i s a l r e a d y t o o la te .

Y o u are n o t .

T h i s i s t he s a m e d i l e m m a c r e a t e d w h e n a s k i n g a s l e e p i n g

p e r s o n " A r e y o u s l e e p i n g ? " T h e v e r y act o f i n q u i r i n g i m m e d i a t e l y

p u l l s t he sub jec t ou t o f t he e x p e r i e n c e i n w h i c h h e i s e n g a g e d . N o t

on ly d o e s tha t s top o n e ' s i n v o l v e m e n t in t h e ac t iv i ty , i t a l so

n e g a t i v e l y i n f l u e n c e s t he o u t c o m e o f t he v e r y e x p e r i m e n t b e i n g

p e r f o r m e d .

W h e n t h e m i n d s t u d i e s t he m i n d , a t r a d i t i o n a l e x p e r i m e n t a l

m o d e l d o e s no t w o r k . A n y e x p e r i m e n t w h e r e t he e x p e r i m e n t e r

(or o b s e r v e r ) i s a l so t he sub jec t w i l l b e c o n t a m i n a t e d . T h e m i n d

wi l l a l w a y s i n f luence t he o u t c o m e o f i ts o w n e x p e r i m e n t . S o , i f

y o u a re P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d w o n d e r i n g i f y o u a re d o i n g i t c o r r e c t l y ,

y o u c a n n o t b e . P h o t o R e a d i n g r e q u i r e s tha t y o u i m m e r s e y o u r s e l f

in t he f low of t h e e x p e r i e n c e , so tha t t he act o f P h o t o R e a d i n g

o c c u r s w i t h o u t s e l f - c o n s c i o u s o r se l f -cr i t ica l a w a r e n e s s .

Questions and Answers 121

T o s tudy the e f f ec t ivenes s o f y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g , s tay i n t h e

f low a s y o u P h o t o R e a d . A f t e r w a r d s , t h i n k b a c k o n y o u r e x p e r i e n c e

a n d c o n s i d e r :

• D i d I r e l ax p h y s i c a l l y , m e n t a l l y , a n d e n t e r t he a c c e l e r a t i v e

l e a r n i n g s t a t e ?

• D i d I aff i rm my c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d p u r p o s e ?

• D i d I m a i n t a i n a s t e a d y s ta te w i t h r e l a x e d b r e a t h i n g ,

r h y t h m i c p a g e t u r n i n g , a n d a c h a n t i n m y c o n s c i o u s m i n d ?

• D i d I m a i n t a i n P h o t o F o c u s , e i t h e r w i t h t he b l i p p a g e

o r w i t h a w a r e n e s s o f t he four c o r n e r s a n d t h e w h i t e s p a c e o n

t h e p a g e ?

• D i d I s t a te my c l o s i n g a f f i rma t ions?

I f y o u c a n a n s w e r y e s , t h e n y o u d id t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s t e p

c o r r e c t l y . T o e x a m i n e the effects o f P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u m u s t

p e r f o r m a t e s t o f s o m e k i n d after t he fact. S u c h t e s t s c a n be

s u b j e c t i v e o r o b j e c t i v e . T h r o u g h o u t t h i s b o o k , I h a v e p r i n t e d t h e

s to r i e s g i v e n u s b y P h o t o R e a d e r s f rom a r o u n d the w o r l d . T h e i r

e x p e r i e n c e s c a n s e r v e a s e x a m p l e s o f t e s t s y o u m i g h t p e r f o r m o n

yourse l f . O t h e r t e s t s t h a t h a v e h e l p e d m a n y p e o p l e d e m o n s t r a t e

t he i m m e d i a t e effects o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g t e c h n i q u e c a n b e

f o u n d a t t h e e n d o f C h a p t e r 7 .

D u r i n g t h e ea r ly s t a g e s o f l e a r n i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m , I r e c o m m e n d y o u s t ep u p t o c h a l l e n g e s i n w h i c h

y o u feel y o u c a n w i n . B u i l d y o u r c o n f i d e n c e a n d t a k e o n e v e n

b i g g e r c h a l l e n g e s . I f y o u do n o t feel r e a d y to p e r f o r m a t e s t on

t e l e v i s i o n l ike t h e o n e d e s c r i b e d nex t , p i c k o n e t h a t w o r k s

for y o u .

A P h o t o R e a d e r in G e r m a n y w a s a s k e d to a p p e a r a s a t e s t

sub jec t for a n e w s s to ry a b o u t t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m . U n d e r t he w a t c h f u l e y e s o f t h e i n t e r v i e w e r , p r o d u c t i o n

c r e w , a n d c a m e r a , she s e l e c t e d a b o o k f rom s e v e r a l offered. S h e

p r e v i e w e d , P h o t o R e a d , a n d m i n d p r o b e d . T h e n e x t d a y she

a c t i v a t e d w i t h s u p e r r e a d i n g , d i p p i n g , a n d m i n d m a p p i n g ,

s p e n d i n g a to ta l o f 4 5 m i n u t e s w i t h t he b o o k . S h e w a s t h e n a s k e d ,

w h i l e o n c a m e r a , spec i f ic q u e s t i o n s o n t h e b o o k . S h e a n s w e r e d

e v e r y o n e c o r r e c t l y .

W h e n l e c t u r i n g in M u n i c h , I s h o w e d a v i d e o o f t he f ive

m i n u t e t e l e v i s i o n s tory a n d h a d the P h o t o R e a d e r s p e a k t o t h e

g r o u p a b o u t h e r e x p e r i e n c e . S h e sa id , " I n e v e r b e l i e v e d I c o u l d


h a v e d o n e tha t . B u t w h e n a s k e d , I r e a l i z e d I f aced an i m p o r t a n t

d e c i s i o n : e i t h e r I c o u l d l ive t h e r e s t o f my life b e l i e v i n g I c o u l d n o t

p e r f o r m succes s fu l l y , or , I c o u l d t a k e t h e c h a l l e n g e a n d f ind o u t

t he t r u t h . " I n t e r e s t i n g l y , a m a n f rom t h e a u d i e n c e sa id i t w a s t o o

u n b e l i e v a b l e to i m a g i n e t h a t he c o u l d e v e r do s u c h a t h i n g .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i f h e m a i n t a i n s t h a t m i n d s e t h e n e v e r w i l l .

Can anyone learn to PhotoRead?

W e h a v e t a u g h t P h o t o R e a d i n g i n d o z e n s o f c o u n t r i e s , i n

m a n y l a n g u a g e s , t o p e o p l e f rom a g e s 9 t o 8 6 w h o c a m e w i t h v e r y

d i v e r s e b a c k g r o u n d s a n d r e a d i n g a b i l i t i e s . T h e s e c r e t t o s u c c e s s

i n e v e r y c a s e r e s t s i n t he m i n d s e t o r a t t i t u d e o f t h e l e a r n e r . T h e

i d e a l m i n d s e t t o m a i n t a i n i s o n e t h a t i s d e t e r m i n e d , p e r s i s t e n t ,

a n d p a t i e n t . T h i s m i n d s e t h a s b e e n b e a u t i f u l l y d e s c r i b e d

t h r o u g h o u t t h e a g e s a s t h e " b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d . " I t h e l p s u s in to a

n e w p a r a d i g m o f r e a d i n g .

O n e o f t h e g r e a t t r a p s w e face a s P h o t o R e a d e r s c o m e s f r o m

a l r e a d y k n o w i n g h o w t o r e a d . O u r p r e v i o u s t r a i n i n g g i v e s u s

c e r t a i n n o t i o n s a b o u t a c c e p t a b l e s p e e d a n d l e v e l s o f

c o m p r e h e n s i o n . T h e n a l o n g c o m e s P h o t o R e a d i n g w h i c h a s k s u s

t o c h a n g e h o w w e a p p r o a c h o u r r e a d i n g p r o b l e m s .

O n l y a c o m p l e t e l y n e w p a r a d i g m w i l l h e l p see u s t h r o u g h

t h e p r e s s u r e s o f d e a d l i n e s a n d p a p e r b l i z z a r d s . S o m e t i m e s I h e a r

b e g i n n i n g P h o t o R e a d e r s say , " T h i s i s t o t a l l y r e d e f i n i n g w h a t i t

m e a n s t o r e a d . "

M a i n t a i n i n g t h e b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d t a k e s u s t o a p l a c e w h e r e

w e c a n g l i m p s e n e w o p t i o n s . T h i s c o n c e p t g o e s b a c k t o t h e

a n c i e n t s c h o o l o f Z e n B u d d h i s m . S h u n r y u S u z u k i , a Z e n m a s t e r ,

sa id , " I n t h e b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d t h e r e a r e m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s , b u t i n

t he e x p e r t ' s t h e r e a r e f ew . " A n d h e a d d e d : " W e m u s t h a v e a

b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d , free f r o m p o s s e s s i n g a n y t h i n g , a m i n d t h a t

k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g i s i n f l o w i n g c h a n g e . N o t h i n g e x i s t s b u t

m o m e n t a r i l y in i ts p r e s e n t f o r m . . . "

T o d a y w e l ive i n a w o r l d t h a t r e q u i r e s u s t o b e c o m e b e g i n n e r s

o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n i n t h e face o f i m p e r m a n e n c e , c o n t i n u o u s

c h a n g e , a n d c h a o s . R e - e x a m i n i n g w h a t w e h a v e b e e n t a u g h t

a b o u t r e a d i n g i s j u s t o n e e x a m p l e o f t h e n e e d for b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d ,

a n d t h e d i z z y i n g p a c e o f c h a n g e g u a r a n t e e s t h a t w e w i l l


see m o r e .

Y o u d o n o t h a v e t o s t u d y Z e n t o l e a r n P h o t o R e a d i n g . T h e r e

i s a p l a c e for ru l e s a n d for b e i n g the expe r t . T h e r e i s a l so a p l a c e

for q u e s t i o n i n g e v e r y t h i n g . P h o t o R e a d e r s h a v e b o t h a t t i t u d e s .

W e h o n o r t h e c o n s c i o u s , r a t i o n a l m i n d , w i t h its ab i l i ty t o set

g o a l s . W e a l so a c k n o w l e d g e a n d u s e t h e e x p a n d e d c a p a b i l i t i e s o f

t h e b r a i n w i t h its ab i l i ty t o f ind c r e a t i v e w a y s t o r e a c h o u r g o a l s .

U s i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u k e e p y o u r p r e s e n t r e a d i n g sk i l l s

a n d g a i n n e w o p t i o n s . Y o u n o t o n l y w i n a n e w r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

t h e p r i n t e d w o r d , y o u a l so f ind o u t h o w t o r e s p o n d w h e n t h e

w o r l d c h a n g e s a t a h e c t i c p a c e . As an a d u l t w i t h a b e g i n n e r ' s

m i n d , y o u w i l l r e d i s c o v e r t h e j o y o f c o n t i n u a l l e a r n i n g .

How long will it take to learn this system?

As an a u t o m o b i l e d r ive r , I f o u n d l e a r n i n g to p i l o t an a i r p l a n e

b o t h f a m i l i a r a n d s t r a n g e . A r e a d e r l e a r n i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g

e x p e r i e n c e s s im i l a r i t i e s a n d r a d i c a l d i f fe rences t o r e g u l a r r e a d i n g .

I t t a k e s l ess t i m e t o l e a r n t he f a m i l i a r a n d m o r e t i m e t o l e a r n t h e

s t r a n g e .

T h e r e a r e fou r s t a g e s t o l e a r n i n g a n y t h i n g tha t i s d i f ferent

o r u n u s u a l . T h e l e n g t h o f t i m e i t t a k e s w i l l d e p e n d o n h o w y o u

m o v e t h r o u g h t h e s t a g e s o f l e a r n i n g . L e t m e i l l u s t r a t e e a c h s t a g e

a s i t a p p l i e s t o l e a r n i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g .

I n t he first s t a g e , y o u n o t i c e p i l e s o f u n r e a d m a t e r i a l a n d feel

a p e r v a s i v e s e n s e o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n x i e t y . E v e n so , y o u d o n o t

r e c o g n i z e t he s o u r c e o f t h i s p r o b l e m , let a l o n e h o w t o r e s p o n d .

S o m e t h i n g i n y o u r life i s b r o k e n , b u t y o u a re n o t a w a r e o f w h a t

n e e d s f ix ing .

A t th i s l e v e l i t i s c o m m o n t o feel fear, s o m e t i m e s p a i r e d w i t h

e x c i t e m e n t o v e r t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f s o l v i n g t h e p r o b l e m . L a b e l th i s

s t ep U n c o n s c i o u s I n c o m p e t e n c e .

N e x t , y o u s e n s e t h a t y o u r p r e s e n t r e a d i n g h a b i t s a r e n o t

s e r v i n g y o u w e l l . T h o s e h a b i t s , i n fact, a re a m a j o r s o u r c e o f

i n f o r m a t i o n a n x i e t y . Y o u l e a r n a b o u t P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d e v e n t ry

s o m e o f t he t e c h n i q u e s . T h e s e t e c h n i q u e s s e e m u n f a m i l i a r . N o w

y o u k n o w w h a t i s b r o k e n , y o u k n o w w h a t t o d o , b u t y o u a r e

u n a b l e t o d o i t ye t . L a b e l t h i s s t a g e C o n s c i o u s I n c o m p e t e n c e .

T h i s t h i r d s t a g e r e p r e s e n t s a q u a n t u m l e a p . Y o u u s e


P h o t o R e a d i n g sk i l l s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s u c c e s s w i t h t h e m . E v e n so ,

t h e s e sk i l l s a re n o t fully i n t e g r a t e d in to y o u r l ife. Y o u sti l l n e e d t o

r e m i n d y o u r s e l f t o u s e th i s n e w a p p r o a c h w i t h w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s .

L a b e l t h i s l e v e l C o n s c i o u s C o m p e t e n c e .

