50584018 Paul Scheele the Photo Reading Whole Mind System
Transcript of 50584018 Paul Scheele the Photo Reading Whole Mind System
PhotoReading Paul R. Scheele, M.A.
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• 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
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.
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
The Origins of PhotoReading 5
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
The Origins of PhotoReading 7
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 8
• 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
The Origins of PhotoReading 9
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.
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 12
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.
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 13
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 14
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
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 15
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 16
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 .
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 17
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 18
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
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 19
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 20
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
Old Reading Habits or New Reading Choices 21
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.
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 22
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 26
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 30
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 ,
Prepare 31
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 34
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 36
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 38
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 42
• 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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 44
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 46
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 48
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 50
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 52
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 54
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 56
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 58
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 60
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 62
• 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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 64
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 66
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 :
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 68
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 70
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 72
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 74
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 76
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 78
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 82
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
Make PhotoReading Part of Your Daily Life 83
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 84
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
Make PhotoReading Part of Your Daily Life 85
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 86
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
Make PhotoReading Part of Your Daily Life 87
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 88
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
Make PhotoReading Part of Your Daily Life 89
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 90
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 92
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 94
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 96
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 100
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
Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience 101
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 .
Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience 103
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 ,
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 104
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
Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience 105
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 106
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 .
Enrich Your PhotoReading Experience 107
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 108
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 110
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 111
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 . )
Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration 113
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 114
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 .
Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration 115
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 116
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 .
Syntopic Reading for Life-Long Exploration 117
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 122
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
Questions and Answers 123
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 124
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
Questions and Answers 125
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 :
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 126
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
Questions and Answers 127
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 ,
Questions and Answers 129
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 230
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 .
Questions and Answers 131
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 132
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
Questions and Answers 133
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 134
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 136
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 138
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
Discover Your Natural Brilliance 139
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 140
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 ? "
Discover Your Natural Brilliance 141
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 144
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 .
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 148
• 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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 152
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
The PhotoReading Whole Mind System 156
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