F i n a l l y , y o u e n t e r t he s t age o f m a s t e r y . N o w P h o t o R e a d i n g

i s s o f a m i l i a r t o y o u t h a t y o u u s e i t a u t o m a t i c a l l y . T h e t e c h n i q u e s

b e c o m e a s n a t u r a l a s b r e a t h i n g . Y o u e x p e r i e n c e n o t o n l y a n e w

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e p r i n t e d w o r d , b u t a n e w q u a l i t y o f life. Y o u

r e d u c e o r e l i m i n a t e t h o s e u n r e a d p i l e s a n d c o n t i n u a l l y satisfy

y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g . L a b e l t h i s s t a g e E x c e l l e n c e .

L e a r n i n g m e a n s p a s s i n g t h o u g h t h e s t a g e o f c o n s c i o u s l y

r e a l i z i n g o u r i n c o m p e t e n c e — k n o w i n g t h a t w e d o n o t k n o w

s o m e t h i n g i m p o r t a n t o r t h a t w e l a c k a d e s i r e d s k i l l .

N o t s u r p r i s i n g l y , c e r t a i n e m o t i o n s o f t e n a c c o m p a n y t h i s

d i s c o v e r y : c o n f u s i o n , f rus t r a t ion , fear , a n d a n x i e t y .

fl.utorr*rtt»(J

frustration vs.

excitei*er>t


M y s u g g e s t i o n i s s i m p l e : l o v e i t a l l . N o m a t t e r w h a t c o m e s Q3>

u p for y o u a s y o u l e a r n P h o t o R e a d i n g , e m b r a c e it. N o e m o t i o n jfjf

y o u e x p e r i e n c e i s w r o n g , a n d al l y o u r f ee l ings s e r v e a p u r p o s e . *

C o n f u s i o n c a n c r e a t e c u r i o s i t y . C h a o s c a n l ead t o c l a r i t y .

W h e n I t e a c h P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r s a t L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s in¬

c o r p o r a t i o n , I l o v e h e a r i n g p e o p l e m o v e t h r o u g h s u c h f ee l i ngs .

W h e n p e o p l e say t h e y a re con fused , I c h e e r . W h e n t h e y say t h e y A

are f rus t ra ted, I q u i c k l y do w h a t I c a n to m o v e t h e m in to confus ion .

B e h i n d th i s a p p a r e n t c r a z i n e s s i s a k e y in s igh t : c o n f u s i o n i s o n e

s t ep w e c l i m b o n t h e w a y t o e x c e l l e n c e . C o n f u s i o n s i g n a l s t h a t

p e o p l e a r e c o m m i t t i n g a n ac t o f l e a r n i n g .

I n con t r a s t , a p p r o a c h i n g p r o b l e m s w i t h a s e n s e o f c e r t a i n t y

a n d an u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o let go o f o ld b e l i e f s l e a d s t o f rus t ra t ion .

We ge t s t u c k in a s ta te of l e a r n e d h e l p l e s s n e s s , a s ta te of n o t

k n o w i n g . T h e s e t w o pa th s are s u m m a r i z e d in the fo l lowing d i a g r a m :


U n f o r t u n a t e l y , o u r e d u c a t i o n of ten l e a d u s d o w n t h e p a t h

o f f rus t ra t ion . I n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a l m o d e l o f r e a d i n g ,

c o n f u s i o n e q u a l s fa i lu re , a n d f r u s t r a t i o n e q u a l s i n c o m p e t e n c e .

F o r s o m e , j o y i n r e a d i n g n e v e r a p p e a r s a n d l e a r n i n g s t o p s .

W h a t e v e r f e e l i n g s y o u e x p e r i e n c e w h i l e l e a r n i n g

P h o t o R e a d i n g a r e f ine. D o n o t s u p p r e s s a n y e m o t i o n a l s t a t e , any

d e g r e e o f c o n f u s i o n . Y o u m a y b e t e m p t e d t o c o m p a r e y o u r s e l f

w i t h o t h e r s : " I a m n o t d o i n g th i s r igh t . E v e r y b o d y e l s e c a n d o

t h i s . W h y c a n ' t I ? " I f y o u d e t e c t s u c h t h o u g h t s , le t t h e m c o m e t o

full a w a r e n e s s a n d b e w i l l i n g t o le t t h e m g o . R e m i n d y o u r s e l f t h a t

c o n s c i o u s c o m p e t e n c e i s c o m i n g y o u r w a y .

R e a d i n g g e t s r i g h t t o t h e h e a r t o f s e l f - i m a g e . O u r self-

c o n c e p t i s o f ten b o u n d u p w i t h o u r s u c c e s s a s l e a r n e r s , a n d m u c h

o f o u r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h l e a r n i n g t i e s t o r e a d i n g . I f ind t h a t p e o p l e

l a b e l t h e m s e l v e s a s p o o r r e a d e r s t o o r e a d i l y a n d t h u s feel

i ne f f ec t ive . S u c h f r u s t r a t i o n q u i c k l y t a r n i s h e s o u r s e l f - i m a g e .

T h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s t o a c c e p t t he e m o t i o n a l u p s a n d d o w n s o f

l e a r n i n g , t o see t h e m a s a n a t u r a l a n d g race fu l d a n c e . I f y o u d o ,

y o u w i l l s h o r t e n t he p a t h t o e x c e l l e n c e .

What state of mind should I be in when using the PhotoReading whole mind system?

T h i n k a b o u t t i m e s w h e n y o u h a v e b e e n a b s o l u t e l y a b s o r b e d

i n r e a d i n g . I t i s i m p o r t a n t for u s t o e x p l o r e t h o s e e x p e r i e n c e s i n

m o r e d e p t h , b e c a u s e , a t t h o s e m o m e n t s , y o u a r e t r a n s f o r m e d in to

a sk i l l ed , p o w e r f u l r e a d e r — e f f o r t l e s s l y .

R e m e m b e r w h a t t h o s e t i m e s w e r e l ike . P e r h a p s y o u w e r e

e n g r o s s e d i n a n o v e l . M a y b e y o u w e r e s a v o r i n g a l o v e le t te r . O r

p e r h a p s y o u w e r e s o l v i n g a m u r d e r m y s t e r y . I n a n y c a s e , a

c u r i o u s t h i n g h a p p e n e d : y o u w e r e u n a w a r e o f a n y t h i n g e l se

g o i n g o n a r o u n d y o u . I t w a s a s i f t h e p i c t u r e s , i m a g e s , a n d

f e e l i n g s i n s i d e y o u w e r e m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n the b o o k i n front o f

y o u . Y o u w e r e n o l o n g e r r e a d i n g w o r d s — y o u h a d s t e p p e d in to

a n o t h e r r e a l i t y . W h a t w a s g o i n g o n b e h i n d y o u r e y e s w a s far

m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n w h a t a p p e a r e d i n front o f t h e m .

P e o p l e d e s c r i b e t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h r e m a r k a b l y s i m i l a r

l a n g u a g e . " I los t al l t r a c k o f t i m e a n d p l a c e . " " I w a s n o t c o n s c i o u s


e n h a n c e d p r o d u c t i v i t y .

Stephen Mitchell, a translator

of the Tao, describes the f low

state: A good athlete can enter

a state of body-awareness in

which the right stroke or the

right movement happens by

itself, effortlessly, w i thout any

interference of the conscious

wi l l . This is a paradigm for

non-action: the purest and

most effective form of action.

The game plays the game; the

poem writes the poem; we

can't tell the dancer f rom

the dance.

o f w o r d s o n a p a g e . " " I w a s j u s t s e e i n g m o v i e s i n m y m i n d . " " I

a b s o r b e d t h e w o r d s w i t h o u t effort." " W o r d s j u s t f l o w e d f rom t h e

p a g e t o m y m i n d . "

F l o w — t h a t i s a h a n d y w o r d for it. I t c a p t u r e s t h e k e y

f e a t u r e s o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e s e a s e , f l u i d i t y , l a c k o f e f for t ,

a b s o r p t i o n , c o n c e n t r a t i o n , sof tness , r e l a x a t i o n , e f f ic iency , a n d

A l t h o u g h t h i s e x p e r i e n c e

s o u n d s l i k e a n a l t e r e d s t a t e o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i t i s n o t a b n o r m a l .

H u m a n b e i n g s h a v e k n o w n a b o u t

t h e " f low e x p e r i e n c e " for h u n d r e d s

o f y e a r s , u s i n g a v a r i e t y o f t e r m s to

d e s c r i b e it . T h e Tao te Ching, a

sp i r i t ua l t ex t f rom C h i n a b y L a o T s u ,

s p e a k s o f effor t less a c t i o n , o r n o n -

a c t i o n . P s y c h o l o g i s t A b r a h a m

M a s l o w spoke o f "peak e x p e r i e n c e s , "

d e s c r i b i n g t h e m in a s i m i l a r w a y .

M i h a l y C s i k s z e n t m i h a l y i , a

p s y c h o l o g i s t f rom the U n i v e r s i t y o f

C h i c a g o , r e v e a l e d t h a t f low e x p e r i e n c e s c a n h a p p e n t o a n y o n e .

H i s s t u d i e s o f t h i s s ta te h a v e i n c l u d e d c l e r k s , a s s e m b l y - l i n e

w o r k e r s , a t h l e t e s , e n g i n e e r s , a n d m a n a g e r s . H e s a y s f low s ta tes

b e a r a s t r o n g r e s e m b l a n c e t o o t h e r w e l l - k n o w n p h e n o m e n a —

h y p n o s i s a n d m e d i t a t i o n .

A h , b u t i f we c o u l d o n l y flip a s w i t c h a n d e n t e r t h a t f low

s ta te w h e n e v e r w e read . W e w o u l d b e i n s t a tes o f d e e p a t t e n t i o n ,

free o f effort o r s t ra in , w o r k i n g s m o o t h l y , q u i c k l y , a n d eff ic ient ly .

W e w o u l d b e r e l a x e d , a c t i v e , a n d aler t , al l a t t he s a m e t i m e .

R e a d i n g w o u l d b e a b r e e z e — a s e a s y t o f low t h r o u g h t e c h n i c a l

i n f o r m a t i o n as a n o v e l .

T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i s t h a t s w i t c h . T h e

f low s ta te i s y o u r b i r t h r i g h t , o n e o f y o u r p o t e n t i a l s a s a h u m a n

b e i n g . T h r o u g h P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u ge t a c h a n c e t o c h o o s e th i s

e x p e r i e n c e i n s t e a d of l e a v i n g i t to c h a n c e . T h i s s ta te i s no t a f luke

or s o m e k i n d of o u t - o f - b o d y e x p e r i e n c e . R a t h e r , i t i s a n a t u r a l l y

o c c u r r i n g e v e n t , a n d t h e s e c r e t i s t o m a k e i t h a b i t u a l d u r i n g al l

y o u r r e a d i n g .

The PhotoReading Whole Mind Si/stem 128

What do accelerative learning and PhotoReading have in common?

As a ch i ld , y o u n a t u r a l l y u s e d s t r a t e g i e s o f a c c e l e r a t i v e

l e a r n i n g t o a c c o m p l i s h t he m o n u m e n t a l t a s k s o f l e a r n i n g t o w a l k

a n d ta lk . N o t h i n g w e l e a r n a s a d u l t s w i l l e q u a l t he c o m p l e x i t y o f

t h o s e t a s k s .

T h e sk i l l s o f a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g a re sti l l w i t h u s f r o m

c h i l d h o o d , o b s c u r e d a s t h e y m i g h t b e f r o m y e a r s o f a b u s e ,

m i s u s e , a n d d i s u s e . W e s i m p l y n e e d t o r e a w a k e n o u r m a s t e r y

a n d a p p l y i t t o t he t a s k o f r e a d i n g . T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e

m i n d s y s t e m d r a w s h e a v i l y f rom a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g , m a k i n g i t

e a s y a n d fun t o l e a r n a n d u s e .

O n e o f t he bes t k n o w n r e s e a r c h e r s in the s tudy o f acce le ra t ive

l e a r n i n g i s G e o r g i L o z a n o v , a B u l g a r i a n p s y c h o l o g i s t . Dr . L o z a n o v

h a s w r i t t e n m a n y p a p e r s s u p p o r t i n g t h e c l a i m tha t w e u s e b a r e l y

t e n p e r c e n t o f o u r b r a i n c a p a c i t y . H e a n d h i s staff o f r e s e a r c h e r s

b e l i e v e t h a t w e c a n s y s t e m a t i c a l l y l e a r n t o t a p t he h i d d e n

r e s e r v e s — t h e o t h e r n i n e t y p e r c e n t — o f t h e m i n d . H e d e v e l o p e d

h i s f i n d i n g s i n to a n a p p l i e d s y s t e m for l e a r n i n g .

L o z a n o v ' s m e t h o d s a l l o w b o t h h e m i s p h e r e s o f t he b r a i n t o

w o r k t o g e t h e r a s a n o r c h e s t r a t e d t e a m . W h e n t h a t h a p p e n s , o u r

c a p a c i t y t o l e a r n i n c r e a s e s e x p o n e n t i a l l y .

L o z a n o v c l a i m e d y o u c a n e x p o s e y o u r s e l f t o v a s t a m o u n t s

o f i n f o r m a t i o n , a b s o r b i t e f for t less ly , a n d u s e i t w h e n y o u n e e d it.

T h o s e a r e p r e c i s e l y t he sk i l l s w e n e e d t o s u r v i v e i n t h e a g e o f

i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r l o a d a n d d o c u m e n t s h o c k .

A t t he h e a r t o f L o z a n o v ' s l e a r n i n g m e t h o d s a re t h r e e s t eps :

decode, concert, and activate. These steps para l le l the P h o t o R e a d i n g

w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

D e c o d i n g i s a " o n c e o v e r l i g h t l y " — a q u i c k o v e r v i e w o f t h e

m a t e r i a l t o b e l e a r n e d .

D u r i n g the c o n c e r t s e s s ion , l e a r n e r s e n t e r a s ta te o f r e l a x e d

a l e r t n e s s t o r e c e i v e a m o r e c o m p l e t e e x p o s u r e t o t he m a t e r i a l .

T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s of ten p r e s e n t e d as a s tory o r p l a y a n d

a c c o m p a n i e d b y c l a s s i c a l m u s i c p l a y i n g i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d .

F i n a l l y , l e a r n e r s a c t i v a t e t h e m a t e r i a l , t h a t i s , ca l l i t t o t he

c o n s c i o u s m i n d a n d a p p l y it. I n s t e a d o f dr i l l s e s s i o n s a n d ro t e

m e m o r i z a t i o n , a c t i v a t i o n u s e s g r o u p d i s c u s s i o n , g a m e s , sk i t s ,


and o the r n o n t r a d i t i o n a l m e t h o d s .

S e e t he c o n n e c t i o n ? L o z a n o v ' s d e c o d e - c o n c e r t - a c t i v a t e i s

ou r p r e v i e w - P h o t o R e a d - a c t i v a t e . T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m i n c o r p o r a t e s m a n y a s p e c t s o f L o z a n o v ' s m e t h o d s a s d o e s

t he t e a c h i n g o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r .

I know I rely too heavily on my conscious rational mind. What else can I do?

In t he ear ly 1980s , H o w a r d G a r d n e r , a H a r v a r d p s y c h o l o g i s t ,

d e v e l o p e d a n i d e a tha t c o m p l e m e n t s L o z a n o v ' s w o r k . G a r d n e r

sa id tha t ou r s c h o o l i n g w o r k s m o s t l y o n t w o k i n d s o f i n t e l l i g e n c e :

o n e tha t i n v o l v e s l a n g u a g e and o n e tha t i n v o l v e s l o g i c . G a r d n e r

c o n c l u d e d tha t th i s w a s on ly a sma l l pa r t o f t he p i c t u r e , h o w e v e r .

A m o r e a c c u r a t e v i e w of i n t e l l i g e n c e i n c l u d e s all of t he f o l l o w i n g

c a p a c i t i e s :

• L i n g u i s t i c I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to skillfully d e s c r i b e

t he w o r l d w i t h w o r d s .

• L o g i c a l - M a t h e m a t i c a l I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e a b i l i t y t o

r e p r e s e n t t he w o r l d w i t h n u m e r i c s y m b o l s and m a n i p u l a t e t h o s e

s y m b o l s a c c o r d i n g t o t he r u l e s o f l o g i c .

• M u s i c a l I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to a p p r e c i a t e a n d u s e

t he n o n v e r b a l " l a n g u a g e " o f m e l o d y , r h y t h m , h a r m o n y , and

t o n e c o l o r .

• S p a t i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to p e r c e i v e t he v i s u a l

w o r l d a c c u r a t e l y a n d r e c r e a t e i t i n t he m i n d o r on p a p e r .

• B o d i l y - K i n e s t h e t i c I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to u s e t he

b o d y for sk i l l ed s e l f - e x p r e s s i o n or as a too l for l e a r n i n g .

• I n t e r p e r s o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to p e r c e i v e a n d

u n d e r s t a n d o t h e r p e o p l e ' s f ee l ings and de s i r e s .

• I n t r a p e r s o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e abi l i ty to clarify p e r s o n a l

v a l u e s and ga in i n s igh t t h r o u g h s o l i t u d e .

• N a t u r a l i s t I n t e l l i g e n c e — t h e ab i l i ty to s ee p a t t e r n s ,

d i s t i n g u i s h , and classify t h i n g s i n t he na tu r a l w o r l d .

T h i n k of a t i m e y o u l e a r n e d s o m e t h i n g master ful ly . C o n s i d e r

w h i c h o f t he e i g h t i n t e l l i g e n c e s y o u used . Y o u a l r eady k n o w h o w

to e x c e l a t l e a r n i n g and c a n do so a g a i n a t any t i m e . U s e t he

s t r e n g t h s y o u a l r eady p o s s e s s .

I m a g i n e a p p l y i n g all e igh t i n t e l l i g e n c e s p l u s i n tu i t i on to


y o u r r e a d i n g . T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m h e l p s y o u

d o e x a c t l y that . A l l y o u r i n t e l l i g e n c e s a r e i n v i t e d t o t he a c t o f

r e a d i n g . I n th i s s e n s e , P h o t o R e a d i n g i s n o t a r e a d i n g p r o g r a m b u t

a l e a r n i n g p r o g r a m — a se t o f s t r a t e g i e s for l e a r n i n g a n y t h i n g .

A n y t h i n g .

How does activation tap into the expanded processing capabilities of the brain?

A c c o r d i n g to D r . W i n W e n g e r , a u t h o r of The Einstein Factor,

the n o n c o n s c i o u s s to r age c a p a c i t y o f t he b r a i n e x c e e d s t he c a p a c i t y

o f t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d b y t e n b i l l i o n t o o n e . T h e s e a r e t h e r e s e r v e s

o f t h e m i n d w h i c h w e d r a w f r o m d u r i n g a c t i v a t i o n .

An e x a m p l e o f ac t iva t ion i s t he t ip o f the t o n g u e p h e n o m e n o n

t h a t o f ten t a k e s p l a c e i n r e m e m b e r i n g n a m e s . Y o u k n o w t h e

s c e n e : y o u s ee a f a m i l i a r p e r s o n a t a p a r t y , b u t h i s o r h e r n a m e

s l ips y o u r m i n d . Y o u t ry for a m i n u t e t o r eca l l t h e n a m e . T h i s

s t i m u l a t e s t h e n e u r a l c i r c u i t r y o f y o u r b r a i n . T h e n , a f ew m i n u t e s

la ter , t h e n a m e s u d d e n l y f l a shes i n y o u r m i n d , o f t en w h i l e y o u

a re t a l k i n g t o s o m e o n e e l se a n d n o t c o n s c i o u s l y t r y i n g t o r e m e m b e r

it. Y o u r b r a i n g e n e r a t e d t he n a m e b a s e d o n t h e s t i m u l a t i o n o f

n e u r a l p a t h w a y s e s t a b l i s h e d w h e n y o u f i r s t l e a r n e d t h e

p e r s o n ' s n a m e .

A c t i v a t i o n c a n a l s o t a k e p l a c e on a g r a n d e r s c a l e . A w r i t e r

I k n o w p r a c t i c e s m e d i t a t i o n , w h i c h i s a n o t h e r w a y o f e n t e r i n g t h e

s t a t e o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s w e c u l t i v a t e i n P h o t o R e a d i n g . H e s a y s

t h a t s o m e o f h i s b e s t i d e a s c o m e d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f m e d i t a t i o n ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n h e i s s t r u g g l i n g w i t h t h e c o n t e n t o r s t r u c t u r e

o f a m a n u s c r i p t . F r e q u e n t l y , o u t l i n e s for e n t i r e b o o k s c o m e to

h i m i n th i s w a y .

A r t i s t s o f all t y p e s d e s c r i b e s i m i l a r e v e n t s i n t h e i r l i v e s .

A a r o n C o p l a n d , t h e d i s t i n g u i s h e d A m e r i c a n c o m p o s e r , sa id t h a t

w r i t i n g m u s i c b e g i n s w i t h t r a n s c r i b i n g t h e m e s t h a t b l o s s o m

s p o n t a n e o u s l y f rom w i t h i n . As he p u t it in What to Listen for

in Music:

T h e c o m p o s e r s ta r t s w i t h h i s t h e m e , a n d t h e t h e m e i s a gift

f rom H e a v e n . H e d o e s n ' t k n o w w h e r e i t c o m e s f r o m — h a s

n o c o n t r o l o v e r it. I t c o m e s a l m o s t l i ke a u t o m a t i c w r i t i n g .


T h a t i s w h y h e k e e p s a b o o k v e r y of ten a n d w r i t e s t h e m e s

d o w n w h e n e v e r t h e y c o m e .

W e d o n o t h a v e t o b e g r e a t c o m p o s e r s o r w r i t e r s t o d r a w o n

t h e s e d e e p , c r e a t i v e r e s e r v e s . W e n e e d a r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s a l o n g

w i t h a g e n t l e r e q u e s t for t h e i d e a s we s e e k t o su r f ace i n t h e

c o n s c i o u s m i n d .

T h i s h a s p r o f o u n d i m p l i c a t i o n s . T h e s e c r e t i s t o g e t o u t o f

t h e w a y a n d let o u r s e l v e s P h o t o R e a d .

Will hard work help me develop my skills?

P h o t o R e a d i n g m a y s e e m l ike a b u n d l e o f p a r a d o x e s , b e c a u s e

i t i s . T h i n k a b o u t w h a t I a m s u g g e s t i n g : t o ge t m o r e o u t o f y o u r

r e a d i n g , s p e n d l e s s t i m e w i t h it; t o g a i n m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , d o n o t

w o r r y a b o u t c o n s c i o u s c o m p r e h e n s i o n ; t o s u c c e e d a t r e a d i n g ,

q u i t t r y i n g s o h a r d a n d s ta r t p l a y i n g ; a n d t o ge t w h a t y o u w a n t ,

let g o o f y o u r n e e d for r e s u l t s .

D u r i n g o n e s e m i n a r I m e t a w o m a n w h o u n d e r s t o o d

p e r f e c t l y t h e p a r a d o x i c a l n a t u r e o f P h o t o R e a d i n g . S o o n after w e

b e g a n P h o t o R e a d i n g b o o k s , t h e n u m b e r o f h e r c o r r e c t a n s w e r s

o n c o m p r e h e n s i o n t e s t s c l i m b e d in to t he 9 0 p e r c e n t r a n g e a n d

s t a y e d t h e r e . I a s k e d h e r h o w t h a t h a p p e n e d . " I s i m p l y d e c i d e d

up f ront t h a t I h a v e n o t h i n g to p r o v e . I f t h e t e c h n i q u e s w o r k , f ine.

I f t h e y d o n ' t , f ine . F o r m e the i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t o s i m p l y

e x p e r i e n c e a n e w a p p r o a c h t o r e a d i n g . "

W h e r e v e r I t e a c h P h o t o R e a d i n g , I f ind t h e s a m e a t t i t u d e s in

succes s fu l P h o t o R e a d e r s . P e o p l e w h o "try h a r d t o d o r ea l ly w e l l "

w i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g o f t e n s t r a p t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a b i g

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . R i g h t a w a y , t h e y feel a p e r s o n a l o b l i g a t i o n to

p r o v e o r d i s p r o v e t h e w h o l e m i n d r e a d i n g s y s t e m . T h a t i s l i ke

w a n t i n g t o t a k e t h e f inal e x a m i n c a l c u l u s b e f o r e y o u h a v e

l e a r n e d h o w t o a d d — a n d t h e n c l a i m i n g t h a t y o u a re l o u s y

i n m a t h .

Y o u d o n o t h a v e t o b e l i e v e e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t P h o t o R e a d i n g

up front. A l i t t le s k e p t i c i s m a b o u t t h e t e c h n i q u e i s f ine. No

n u m b e r o f t e s t i m o n i a l s c a n r e p l a c e t h e r e su l t s y o u p r o d u c e w i t h

y o u r o w n efforts . B e w i l l i n g t o g i v e P h o t o R e a d i n g a fa ir t r ia l a n d

r e m a i n o p e n for p l e a s a n t s u r p r i s e s . A r e q u i r e m e n t for s u c c e s s i s


a n o p e n m i n d .

I u r g e p e o p l e t o e a s e i n to t he e x p e r i e n c e o f P h o t o R e a d i n g —

t o p l a y , e m b r a c e con fus ion , a n d t a m e the g r e m l i n s . I r o n i c a l l y , i t

i s w h e n w e s top t r y i n g s o h a r d t o s u c c e e d t h a t o u r i n t u i t i o n

f l o w e r s a n d w e r e k i n d l e o u r n a t u r a l ski l l a t l e a r n i n g . W h e n w e le t

g o o f s u c c e s s o r fa i lu re , w e s tar t t o ge t w h a t w e w a n t .

When will I attain the levels of comprehension I need?

R e m e m b e r t h a t t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m i s

b a s e d o n m u l t i p l e p a s s e s t h r o u g h p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l . F i r s t w e

p r e v i e w . T h a t c a n b e f o l l o w e d , a s w e c h o o s e , b y P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

s u p e r r e a d i n g , d i p p i n g , a n d r a p i d r e a d i n g .

C o m p r e h e n s i o n c o m e s i n l a y e r s . P r e v i e w i n g g i v e s u s a

s e n s e o f s t r u c t u r e . B y u s i n g the r e m a i n i n g s t e p s o f t he s y s t e m , w e

b u i l d on t h a t f o u n d a t i o n , g a i n i n g a l e v e l o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n t h a t

i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h o u r p u r p o s e . T h i s a p p r o a c h frees u s .

P e r h a p s th i s feels l i ke full c o m p r e h e n s i o n i s d e l a y e d — t h a t

y o u a re no t g e t t i n g t he " g o o d i e s " f rom y o u r r e a d i n g

a s s o o n a s y o u w a n t t h e m . My s u g g e s t i o n i s t o Notice it.

g r e e t t h i s f ee l ing w i t h t he N O P S f o r m u l a a n d O w n i t .

.. . ^ Play wi th it. d i s c o v e r w h a t e m e r g e s .

Stay wi th it.

F o r e x a m p l e , a P h o t o R e a d e r t o o k a s e m i n a r

d u r i n g h i s d o c t o r a l p r o g r a m i n w h i c h h e h a d t o r e a d t w e n t y

t h o u s a n d p a g e s . M o s t s t u d e n t s i n t h a t p r o g r a m t a k e b e t w e e n s ix

a n d n i n e m o n t h s t o f in i sh t h e r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g a n d w r i t e t h e

n e c e s s a r y p a p e r s . F o r a n e n t i r e w e e k h e p r e v i e w e d a n d

P h o t o R e a d . T h e n e x t w e e k h e t r i ed t o a c t i v a t e t h e b o o k s a n d

w r i t e h i s p a p e r s ; n o t h i n g c a m e t o h i m . H e e x p e c t e d t o k n o w t h e

m a t e r i a l . In f rus t ra t ion , he let i t al l g o , f e e l i ng he h a d w a s t e d t he

w e e k .

T h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k the P h o t o R e a d e r e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h

e n t e r i n g t he " b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d . " H e o n c e a g a i n a c t i v a t e d t h e

b o o k s , a s t o n i s h e d t h a t t h i s t i m e e v e r y t h i n g m a d e s e n s e t o h i m .

H i s w r i t i n g f l o w e d , a n d he f in i shed the c o u r s e , r e c e i v i n g an A for

h i s w o r k . H i s to ta l i n v e s t m e n t w a s o n l y t h r e e w e e k s f rom t h e

t i m e h e s t a r t ed .

W a s the s e c o n d w e e k o f a c t i v a t i o n a w a s t e ? O r w a s i t t h e


e s s e n t i a l p e r i o d o f i n c u b a t i o n a n d fine t u n i n g n e c e s s a r y t o a c h i e v e

t he e n d r e su l t ?

A P h o t o R e a d i n g s t u d e n t d e s c r i b e d h i s e x p e r i e n c e l ike th i s :

" I r e a l i z e d t h a t w h e n u s i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d

s y s t e m , I am a c t u a l l y a d d i n g t i m e to do e x t r a t h i n g s t o my

r e a d i n g . I n a t u r a l l y r e s i s t e d . I c o u l d j u s t s tar t r e a d i n g a n d

c o m p r e h e n d i n g as I g o . Or , I c o u l d u s e th i s n e w s y s t e m — a d d i n g

t i m e t o p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d b e f o r e I c o u l d a c t i v a t e for

c o m p r e h e n s i o n . M y n a t u r a l r e s p o n s e w a s , w h y ? W h y n o t j u s t ge t

in to i t?

" I ' v e b e e n t e l l i n g m y k i d s for y e a r s t h a t y o u h a v e t o i n v e s t

a l i t t le b i t e x t r a in t h e l e a r n i n g c u r v e up front b e f o r e t he p a y o f f

c o m e s . W h e n y o u g o t o s c h o o l , i t i s n o t t he i n f o r m a t i o n y o u n e e d .

W h a t y o u a re r ea l ly l e a r n i n g i s h o w t o l e a r n — s o w h e n y o u ge t

in to t h e r ea l w o r l d , y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o g e t w h e r e y o u w a n t t o g o

i n life. H e r e , I h a d b e e n g i v i n g t h i s a d v i c e w i t h o u t t a k i n g i t

myse l f !

" I s o o n d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e few m i n u t e s I i n v e s t e d up front

p a i d b a c k h u g e d i v i d e n d s . I c o u l d s a v e h o u r s r e a d i n g r e p o r t s b y

t a k i n g f ive m i n u t e s t o p r e v i e w a n d P h o t o R e a d . I c o u l d s a v e t e n

t o e i g h t e e n h o u r s o r m o r e o n b o o k s t h a t u s e d t o t a k e t w e n t y

h o u r s t o r e a d r e g u l a r l y . "

I n s u m m a r y t h i s c h a p t e r h e l p e d y o u l ea rn :

• T h e N O P S f o r m u l a — n o t i c e it, o w n it, p l a y w i t h it, s tay

w i t h i t — w i l l h e l p o v e r c o m e f rus t r a t ing h a b i t s w h i c h p r e v e n t

l e a r n i n g .

• T h e b e g i n n e r ' s m i n d i s t he pe r f ec t m i n d s e t t o m a i n t a i n

d u r i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

• T h e r e a re four l e v e l s y o u m u s t p r o g r e s s t h r o u g h w h e n

l e a r n i n g a n e w ski l l .

• C o n f u s i o n i s an a p p r o p r i a t e e x p e r i e n c e d u r i n g a n y

l e a r n i n g ac t iv i ty .

• T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m u s e s f low s ta tes

o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

• D r . L o z a n o v ' s a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g i s a m o d e l for t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m .

• W e u s e all e i g h t i n t e l l i g e n c e s d e s c r i b e d b y D r . G a r d n e r

w i t h t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m t o m a k e r e a d i n g


A male PhotoReader PhotoRead a couple dozen books on women's health

issues over several weeks. He did no structured activation. Several months later

his sister-in-law had a hysterectomy after a troubled birth. He surprised himself

and his family with the depth of knowledge he had on fibroid tumors and

endometriosis, the primary cause of the problems.

An executive went from being computer illiterate ("I mean, I barely even type!")

to a daily user of his machine by PhotoReading computer books, magazines,

and manuals. "After about a month of doing this, I suddenly realized that those

stupid machines were starting to make sense!"

A CPA attended a continuing education seminar for her profession. Since she

arrived early, she had the luxury of reviewing the handout materials before the

presentation. Entering the PhotoFocus state she quietly and quickly reviewed

the materials. As the day progressed she realized she had a firm grasp of the

subject even though she had not previously studied it. She attributes the

immediate comprehension of the material to having PhotoRead the handouts.

A copy-editor repeatedly PhotoRead a Thesaurus. His supervisor commended

him for a marked improvement in his speed and clarity of wr i t ing.

An executive reads his email in three minutes, instead of never getting to it.

m u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l a n d m o r e usefu l .

• T h e e x p a n d e d d a t a b a s e w e a c c e s s w h i l e P h o t o R e a d i n g

o u t w e i g h s t he d a t a b a s e o f t he c o n s c i o u s m i n d b y t e n b i l l i o n t o

one .

• T h e g o a l o f c o m p r e h e n s i o n i s a c h i e v e d in l a y e r s .

P a r a d o x i c a l a s i t m a y s e e m , t o a c h i e v e y o u r g o a l , y o u m u s t let

it g o .

T h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m w o r k s . Y o u m u s t

u s e i t t o d e m o n s t r a t e t he bene f i t s i n y o u r o w n life. Af te r y o u h a v e

e n j o y e d h o w e a s i l y y o u c a n p r o d u c e r e s u l t s w i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

y o u m i g h t c o n s i d e r h o w y o u r i n n e r m i n d c a n b e c o m e a n a c t i v e

al ly i n p e r s o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t . I n C h a p t e r 13 , y o u w i l l e x p l o r e

p o w e r f u l n e x t s t e p s a n d find.. .

1 3

Discover Your Genius Potential with Direct Learning

A t L e a r n i n g S t r a t e g i e s C o r p o r a t i o n , w e often ask o u r c l i e n t s ,

" N o w tha t y o u c a n P h o t o R e a d , w h a t e l s e c a n y o u r b r a i n a c h i e v e ? "

W h e n t h e y r e a l i z e w e are s e r i o u s , t hey b e g i n a s k i n g u s , " W h a t i s

t h e n e x t s t ep b e y o n d P h o t o R e a d i n g ? "

S i n c e first d e v e l o p i n g t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r , I h a v e

d i s c o v e r e d w a y s t o a c c e s s r e m a r k a b l e ab i l i t i e s t h a t e x t e n d

P h o t o R e a d i n g far b e y o n d m e r e l y g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n . T h r e e

c o n c e p t s p r e s e n t e d h e r e c a n h e l p y o u t o e x a m i n e a n d enjoy

p o w e r f u l n e w ski l l s r i g h t a w a y .

Experience the miracle of "direct learning"

I n t h e ea r ly d a y s o f t e a c h i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g , w e w e r e

s u r p r i s e d w h e n g r a d u a t e s r e p o r t e d s p o n t a n e o u s i m p r o v e m e n t

in sk i l l s s u c h as t e n n i s , golf, r a c q u e t b a l l , p i a n o p l a y i n g , t y p i n g ,

a n d p u b l i c s p e a k i n g t o n a m e a f e w . T h e a n e c d o t e s i n v a r i a b l y

i n v o l v e d s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g . W h e n a P h o t o R e a d e r s y n t o p i c a l l y

r e a d b o o k s r e l a t i n g t o t o p i c s o f i n t e n s e p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t s ,

s o m e h o w ac tua l ski l l d e v e l o p m e n t o c c u r r e d .

T h e s e r e p o r t s o f s p o n t a n e o u s skil l d e v e l o p m e n t s t r o n g l y

c h a l l e n g e d the c o n v e n t i o n a l w i s d o m in adul t e d u c a t i o n . I h a d

b e e n t a u g h t tha t k n o w l e d g e a c q u i s i t i o n and skil l d e v e l o p m e n t

are t w o ve ry different l e a r n i n g a c t i v i t i e s . B u t e v i d e n c e w a s

p u s h i n g m e t o c o n s i d e r tha t b e h a v i o r a l l e a r n i n g c o u l d e m e r g e

e v e n t h o u g h n o p h y s i c a l p r a c t i c e o f t he b e h a v i o r s t o o k p l a c e .


M y c o l l e a g u e s a n d I h y p o t h e s i z e d t h a t b e c a u s e

P h o t o R e a d i n g r o u t e s i n f o r m a t i o n i n t o t h e b r a i n p r e c o n s c i o u s l y ,

s o m e h o w t h e b r a i n m u s t c r e a t e n e u r o n a l l i n k s for b e h a v i o r a s i t

d o e s for c o g n i t i o n . L i t e r a t u r e o n t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f " i m p l i c i t

l e a r n i n g " — l e a r n i n g w i t h o u t c o n s c i o u s o r "exp l i c i t " m e m o r y —

s u g g e s t e d o u r h y p o t h e s i s m i g h t b e r ight o n target .

T h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n e x p l i c i t a n d i m p l i c i t l e a r n i n g c a n

b e t h o u g h t o f a s t he d i f f e rence b e t w e e n w h a t y o u r h e a d k n o w s

a n d w h a t y o u r b o d y k n o w s . E x p l i c i t m e m o r y i n v o l v e s l e a r n i n g

w i t h a w a r e n e s s a n d k n o w i n g facts t h a t y o u c a n r e c a l l t h r o u g h

c o n s c i o u s l y d i r e c t e d r e m e m b e r i n g . I m p l i c i t (or i m p l i e d ) m e m o r y

i n v o l v e s l e a r n i n g w i t h o u t a w a r e n e s s a n d k n o w i n g h o w t o p e r f o r m

sk i l l s w i t h o u t b e i n g ab l e t o d e s c r i b e h o w y o u d o it.

A c c o r d i n g t o n e u r o l o g i s t R i c h a r d R e s t a k , M . D . , d i f fe ren t

p a r t s o f t h e b r a i n a r e i n v o l v e d i n t h e t w o t y p e s o f m e m o r y . I n fact ,

i t h a s b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t a p e r s o n w i t h b r a i n d a m a g e t o t h e

e x p l i c i t l e a r n i n g p a r t o f t h e b r a i n c a n sti l l l e a r n t o p e r f o r m t a s k s

e v e n t h o u g h t h e y h a v e n o c o n s c i o u s r e c o l l e c t i o n o f h a v i n g

l e a r n e d t h e m .

C o u l d i t b e tha t P h o t o R e a d i n g n a t u r a l l y a c t i v a t e s t he i m p l i c i t

l e a r n i n g a n d m e m o r y s y s t e m o f t h e b r a i n ? T o t e s t t h i s i d e a , a

m e d i c a l d o c t o r f rom S o u t h Afr ica , I z z y Katzeff , s u g g e s t e d t h a t

b r a i n s t u d i e s b e p e r f o r m e d t o t r a c k t h e p a r t s o f t h e b r a i n a c t i v a t e d

d u r i n g P h o t o R e a d i n g . A t e a m o f m e d i c a l d o c t o r s a t t h e U S

V e t e r a n s ' A d m i n i s t r a t i o n H o s p i t a l t o o k u p t h e c h a l l e n g e .

T h e r e s e a r c h t e a m , h e a d e d b y n u c l e a r m e d i c i n e s p e c i a l i s t s

I r m a M o l i n a , M . D . , a n d S a n d r a G r a c i a , M . D . , p e r f o r m e d b r a i n

s t u d i e s o n P h o t o R e a d e r s . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e i r s t u d y w i t h a s m a l l

s u b j e c t s a m p l e e n c o u r a g e d t h e r e s e a r c h c o m m i t t e e t o s e e k

a d d i t i o n a l s t u d i e s .

I n t h e m e a n w h i l e , c o n s i d e r t h a t after P h o t o R e a d i n g s e v e r a l

b o o k s o n a sk i l l y o u a re i n t e r e s t e d i n d e v e l o p i n g , t h e sk i l l c a n

s u d d e n l y s h o w u p i n t h e s i t u a t i o n s w h e n y o u n e e d it. W e c a n

t h i n k o f t h i s i m p l i c i t l e a r n i n g as a sor t o f s p o n t a n e o u s a c t i v a t i o n

h a p p e n i n g b e h a v i o r a l l y . " D i r e c t l e a r n i n g " i s o u r s y s t e m a t i c

a p p r o a c h t o c a p i t a l i z e o n t h e p h e n o m e n o n o f d i r e c t b e h a v i o r a l

a c t i v a t i o n .

Discover Your Natural Brilliance 137

H e r e i s h o w y o u p e r f o r m t h e d i r e c t l e a r n i n g e x e r c i s e o n

y o u r o w n :

• K n o w w h a t n e w b e h a v i o r s y o u d e s i r e . T h e m o r e spec i f i c

y o u c a n b e , t h e b e t t e r t h i s p r o c e s s w i l l w o r k . I t s h o u l d b e

s o m e t h i n g y o u h a v e a s t r o n g p e r s o n a l d e s i r e t o l e a rn .

• S e l e c t s e v e r a l b o o k s t h a t s p e a k a u t h o r i t a t i v e l y a b o u t t h e

sub jec t . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e s e b o o k s t e a c h t h e n e w b e h a v i o r s

y o u w a n t i n a p r a c t i c a l , h o w - t o f a sh ion . B o o k s o n t h e o r y c a n b e

he lpfu l , a s l o n g a s t h e y d i s c u s s p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n . E a c h b o o k

r e p r e s e n t s s e v e r a l y e a r s o f t h e a u t h o r ' s k n o w l e d g e a n d sk i l l s a n d

t h e e s s e n t i a l i d e a s f rom m a n y b o o k s . I m a g i n e w h a t y o u a r e

d o w n l o a d i n g th i s i n to y o u r n e u r a l c i r c u i t r y .

• P h o t o R e a d y o u r b o o k s . R e m e m b e r t o s ta te y o u r p u r p o s e

c l e a r l y b e f o r e e a c h b o o k a n d t o say a s o l i d c l o s i n g a f f i r m a t i o n

after e a c h o n e . I t m a y be a g o o d i d e a to t a k e a b r i e f s t r e t c h o r d r i n k

w a t e r b e t w e e n b o o k s . A l l o w y o u r s e l f t o r e m a i n c e n t e r e d a n d

r e l a x e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o c e s s . I f s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s t o d i s t r a c t

y o u b e t w e e n b o o k s , t a k e a f e w m o m e n t s t o g e t b a c k

in to s t a t e .

• D i r e c t y o u r m i n d t o g e n e r a t e t h e b e h a v i o r s . R e m e m b e r

h o w y o u i m a g i n e d d o i n g t h i n g s a s a c h i l d ? Y o u c a l l e d i t " P l a y i n g

P r e t e n d . " G e s t a l t t h e r a p i s t s ca l l i t " P l a y i n g As If." S e e a m e n t a l

s i m u l a t i o n o f t h e fu ture , w h i c h e n c o d e s t he b r a i n w i t h t h e

n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n t o g i v e r i se t o t h e b e h a v i o r s a c c o r d i n g t o

y o u r n e e d s . T h i s i s t he d i r e c t l e a r n i n g a c t i v a t i o n s t a g e . T h e

i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l b e a c t i v a t e d s p o n t a n e o u s l y i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e

c o n t e x t s . T h e c o m p l e t e p r o c e d u r e for d i r e c t l e a r n i n g c a n b e

found in my Natural Brilliance book .

W h e n p e r f o r m i n g t h e d i r e c t l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s , I s u g g e s t

n o t a c t i v a t i n g y o u r b o o k s c o n s c i o u s l y b e c a u s e t h e c o n s c i o u s

m i n d t e n d s t o i n t e r f e r e b y t r y i n g t o c o n t r o l t h e p r o c e s s . Y o u see ,

m o s t p e o p l e i n o u r c u l t u r e h a v e b e e n s c h o o l e d i n t he " P u r i t a n

W o r k E t h i c , " w h i c h m e a n s " Y o u m u s t w o r k h a r d t o a c h i e v e

r e w a r d s . " Y o u r a t h l e t i c s c o a c h m a y h a v e sa id " N o p a i n , n o g a i n "

t o r e in fo r ce t he i d e a t h a t h a r d w o r k , effort, a n d s t r u g g l e a re

t he fas tes t r o u t e s t o s u c c e s s . D i r e c t l e a r n i n g c h a l l e n g e s s u c h

t r a d i t i o n a l a s s u m p t i o n s b y d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e i n n e r m i n d

Follow these steps for direct learning


can p r o v i d e a " p a t h o f l eas t r e s i s t a n c e " to o u r s u c c e s s . As l i v ing

life effor t less ly is a real h u m a n o p t i o n for t he first t i m e in h i s t o r y ,

w h y n o t go for i t ?

I n s u m m a r y , t he d i rec t l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s i n v i t e s y o u t o

a n s w e r t he s i m p l e q u e s t i o n , " W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? " W h e n y o u c a n

a n s w e r tha t q u e s t i o n w i t h c la r i ty , y o u are w e l l o n y o u r w a y t o

a c c o m p l i s h i n g y o u r d e s i r e s . W i t h d i rec t l e a r n i n g , y o u P h o t o R e a d

a s t ack o f b o o k s tha t e n c o u r a g e s t he u s e o f t he ski l l s y o u n e e d .

T h e n , y o u i m a g i n e y o u r s e l f i n t he future , i n t he m o m e n t o f

e n j o y i n g the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f y o u r g o a l . T h i s t e l l s y o u r b r a i n

t o s p o n t a n e o u s l y g e n e r a t e t he b e h a v i o r s y o u n e e d t o a c h i e v e

y o u r future s u c c e s s .

T h i n k o f y o u r b r a i n as an ally in p e r s o n a l and p r o f e s s i o n a l

d e v e l o p m e n t . A s k i t t o h e l p , a n d t rus t i t t o d e m o n s t r a t e t he

w o n d e r s i t c a n p e r f o r m for y o u .

Use the Natural Brilliance model

Y o u c a n r e a l i z e y o u r g e n i u s p o t e n t i a l w i t h e a s e .

P h o t o R e a d i n g ge ts y o u s t a r t e d . T h e four - s t ep N a t u r a l B r i l l i a n c e

m o d e l for l i f e long l e a r n i n g k e e p s y o u o n t r a c k .

N a t u r a l B r i l l i a n c e i s a p r o c e s s for c o n s i s t e n t l y b r e a k i n g

t h r o u g h to s u c c e s s i n a reas o f y o u r life w h e r e y o u m a y feel s tuck.

T h e s t eps are : R e l e a s e , N o t i c e , R e s p o n d , and W i t n e s s . I c o v e r

t h e s e s teps in de ta i l in my b o o k Natural Brilliance: Movingfrom

Feeling Stuck to Achieving Success and in the Natural Brilliance

Personal Learning Course.

T h e first s t ep , R e l e a s e , d r a i n s s t ress ou t o f t he p h y s i c a l

s y s t e m s . R e l a x i n g y o u r b o d y and m i n d i s t he e s s e n t i a l first s tep

t o p r o m o t e the o p t i m a l s ta te for l e a r n i n g — r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s .

T e n s i o n and r e s i s t ance cha rac t e r i z e a p e r s o n t r y i n g to c h a n g e

the p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n . P a r a d o x i c a l l y , t e n s i o n and s t ress c a u s e u s

t o n a r r o w l y focus ou r a t t e n t i o n . W e m a n a g e m i c r o d e t a i l s and

m i s s t he b i g p i c t u r e .

Y o u can r e l e a s e i n m a n y w a y s . C h a n g i n g p o s t u r e , e y e -

focus , b r e a t h i n g , and t h o u g h t s c a n p r o d u c e a c a l m i n g effect. By

d r a i n i n g s t ress ou t o f the b o d y and m i n d , y o u a u t o m a t i c a l l y

m i n i m i z e the b e h a v i o r s tha t k e e p y o u s t u c k . S i m u l t a n e o u s l y y o u


r e s t o r e t h e n a t u r a l a c u i t y o f y o u r s e n s o r y s y s t e m s , g i v i n g y o u

a c c e s s t o n e w i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c h o i c e s .

R e l e a s e le t s y o u p u l l y o u r f o r e h e a d off t h e t r e e l o n g e n o u g h

t o see t h a t y o u a r e i n t h e fores t . W h e n y o u p u t y o u r s e n s o r y

s y s t e m s b a c k o n l i n e , y o u s t ep o u t o f t u n n e l v i s i o n a n d t h e w o r l d

o p e n s u p .

T h e s e c o n d s t e p , N o t i c e , m e a n s e n t e r i n g a s ta te o f i n c r e a s e d

a w a r e n e s s a n d p a y i n g a t t e n t i o n t o i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e p r e s e n t

s i t ua t i on . W h e n y o u a t t e n d t o t h e i n p u t i n y o u r s e n s o r y s y s t e m s ,

y o u wi l l na tura l ly gene ra t e crea t ive op t ions and p r o m i s i n g r e sponses .

T h e s p e e d o f t h e m i n d i s t r e m e n d o u s . T h e i n n e r m i n d

w o r k s a t m a k i n g a s s o c i a t i o n s m u c h fas t e r t h a n t h e c o n s c i o u s

m i n d c a n d u p l i c a t e . W h e n g i v e n t h e p r o p e r d i r e c t i o n , t h e w h o l e

m i n d c a n a c c o m p l i s h v i r t u a l l y a n y p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g t a s k .

A p e r s o n in a s t u c k s ta te o s c i l l a t e s b e t w e e n w a n t i n g to p u s h

f o r w a r d a n d p u l l b a c k a t t h e s a m e t i m e . T h i s h a p p e n s w h e n a

g o a l i s d e s i r e d b u t p o t e n t i a l f a i lu re s o r p u n i s h m e n t s m u s t b e

a v o i d e d . T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f re le a s i n g a n d n o t i c i n g a l l o w s y o u t o

s t ep o u t o f t he o s c i l l a t i o n a n d s t u c k s t a t e .

N o t i c i n g i n v o l v e s b e c o m i n g a w a r e o f w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g

a r o u n d a n d i n y o u . I t h e l p s y o u d e v e l o p a n e w p o i n t o f v i e w , a

p e r c e p t u a l p o s i t i o n i n w h i c h y o u c a n see w h a t y o u a r e d o i n g i n

t h e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h y o u are d o i n g it. T h e n , f r o m t h e r i c h

i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t y o u r o u t e r e x p e r i e n c e a n d i n n e r e x p e r i e n c e ,

y o u c a n m a k e d e c i s i o n s a n d r e s p o n d t o p e o p l e a n d e v e n t s .

A n " o u t s i d e y o u r s e l f " a w a r e n e s s o p e n s t he p o s s i b i l i t y for

b a l a n c e . A s t u c k s t a t e i s l ike r u n n i n g b a c k a n d fo r th on a s e e s a w

o n t h e s c h o o l p l a y g r o u n d . W i t h t h e s t ep o f N o t i c e , y o u h o p off

a n d c h o o s e a n e w p o s i t i o n t o w o r k f r o m — a l o n g s i d e t he o s c i l l a t i n g

s y s t e m . I t i s m u c h e a s i e r t o m i n i m i z e t h e o s c i l l a t i o n a n d b r i n g t h e

t e e t e r - t o t t e r in to b a l a n c e .

B y c o m b i n i n g t h e s t e p s o f R e l e a s e a n d N o t i c e , y o u a c h i e v e

t h e o p t i m a l l e a r n i n g s t a t e , t h e s ta te o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s . O n c e y o u

h a v e d e v e l o p e d r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s a n d i n c r e a s e d y o u r f o u n d a t i o n

o f i n f o r m a t i o n , y o u c a n c h o o s e n e w r e s p o n s e s f rom a r i ch se t

o f o p t i o n s .

S t e p 3 , R e s p o n d , i n v o l v e s t a k i n g a c t i o n t o d i s c o v e r h o w

t h i n g s c h a n g e . A n y r e s p o n s e e i t h e r i n c r e a s e s t he o s c i l l a t i o n a n d

the i n a b i l i t y t o m o v e , o r i t d a m p e n s t he o s c i l l a t i o n a n d i n c r e a s e s


m o v e m e n t t o w a r d a sa t i s fy ing o u t c o m e . Y o u r a c t i o n s w i l l e i t h e r

m a k e t h e s i t u a t i o n b e t t e r o r i t w i l l no t . I n e i t h e r c a s e , m o v e m e n t

w i t h i n a s y s t e m p r o v i d e s r ea l a n d i m m e d i a t e f e e d b a c k .

O n c e y o u r b r a i n r e c o g n i z e s y o u r d o i n g (or n o t d o i n g )

s o m e t h i n g m a k e s y o u r s i t u a t i o n b e t t e r o r w o r s e , y o u h a v e t h e

b e g i n n i n g s o f c h a n g e a n d the first s t ep i n g a i n i n g c o n t r o l o f t h e

o u t c o m e s y o u w a n t t o p r o d u c e . W h e n y o u feel y o u c a n c a u s e

y o u r life to ge t b e t t e r , y o u c a n g e n e r a t e a p o s i t i v e effect t ha t

b u i l d s s e l f - con f idence a n d s e l f - e s t e e m .

W i t n e s s i n g the r e su l t s o f y o u r a c t i o n s , S t e p 4 o f t he m o d e l ,

p u t s y o u i n c h a r g e o f p r o d u c i n g the s u c c e s s y o u w a n t . W h e n y o u

w i t n e s s , y o u find a n o n j u d g m e n t a l p o s i t i o n f rom w h i c h y o u

o b s e r v e l e a r n i n g t a k i n g p l a c e . W h e t h e r y o u r r e s p o n s e i n S t e p 3

h a s s u c c e e d e d o r fa i led i s n o t s ign i f ican t . T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s

t o ge t f e e d b a c k t h a t c a n l e a d t o l e a r n i n g . I n th i s s t ep t h e f ee l ing i s

o n e o f safety a n d b l e s s i n g .

D o y o u d e s i r e t o b r e a k t h r o u g h t o a n e w l e v e l o f

p e r f o r m a n c e ? T h e N a t u r a l B r i l l i a n c e m o d e l l e a d s y o u t o r e p l i c a t e

and r e c l a i m the safety and b l e s s i n g s o f y o u r na tura l l ea rn ing gen ius .

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , m a n y o f u s e x p e r i e n c e d s c h o o l a s a p l a c e o f

w o u n d i n g . N a t u r a l B r i l l i a n c e w i l l a s s i s t y o u i n o v e r c o m i n g y o u r

w o u n d s a n d r e p l a c i n g t h e m w i t h t h e s t r e n g t h s o f safety a n d

b l e s s i n g . T h e g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y for y o u a s a n a d u l t i s t o w i t n e s s

y o u r c o n t i n u e d l e a r n i n g e a c h day . A s y o u d e v e l o p t h e N a t u r a l

B r i l l i a n c e i n y o u , t h e r e s u l t s y o u c r e a t e w i l l s h i n e t h r o u g h o u t

y o u r l ife.

I f y o u e v e r feel s t u c k w h e n l e a r n i n g t o u s e p a r t o f t h e

P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m , u s e t h e four s t eps o f N a t u r a l

B r i l l i a n c e . R e l e a s e t h e p u s h a n d p u 1 1 o f t r y i n g t o d o i t r igh t . N o t i c e

m o r e o f t he r i c h i n f o r m a t i o n a r o u n d a n d w i t h i n y o u . R e s p o n d i n

n e w a n d c r e a t i v e w a y s t h a t l e a d t o g r e a t e r e a s e a n d f low. W i t n e s s

t h e r e s u l t s y o u p r o d u c e a n d s tay o n t r a c k t o y o u r g o a l s .

Awaken your intuition

I n t he first p u b l i c P h o t o R e a d i n g s e m i n a r i n J a n u a r y , 1 9 8 6 ,

I a s k e d a q u e s t i o n a t t he b e g i n n i n g of o u r t h i r d s e s s i o n : " W h a t

different o r u n u s u a l e x p e r i e n c e s h a v e y o u n o t i c e d s ince b e g i n n i n g

t o P h o t o R e a d ? "


T o m , w h o h a d b e e n fair ly shy u p t o t h a t po in t , s t o o d u p

b o l d l y a n d sa id , " I d o n ' t k n o w i f t h i s h a s a n y t h i n g t o d o w i t h

P h o t o R e a d i n g , b u t I w a s h o p i n g m a y b e y o u c o u l d e x p l a i n th i s t o

m e . I am a v o l u n t e e r f i r e m a n . On W e d n e s d a y n i g h t las t w e e k , I

a w o k e t o t h e fire a l a r m , go t d r e s s e d , a n d w e n t o v e r t o t h e s t a t ion .

I w a s s u r p r i s e d to f ind t h a t I w a s t h e first p e r s o n t h e r e . I h a d n e v e r

b e e n first b e f o r e . I s t o o d t h e r e a m i n u t e , a n d s u d d e n l y t h e a l a r m

w e n t off. I h a d a c t u a l l y r e s p o n d e d to t he a l a r m t e n m i n u t e s

b e f o r e i t w e n t off! C a n y o u e x p l a i n h o w t h i s h a p p e n e d ? "

F o r y e a r s , I h a d t a u g h t s e m i n a r s d e s i g n e d t o h e l p p e o p l e

g a i n a c c e s s t o t h e i r i n t u i t i v e p o w e r s . T o m ' s u n c a n n y e x p e r i e n c e

t y p i f i e d h o w p e o p l e ' s i n t u i t i o n c a n s p o n t a n e o u s l y a w a k e n . W h a t

a p p e a r e d a s a n i m p r o b a b l e c o i n c i d e n c e w a s a d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f

h o w t h e f inely t u n e d i n n e r m i n d c a n c o m m u n i c a t e i n a p u r p o s e f u l

w a y .

W h e n y o u P h o t o R e a d a n d a c t i v a t e , y o u i n c r e a s e t h e

c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n y o u r c o n s c i o u s a n d o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s

m i n d . T h a t i s e x a c t l y w h a t i n t u i t i o n i s — t h e c o n s c i o u s

c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s p e r c e p t i o n s . H e r e i s

h o w y o u c a n i n c r e a s e a c c e s s t o y o u r o w n i n t u i t i v e a w a r e n e s s :

• E x p l o r e t h e s e n s o r y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i n s i d e y o u i n c l u d i n g

y o u r i n n e r p i c t u r e s , i n n e r d i a l o g , a n d i n n e r f e e l i n g s .

• N o t i c e i n f o r m a t i o n a t t h e p e r i p h e r y o f y o u r a w a r e n e s s b y

o p e n i n g y o u r p e r i p h e r a l v i s i o n . L i s t e n t o m u l t i p l e a u d i t o r y

i n f o r m a t i o n s u c h a s s e v e r a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s i n b u s y p l a c e s l i k e

r e s t a u r a n t s , a n d t h e m u l t i p l e v o i c e s o n P a r a l i m i n a l t a p e s . A l s o

n o t i c e s u b t l e k i n e s t h e t i c e x p e r i e n c e s . F o r e x a m p l e , r i g h t n o w

n o t i c e t he f ee l ing o f h o w y o u a re s i t t ing , y o u r e m o t i o n s , a n d t h e

t e m p e r a t u r e o n t h e b a c k o f y o u r n e c k .

• B e c u r i o u s a n d r e c e p t i v e t o i n f o r m a t i o n c o m i n g t o y o u

f rom y o u r e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l e n v i r o n m e n t s .

• P l a y g a m e s w i t h y o u r i n t u i t i o n . W h e n s t a n d i n g a t a b a n k

o f e l e v a t o r s , p u s h t h e ca l l b u t t o n , a n d g u e s s w h i c h o n e w i l l o p e n

first.

T h e d u a l b e n e f i t t o y o u for a w a k e n i n g y o u r i n tu i t i on i n c l u d e s

e n h a n c i n g y o u r P h o t o R e a d i n g a n d a c t i v a t i o n s k i l l s w h i l e

s i m u l t a n e o u s l y e n r i c h i n g t h e q u a l i t y a n d e a s e o f y o u r life.

14

The Secret of the PhotoReading Whole Mind System

T h e t r u e s e c r e t o f P h o t o R e a d i n g a t 2 5 , 0 0 0 w o r d s p e r m i n u t e

i s t h a t y o u a l r e a d y h a v e t h e ab i l i t y . Y o u r b r a i n i s h a r d w i r e d for

g e n i u s . R e d i s c o v e r y o u r n a t u r a l g e n i u s . P l a y w i t h it, a n d a l l o w i t

t o b e c o m e p a r t o f y o u r e v e r y d a y life.

A c t i v e l y e n c o u r a g e yourse l f . Y o u w i l l d i s c o v e r t h a t y o u

h a v e a b i l i t i e s r e a c h i n g far b e y o n d P h o t o R e a d i n g .

A call to active reading

I a m p r i v i l e g e d t o h a v e s t u d i e d t h e m o s t mas t e r fu l l e a r n e r s

i n t h e w o r l d — b a b i e s . B a b i e s a re a c t i v e , p u r p o s e f u l , g o a l o r i e n t e d ,

i n s a t i a b l e l e a r n e r s . M y wi fe a n d I h a v e l o v e d w a t c h i n g o u r t h r e e

c h i l d r e n e n g a g e t h e p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l u n i v e r s e . T h e i r h u n g e r

t o m a k e s e n s e o f life i s e n o r m o u s .

A l t h o u g h o u r t h r e e b o y s a re n o w w e l l b e y o n d t h e b a b y

s t a g e , t h e y sti l l a c t i v e l y e x p l o r e t h e i r w o r l d . L e a r n i n g i s a c t i v e ;

a c t i v i t y i s t h e fuel o f g e n i u s . O u r g e n i u s f ades w h e n p a s s i v i t y

t a k e s o v e r .

T e l e v i s i o n t e a c h e s u s t o b e p a s s i v e . I t t e l l s u s t o w a i t ;

e v e r y t h i n g w e w a n t w i l l c o m e t o u s — r i g h t after t h i s c o m m e r c i a l .

I f r e a d i n g b e c o m e s p a s s i v e , o u r g e n i u s i s s t i f led.

R e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t t y p e o f r e a d i n g y o u d o , s tay a c t i v e . T h e

m o r e a c t i v e y o u a re , t he m o r e f luent y o u r r e a d i n g b e c o m e s a n d

the m o r e ef fec t ive y o u w i l l b e a t a c h i e v i n g t h e r e s u l t s y o u d e s i r e .

F l u e n t r e a d e r s m a i n t a i n a h i g h d e g r e e o f focus b y r e a d i n g

p u r p o s e f u l l y a n d b y a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s o f t he a u t h o r a s t h e y r e a d .

The Secret of the PhotoReading Whole Mind System 143

C o n c e n t r a t i o n , t he e s s e n c e o f a c t i v e r e a d i n g , i s n o t nea r ly so

m u c h a d i s c i p l i n e as i t is an a t t i t u d e .

R e a l i z e tha t y o u are r e a d i n g b y c h o i c e a n d tha t y o u w a n t t o

c r ea t e v a l u e for your se l f . C h o i c e m a k e s a r ea l d i f ference in h o w

eas i ly y o u a c c o m p l i s h y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g , be i t a d e s i r e to

ga in i n f o r m a t i o n a n d ski l l s , t o e v a l u a t e i d e a s , o r t o s i m p l y r e l a x .

W h e n y o u c o n s c i o u s l y c h o o s e t o r e a d , y o u e n g a g e y o u r m i n d ' s

full c a p a b i l i t y .

As I w r i t e t h e s e w o r d s , I t h i n k of G e o r g i L o z a n o v , t he

g r a n d f a t h e r o f a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g . E a r l y i n h i s ca ree r , L o z a n o v

b e l i e v e d t h e p u r p o s e o f h i s m e t h o d s w a s t o e l i m i n a t e fear f rom

the c l a s s r o o m and i n c r e a s e p e o p l e ' s s u g g e s t i b i l i t y — t h e i r abi l i ty

t o r e c e i v e i n f o r m a t i o n o n a n o t h e r - t h a n - c o n s c i o u s l e v e l . O v e r t he

y e a r s , h i s t h i n k i n g c h a n g e d , and h i s o v e r r i d i n g goa l b e c a m e t o

offer l e a r n e r s m o r e c h o i c e s .

T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y t h e a i m I h a v e for y o u in r e a d i n g . My goa l

i n th i s b o o k h a s b e e n to lay ou t a n e w p a r a d i g m for r e a d i n g a n d

a n a c c o m p a n y i n g set o f t o o l s tha t m a x i m i z e y o u r c h o i c e s w h e n

i n t e r a c t i n g w i t h t he p r i n t e d p a g e .

M a k e the P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m y o u r ally a s

y o u b e c o m e a m o r e ac t i ve , pu rpose fu l , and d e m a n d i n g r e a d e r .

R e a d w i t h s p e e d a n d e f f ic iency . T a k e the o p p o r t u n i t y t o e x t e n d

y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e y o n d y o u r c u r r e n t l i m i t s . A b o v e all, u s e

y o u r m i n d ' s full p o t e n t i a l t o a c c o m p l i s h y o u r p e r s o n a l and

p r o f e s s i o n a l g o a l s , and d i s c o v e r an a b i d i n g j o y i n t he p r o c e s s .

Y o u c a n do i t !

A new scenario, a closing thought

R e m e m b e r t he s c e n a r i o o f c h o i c e f rom C h a p t e r 2 ? L e t u s

r e t u r n to i t for a m o m e n t . Y o u are r e a d y to enjoy any pa r t of i t

y o u d e s i r e .

You begin each work day feeling on top of the information needed

to make effective and timely decisions. Whenever you read, you do so

with a sense of effortlessness and relaxation. You find it easier to win

approval for your proposals because your recommendations are backed

by solid evidence.

Reading technical reports, a task that used to consume hours, now

requires only minutes per document. At the end of your day you look at


a clear desk feeling ready for the following day.

This quality extends to your home life as well. Gone are the piles

of untouched books, magazines, newspapers, and mail that once crowded

your living space. You keep up with the latest daily news in 10-15

minutes a day. In a single sitting you pare down or eliminate your "to

be read" piles. And with the extra time, you consistently complete the

top-priority tasks on your to-do lists.

Your advanced reading abilities enable you to take courses,

complete degrees, gain promotions, learn new skills, expand your

knowledge, and satisfy your general curiosity. The ease of it all makes

learning fun.

Draw you create time for novels, magazines, andpleasure reading

which go beyond the immediate demands of your job. In the process, you

create free time to play as well.

A s y o u e m b r a c e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s , s a v o r t he e x p e r i e n c e .

W h a t i s y o u r c o m m i t m e n t n o w ? W h a t s t ep c a n y o u t a k e i n t h e

n e x t t w e n t y - f o u r h o u r s t o m a k e m o r e o f t h i s s c e n a r i o a r ea l i ty for

y o u ?

P e t e r S e n g e , in h i s b o o k The Fifth Discipline, offers a pe r f ec t

s u m m a r y :

T h e l e a r n i n g p r o c e s s o f t he y o u n g c h i l d p r o v i d e s a b e a u t i f u l

m e t a p h o r for t he l e a r n i n g c h a l l e n g e f aced b y u s a l l : t o

c o n t i n u a l l y e x p a n d o u r a w a r e n e s s a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t o

see m o r e a n d m o r e o f t he i n t e r d e p e n d e n c i e s b e t w e e n a c t i o n s

a n d o u r r ea l i ty , t o see m o r e a n d m o r e o f o u r c o n n e c t e d n e s s

t o t he w o r l d a r o u n d u s .

W e w i l l p r o b a b l y n e v e r p e r c e i v e fully t h e m u l t i p l e w a y s w e

in f luence o u r rea l i ty . B u t s i m p l y b e i n g o p e n t o t he poss ib i l i t y

i s e n o u g h to free o u r t h i n k i n g .

C h a n g e i s a s i n e v i t a b l e i n o u r l i v e s a s i t i s i n t h e w o r l d

a r o u n d u s . P h o t o R e a d i n g , a c a t a l y s t for p e r s o n a l g r o w t h , frees

o u r t h i n k i n g a n d e x p a n d s o u r a w a r e n e s s t o c o p e ef fec t ive ly w i t h

c h a n g e . W i t h t h e sk i l l s o f t h e P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m ,

P h o t o R e a d e r s ad jus t t o t he c h a n g e s i n t h e i r s c h o o l s , w o r k p l a c e s ,

p r o f e s s i o n s , s o c i e t i e s , n a t i o n s , g l o b a l c o m m u n i t y , a n d p l a n e t .

The Secret of the PhotoReading Whole Mind System 145

A mountain biker flies down hills faster, because his field of vision opened up

"I trust my inner knowing I feel relaxed, and the bike floats over b u m p s "

A new employee attended a meeting on the first day of her job She had spent

a few minutes PhotoReading reports before the meeting and contributed to the

conversation as if she had been working there forever "The meeting was an

activation of the materials I don't know who as more surprised, me or my new

coworkers ' "

Two friends read novels in front of the fireplace during the evenings while on

a skiing vacation The PhotoReader brought five novels, the other just one

A chemist discovered that PhotoReading his college text books helped develop

his understanding of charts which in the past presented problems

Two friends played tennis for years One of them took the PhotoReading course

and PhotoRead five books on tennis His game immediately improved so

significantly that the other man was stunned When he discovered how the

miraculous improvement occurred, he signed up for the next PhotoReading

class The end result was the same improvement in his own tennis game

A beginning PhotoReader PhotoRead ten books a day for several weeks so that

the process became second nature One morning he PhotoRead a book on how

quantum physics relates to the brain That afternoon, during a slow period of

a Minnesota Vikings football game, he spontaneously imagined thoughts,

ideas, concepts, principles, and theories about physics Several days later, he

told colleagues of his experience, one of whom was a physics expert After

quizzing the PhotoReader, the physics expert said that the PhotoReader, as a

lay person, knew a heck of a lot about physics The PhotoReader had

tremendous confidence that, if he went back to the book and activated it, he

would easily gain additional knowledge since PhotoReading had given htm a

solid basis of understanding

W i t h P h o t o R e a d i n g , y o u c a n a c t i v e l y p u r s u e m a s t e r y i n t h e

face o f c h a n g e — b y c h o i c e . C h o o s e n o w to m a s t e r any p a r t o r all

o f t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . E v e r y a c t i o n y o u t a k e

l e a d s t o y o u r p e r s o n a l e x c e l l e n c e .

Quick Reference Guide:

Steps of the PhotoReading Whole Mind System

O n e o f the m a x i m s o f t h i s b o o k i s t o forget abou t " p r a c t i c i n g "

w i t h t he P h o t o R e a d i n g w h o l e m i n d s y s t e m . I n s t e a d , j u s t u s e it .

T o r e in fo rce w h a t y o u h a v e l e a r n e d f rom P h o t o R e a d i n g ,

c h o o s e a n o t h e r b o o k y o u w a n t t o r e a d and app ly e a c h o f t he s t eps

l i s ted b e l o w . T h e s o o n e r y o u d o t h i s , t he b e t t e r . E i t h e r d o i t n o w ,

or set a t i m e n o w to do i t in t he n e x t t h r e e d a y s .

U s e th i s g u i d e w h e n e v e r y o u n e e d to a s a r e f reshe r .

Quick Reference Guide 147

Step 1: Prepare

• C l e a r l y s t a t e y o u r p u r p o s e for r e a d i n g .

• E n t e r t h e i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d for l e a r n i n g . T h i s i s t h e s t a t e

o f r e l a x e d a l e r t n e s s .

Step 2: Preview

• S u r v e y the w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s .

• P u l l o u t t r i g g e r w o r d s f rom t h e s e m a t e r i a l s .

• R e v i e w t h e i n f o r m a t i o n y o u h a v e u n c o v e r e d a n d e s t a b l i s h

y o u r g o a l for g o i n g fur ther .

• C o n s i d e r t h e t r a p s o f p r e v i e w i n g . I t m a y b e b e s t t o s u r v e y

b r i e f ly , for o n l y a m i n u t e , t h e n p e r f o r m t h e a b o v e a s p o s t v i e w i n g

after y o u P h o t o R e a d .

Step 3: PhotoRead

• P r e p a r e to P h o t o R e a d .

• E n t e r t h e a c c e l e r a t i v e l e a r n i n g s t a t e .

• Af f i rm y o u r p e r s o n a l a b i l i t i e s a n d t h e g o a l y o u w i l l

a c h i e v e f r o m t h e s e m a t e r i a l s .

• E n t e r t h e P h o t o F o c u s s ta te by g e t t i n g a f ixed p o i n t o f

a w a r e n e s s ( t a n g e r i n e t e c h n i q u e ) a n d t h e "b l i p p a g e . "

• M a i n t a i n a s t e a d y s ta te w h i l e t u r n i n g p a g e s a n d c h a n t i n g .

K e e p y o u r b r e a t h i n g d e e p a n d e v e n .

• I n c l o s i n g , aff i rm t h e i m p a c t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n h a s h a d a n d

y o u r ab i l i t y t o a c t i v a t e it.

• I f y o u k e p t y o u r p r e v i e w t o a m i n i m u m b e f o r e

P h o t o R e a d i n g , c o n s i d e r p e r f o r m i n g y o u r p o s t v i e w a t t h i s p o i n t .

T h a t m e a n s p l ay fu l ly e x p l o r e t h e t e x t t o s u r v e y , p u l l o u t t r i g g e r

w o r d s , a n d f o r m u l a t e q u e s t i o n s w i t h o u t r e a d i n g t o a n s w e r t h e m .

10 to 15 m i n u t e s is u s u a l l y suff ic ient .

Step 4: Activate

• I d e a l l y , w a i t a f e w m i n u t e s , o r o v e r n i g h t , a f t e r

P h o t o R e a d i n g b e f o r e a c t i v a t i n g . T h i s i s a p e r i o d o f i n c u b a t i o n .


• P r o b e y o u r m i n d . A s k y o u r s e l f q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t he m a t e r i a l

y o u P h o t o R e a d . T h i s s t a r t s y o u r a c t i v a t i o n .

• S u p e r r e a d t h e p a r t s t h a t a t t r ac t y o u . M o v e y o u r e y e s

q u i c k l y d o w n t h e c e n t e r o f t he p a g e t o t r i g g e r l a r g e b l o c k s o f t e x t

i n to c o n s c i o u s a w a r e n e s s . T h e i d e a l s ta te o f m i n d for a c t i v a t i o n

i s o n e i n w h i c h y o u a re a t t e n t i v e t o s u b t l e c u e s i n t h e p e r i p h e r y

o f y o u r a w a r e n e s s .

• D i p in to t h e t e x t t o r e a d s e l e c t e d p a s s a g e s a n d a n s w e r

spec i f ic q u e s t i o n s y o u a s k e d your se l f . T h e t e c h n i q u e o f r h y t h m i c

p e r u s a l i s t h e b e s t w a y t o d i p .

• S k i t t e r a s an ad junc t o r a l t e r n a t i v e t o s u p e r r e a d i n g a n d

d i p p i n g . Af te r r e a d i n g t h e t o p i c s e n t e n c e o f a p a r a g r a p h , s k i t t e r

y o u r e y e s o v e r t h e a u g m e n t a t i o n , t h e n r e a d the c o n c l u d i n g

s e n t e n c e .

• C r e a t e a m i n d m a p by m a k i n g a v i s u a l d i a g r a m of t he k e y

i d e a s f r o m t h e w r i t t e n m a t e r i a l s .

• E x p l o r e o t h e r f o r m s o f a c t i v a t i o n i n c l u d i n g d i s c u s s i o n s

a n d d r e a m i n g t h a t u s e m u l t i p l e i n t e l l i g e n c e s .

Step 5: Rapid Read

M o v e r a p i d l y t h r o u g h t h e tex t , r e a d i n g c o m f o r t a b l y f r o m

s ta r t t o f in i sh w i t h o u t s t o p p i n g . T a k e a s m u c h t i m e a s y o u d e s i r e .

V a r y y o u r r e a d i n g s p e e d d e p e n d i n g o n t h e c o m p l e x i t y a n d

i m p o r t a n c e o f t he m a t e r i a l .

Syntopic Reading

1. E s t a b l i s h a p u r p o s e .

T h e first a c t i v e s t ep o f w h o l e m i n d s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g i s t o

s ta te a p u r p o s e t h a t h a s m e a n i n g a n d v a l u e for y o u .

2 . C r e a t e a b i b l i o g r a p h y .

T h e s e c o n d a c t i v e s t ep i s t o c r e a t e a b i b l i o g r a p h y — a l is t o f

b o o k s t h a t y o u p l a n t o r e a d . P r e v i e w y o u r b o o k s t o d e t e r m i n e i f

t h e y fit y o u r p u r p o s e .

3 . P h o t o R e a d al l m a t e r i a l s 2 4 h o u r s b e f o r e a c t i v a t i n g t h e m .

T h e m i n d n e e d s i n c u b a t i o n t i m e t o c r e a t e n e w c o n n e c t i o n s .

P h o t o R e a d y o u r s e l e c t e d b o o k s 2 4 h o u r s b e f o r e y o u p l a n t o

a c t i v a t e t h e m .

Quick Reference Guide 149

PhotoReading

4 . C r e a t e a g i a n t m i n d m a p .

K e e p y o u r b o o k s , a l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r , a n d s o m e c o l o r e d

m a r k e r s o n h a n d for m i n d m a p p i n g . U s e m i n d m a p p i n g t o t a k e

n o t e s d u r i n g t h e r e m a i n i n g s t eps o f s y n t o p i c r e a d i n g .

5 . F i n d r e l e v a n t p a s s a g e s .

S u p e r r e a d a n d d i p t h r o u g h e a c h o f t he b o o k s t o f ind

p a s s a g e s t h a t a r e r e l e v a n t t o y o u r p u r p o s e .

6 . S u m m a r i z e i n y o u r o w n w o r d s .

S t e p b a c k a n d l o o k a t al l t h e p a s s a g e s y o u h a v e w r i t t e n o n

y o u r m i n d m a p . Br ie f ly s u m m a r i z e w h a t y o u t h i n k t h e s u b j e c t i s

al l a b o u t u s i n g y o u r o w n t e r m i n o l o g y .

7 . D i s c o v e r t h e m e s .

L o o k for s im i l a r i t i e s a n d d i f fe rences b e t w e e n a u t h o r ' s p o i n t s

o f v i e w . W h a t a re t he p r e d o m i n a n t t h e m e s t h a t all t h e a u t h o r s

s e e m t o a d d r e s s . M a k e n o t e o f t h e s e .

8 . D e f i n e t h e i s s u e s .

O p p o s i n g v i e w p o i n t s b e t w e e n a u t h o r s a re t h e k e y i s s u e s

a b o u t y o u r sub jec t . U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e s e p o i n t s o f c o n t e n t i o n

g r e a t l y e n h a n c e s y o u r k n o w l e d g e o n t h e sub jec t . S u p e r r e a d a n d

d i p t o f ind k e y p o i n t s r e l a t e d t o t h e s e i s s u e s .

9 . F o r m u l a t e y o u r o w n v i e w .

I n d i s c o v e r i n g i s s u e s , y o u b e g i n t o s y n t h e s i z e y o u r o w n

v i e w p o i n t . T h e s k i l l e d s y n t o p i c r e a d e r l o o k s a t a l l s i de s a n d t a k e s

n o s ide s a t first. Af te r g a t h e r i n g e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n , f o r m u l a t e

y o u r o w n p o s i t i o n .

10. App ly .

A c c o r d i n g t o y o u r o w n n e e d s , a p p l y t h e k n o w l e d g e y o u

h a v e a c q u i r e d .

Bibliography

Many books used as reference in the development of the

PhotoReading whole mind system were published in the first

and second editions of this book This bibliography contains

more updated versions of many of those ideas To obtain a copy

of the originally published bibliography, contact the publisher.

Adler, Mortimer J, and Charles Van Doren How to Read A Book New York Simon and Schuster, 1972

Bennett, J Michael Four Powers of Communication Skills for Effective Learning New York McGraw-Hill, 1991

Bennett, J Michael Four Powers of Greatness Personal Learning Course Wayzata, MN Learning Strategies Corporation, 1998

Barker, Joel Future Edge Discovering the New Paradigms of Success New York William Morrow & Company, Inc, 1992

Belt, Ten-E, and Charlotte Ward Simply Live It UP Brief Solutions Bethesda, MD Purposeful Press, 1995

Buzan, Tony The MindMap Book New York Penguin Books, 1996

Cartwnghr, Rosalind, and Lynne Lamberg Crisis Dreaming Using Your Dreams to Solve Your Problems New York Harper Collins Publishers, 1992

Campbell, Don G 100 Ways to Improve Teaching Using Your Voice and Music Pathways to Accelerate Learning Tucson, AZ Zephyr Press, 1992

Carson, Richard Taming Your Gremlin New York Harper Perennial, 1983

Copland, Aaron What to Listen for in Music New York New American Library, 1957

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly Flow The Psychology of Optimal Experience New York Harper & Row Publishers, 1990

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly FmdingFlow The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life New York Harper & Row Publishers, 1997

Cudney, Milton and Robert Hardy Self Defeating Behaviors Free Yourself from the Habits Compulsions Feelings and Attitudes That Hold You Back New York Harper Collins Publishers, 1991

Davis, Ron D The Gift of Dyslexia Why Some of the Smartest People Can t Read and How They Can Learn San Juan Capistrano, CA Ability Workshop Press, 1994

Bibliography 151

Denmson, Paul E , and Gail E Denruson Brain Gym Simple Activities for Whole Brain Learning Ventura, CA Edu-Kinesthetics, 1986

DePorter Bobbi Quantum Business Achieving Success Through Quantum Learning

New York Dell Publishing, 1997

Diamond, Marian Cleves Enriching Heredity New York The Free Press, 1988

Dilts Robert B Strategies of Genius Albert Einstein Capitola, CA Meta, 1994 Ddts, Robert B, Todd Epstein, Robert W Dilts Tools for Dreamers Strategies for

Creativity and the Structure of Innovation Cupertino, CA Meta, 1991

Dixon, Norman F Preconscious Processing Chichester, NY Wiley, 1981

Dixon, Norman F Subliminal Perception The Nature of a Controversy New York McGraw-Hill, 1971

Dryden, Gordon, and Jeannette Vos The Learning Revolution A Life Long Learning program for the World s Finest Computer Your Amazing Brain1 Rolling Hills Estates, CA Jalmar Press, 1994

Edelman, Gerald M Bright Air Brilliant Fire On the Matter of the Mind New York Basic Books, 1992

Edelman, Gerald M Remembered Present New York Basic Books, 1989

Edwards, Betty Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Los Angeles J P Tarcher, 1979

Gardner, Howard Multiple Intelligences The Theory in Practice New York Harper Collins Publishers, Inc ,1993

Gelb, Michael How to Think like Leonardo da Vina New York Delacourte Press, 1998

Goleman, Daniel Emotional Intelligence Why It Can Matter More Than IQ New York Bantam, 1995

Gordon,F Noah Magical Classroom Creating Effective Brain friendly Environments for Learning Tucson, AZ Zephyr Press, 1995

Harman, Willis, and Howard Rheingold Higher Creativity Liberating the Unconscious for Breakthrough Insights Los Angeles, CA Jeremy P Tarcher, Inc, 1984

Hunt, D Trinidad Learning To Learn Maximizing Your Performance Potential Kaneohe, HI Elan Enterprises, 1991

Jensen, Eric Brain based Learning & Teaching Del Mar CA Turning Point Publishing, 1995

Jensen, Eric Introduction to Brain Compatible Learning San Diego The Brain Store, Inc, 1998

Jensen, Eric The Learning Brain San Diego Turning Point Publishing, 1994

Kandel, Eric R, James H Schwartz, and Thomas M Jessell Essentials of Neural Science and Behavior Norwalk, CN Appleton & Lange, 1995

Kline, Peter The Everyday Genius Restoring Children s Natural joy of Learning Arlington, VA Great Ocean Publishers, 1988

Kline, Peter, and Laurence Martel School Success The Inside Story Arlington, VA Great Ocean Publishers, Inc, 1992


LaBerge, Stephen, and H Rhemgold Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming New York Ballanhne Books, 1991

Lao Tsu Tao Te Ching Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English New York Vintage Books, 1972

LeDoux, Joseph The Emotional Brain The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life New York Simon & Schuster, 1996

Lozanov, Georgi Suggestion in Psychology and Education New York Gordon and Breach, 1978

Marguhes, Nancy Mapping Inner Space Learning and Teaching Mind Mapping Tucson, AZ Zepher Press, 1991

Masters, Robert Neurospeak Transforms Your Body While You Read Wheaton, IL Quest, 1994

Mmdell, Phyllis Power Reading A Dynamic System for Mastering All Your Business Reading Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1993

McCarthy, Michael Mastering the Information Age Los Angeles J P Tarcher, 1991

Musashi, Miyamoto A Book of Five Rings The Classic Guide to Strategy Woodstock, NY The Overlook Press, 1974

Ostrander, Sheila, and Lynn Schroeder, with Nancy Ostrander Super-Learning 2000 New York Delacorte Publishing, 1994

Perkins, David Outsmarting IQ The Emerging Science of Learnable Intelligence New York Free Press, Simon & Schuster, 1995

Pert, Candace B Molecules of Emotion Why You Feel the Way You Feel New York Scnbner, 1997

Pinker, Steven How the Mind Works Pinker, Steven New York Norton, 1997

Pnchard, Allyn, and Jean Taylor Accelerating Learning The Use of Suggestion in the Classroom Novato, CA Academic Therapy Publications, 1980

Promislow, Sharon The Top 10 Stress Releasers Simple, effective self care to re-educate your reaction to stress from the inside out Vancouver, B C Kinetic Publishing Corporation, 1994

Ramachandran, F S and Sandra Blakeslee Phantoms In The Brain Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind New York Morrow, 1998

Restak, Richard M The Modular Brain How New Discoveries in Neuroscience Are Answering Age Old Questions About Memory, Free Will, Consciousness, and Personal Identity New York Macmillan, 1994

Robinson, Adam What Smart Students Know MaximumGrades Optimum Learning Minimum Time New York Crown, 1993

Rose, Colin and Malcolm Nicholl Accelerated Learning for thellst Century The Six-Step Plan to Unlock YourMaster-MmdNY Delacorte Press, 1997

Rose, Steven The Making of Memory New York Doubleday, 1992

Scheele, Paul The PhotoReading Whole Mind System Wayzata, MN Learning Strategies Corporation, 1997 (2nd ed )

Scheele, Paul PhotoReading Personal Learning Course Wayzata, MN Learning Strategies Corporation, 1995

Scheele, Paul Natural Brilliance Move from Feeling Stuck to Achieving Success Wayzata, MN Learning Strategies Corporation, 1997

Bibliography 153

Scheele, Paul Natural Brilliance Personal Learning Course Minneapolis, MN Learning Strategies Corporation, 1997

Seigel, Robert Simon Six Seconds to True Calm Santa Monica, CA Little Sun Books, 1995

Senge, Peter The Fifth Discipline New York Doubledav, 1990

Sher, Barbara, and Ann Gottlieb Teamworks' New York Warner Books, 1989

Shlain, Leonard The Alphabet Versus the Goddess The Conflict Between Word and Image New York Viking, Penguin Group, 1998

Smith, Frank Reading Without Nonsense 2d ed Columbia University, New York Teachers College Press, 1985

Smith, Frank To Think Columbia University, New York Teachers College Press, 1990

Stauffer, Russell Teaching Reading as aThinking Process New York Harper&Row, 1969

Suzuki, Shunryu Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind New York John Weatherhill, Inc, 1970

Talbot, Michael The Holographic Universe New York Harper Collins Publishers, 1991

Watzlawick, Paul Ultra-Solutions Or How to FailMost Successfully New York W W Norton & Company, 1988

Wenger, Win A Method for Personal Growth and Development Gaithersburg, MD Project Renaissance, 1990

Wenger, Win, and Richard Coe The Einstein Factor A Proven New Method for Increasing Your Intelligence Rocklm, CA Prima, 1996

Witt, Scott How To Be Twice As Smart Boosting Your Brain power and Unleashing the Miracles of Your Mind West Nyack, New York Parker, 1983

Wise, Anna The High Performance Mind New York Tarcher, Putnam, 1997

Wolf, Fred Alan Star Wave Mind, Consciousness, and Quantum Physics New York Macmillan, 1984

Wohnsky, Stephen Trances People Live Healing Approaches in Quantum Psychology Falls Village, CT The Bramble Company, 1991

Wurman, Richard Saul Information Anxiety New York Doubleday, 1989

Wycoff, Joyce MindMapping New York Berkley Books, 1991

Index

A

accelerative learning 128

accelerative learning state 4 1 , 49

how to maintain 50

payoffs 42

activation 7,16, 20, 53, 76,128,

130

by discussion 57

dip 58 . See also d ip dreams 105. See also dreams

electronic files 84

email 83

journals 82

magazines 82

manual 54

mind mapping 66. See also

mind mapping

mind probing 57. See also

questions

newspapers 82

novels 83

rhythmic perusal 54

skittering 64

spontaneous 54

super read and dip. See super

read

guideline 61

textbooks 83

wi th group discussion 93

active reading 14, 143

Adler , Mort imer 110

affirmations 51

"aha!" experience 74. See also

spontaneous activation

associations 54, 56, 67

attention 27, 30

seven units of 27

attitudes 131

6

Bacon, Francis 25

barriers 89

beginner's mind 122, 132

benefits 8

Bennett, J . Michael 6 1 , 64

blip page 48. See also

PhotoFocus

brain channels 101

brain frequency 101

Buzan, Tony 67. See also mind mapping

c

Carson, Richard 119

chanting 49

choice

importance to reading 143

comprehension 3 , 4 , 1 3 , 1 6 , 2 1 , 27,

32, 54, 60, 61, 64, 69, 73, 74,

98, 99,131

how to achieve 132

levels of conscious

comprehension 54

concentration 28, 143

concert session 128

confusion 120, 125, 132

conscious

competence 124

Index 155

incompetence 123

mind 57, 123, 129

conventional reading 72

Copland, Aaron 130

Csikszentmihalyi , Miha ly 127

curiosity 57

D

Daily news 82

Danielson, Patricia 109, 116

Davis, Ron 30

decision making 60, 94

decoding 128

diet 102

dip 20, 58, 60. See also activation: dip

direct learning 135

how to 137

mental simulation 137

distractions 49

document shock 14

dreams 105

as activation 53

dyslexia 30

E

Edelman, Gerald, M.D. 68

Edwards, Betty 44

electronic files 84

elementary reading 13

email 83

enter the accelerative learning

state. See accelerative

learning state

excellence 124. See also stages of

learning

exercise 102

expanded brain 7

expanded capabilities 123

explicit learning 136

explicit memory 136

eye-mind connection 98

F

feel self-conscious 90

five-day plan 76

fixed point of attention 3 1 . See

also tangerine technique

flow 127

flow state 29, 31

frustration 119, 125, 126. See

also learned helplessness

G

Gal lwey, T i m 100

Gardner, H o w a r d 129

genius 7, 8, 140, 142

giant mind map 113

goals 43

in reading 104

gremlins 119, 132

group activation 91

guilt 26, 60

H

habit 26, 99, 105

I

ideal brain state 102

ideal state 27, 29, 49. See also

flow state

implicit learning 136

incubation 56, 133

inner mind 7

integrate

skills 88

integration 88

intuition 60, 132, 140

intuitive signals 62, 87

J

James, W i l l i a m 35

Johnson, Dav id W. 88

Johnson, Frank P. 88

journals 82

j u m p start 55

fear 4, 2 1 , 143


K

Kline, Peter 108

L

Lao Tsu 127

learned helplessness 125

left hemisphere 15

limitations 7

perfectionism 17

limits 13

Lozanov, Georgi 128, 143

M

magazines 82

martial arts 100

Maslow, A b r a h a m 127

McKenna, Paul 84

meaning 61

meditat ion 102

memory 33, 68, 105

tip of the tongue phenomenon

105, 130

mental summary 64

m i n d . See conscious m i n d ; inner

m i n d ; other-than-conscious

m i n d ; nonconscious mind

mind map 115

mind mapping

how to 65

mind mapping. 20

mind probing 57. See also

questions

more-than-conscious mind 7

motivation 36

mult iple intelligences, theory of

spatial intelligence 67

Musashi, Miyamoto 45

music 87

N

Natural Brilliance

four-step model 138

1 release 138

2 notice 139

o

oscillation 139

other-than-conscious mind 7 ,16,

42, 44, 74 ,105 ,141 ,143

overwhelmed 14

P

paraconscious mind 7

paradigm 13,15, 60, 68 ,122,143

shifts 17

paradoxes 131

Paraliminal tapes 43, 87, 103

helpful titles 103

payoffs 27

perceptual defense 46

peripheral awareness 99. See

also peripheral vision

applications of 100

peripheral vision 20, 99, 141

PhotoFocus 44, 45, 59

blip page 47

cocktail weenie effect 46

PhotoReading 14, 40, 62, 69

aff irm 43

close 51

enter the accelerative learning

state 41

in business 76

mentally photograph 2

mind map of 66

next step 135

payoffs 6, 144

prepare 41

r e q u i r e m e n t for success 132

3 respond 139

4 witness 140

negative attitudes 17. See also

limitations

neural networks 69

Noah Gordon 101

nonconscious data base 57, 59

nonconscious mind 7, 39,105

nonconscious storage capacity of

the brain 130

NOPS 119

Index 157

research 136

secret of 142

secret p o w e r of system 7

steady state 49

technique of 19

testing it 75

tests 121

to master 17

P h o t o R e a d i n g Personal Learning

Course 107

PhotoReading seminar 106

PhotoReading whole mind

system

in business 91

recapping the steps 80

versus elementary reading 13

wi th novels 83

wi th texbooks or technical

manuals 83

play 132

posture 49

Postview 55

postview 37

practice 104

preconscious mind 7

preconscious processing 5, 40

prepare 7, 18, 24

how to 29

Preview 111 , 132

preview 7,19, 32, 36 ,116 ,118 ,

129

payoffs 35

review 19, 35

secret to success 35

trigger words 19

prioritize 81

probing the mind 20. See also

mind probing

purpose 13,18, 25, 26, 35, 54, 6 1 ,

73, 80,104, 111 , 137

being purposeful 14

setting your 25

Q

q u e s t i o n s 57. See also mind

probing

formulate 55

questioning 14

R

rapid read 7, 2 1 , 7 1 , 72

kayak analogy 73

versus super read 73

when to do it 71

reading 2

speed 13, 72

versus PhotoReading 15

recall 43, 54, 57, 69, 83, 130

relaxation gate 101

relaxed alertness

18, 27, 28, 57, 100. See also ideal state

Restak, Richard, M.D. 136

review 35

rhythmic perusal 20, 6 1 , 65

right hemisphere 16

s

schema

author's scheme for wr i t ing

63

self-image 126

Senge, Peter 144

serendipity 56

seven intelligences 129. See also

multiple intelligences:

theory of

Sher, Barbara 96

skepticism 131

skill development 135. See also

direct learning

skitter 20, 64

skittering

steps of 65

Smith, Frank 61

soft eyes 45. See also PhotoFocus

soft gaze 100

spatial intelligence 67. See also

multiple intelligences,

theory of

speed reading 3, 5, 64

spin. See also confusion

The PhotoReading Whole Mind item 158

unconscious incompetence

123. See also stages of

learning

unconsc ious m i n d 7

V

vision training 99

visual cues 58

visual field 59. See also

peripheral vision

visual memory 67, 99

w

wel l - formed goals 104. See also

goals

Wenger, W i n 37, 130

whole mind 74. See also mind

Wycoff, Joyce 67. See also mind

mapping

z

Z e n 100, 102, 122. See also

meditat ion

metaphor 4

spontaneous activation 74. See

also activation

stages of learning 123

state of m ind . See accelerative

learning state; ideal state

Stauffer, Russell 61

stuck state 139

study skills 7 1 , 85

sub-conscious mind 7

subliminal perception 5

subvocalizing 98

success teams 96

super read 20, 58. See also

activation: super reading

and dip 71

payoffs 64

versus rapid read 73

Superman analogy 58

survey 19, 33. See also preview

h o w to 33

Suzuki , Shunryu 122

syntopic reading 109

power of 115

steps of 111

T

taking tests 87

tangerine technique 27, 29y 30

tests 104, 121

time management 26

prioritize 81

strategies 81

time required to learn 123

traditional education

reading 126

train of thought 62

transformations 7

trigger words 34. See also

preview

tunnel vision 139

u

50584018 Paul Scheele the Photo Reading Whole Mind System

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