I explored this topic a few years ago. However, it was for the exact opposite reason. There are dozens of videos on YouTube about how to read faster in order to read as many books as possible. Maybe you watched some too. But does that really make sense? Or should we rather try to read more slowly? It seems that there is currently a shift towards “slow reading.”
Introduction
The reason why this topic has been on my mind again for some time now is that a few weeks ago, I was talking to fellow students at university about our reading speed. It turned out that many of them read more slowly than I had assumed. How can that be? Aren't we at university? We have so many texts to read. That's what I thought. And yes, that's true. We have to read a lot of texts and books. Over the past few weeks, however, it has become clear that I approach texts in much the same way, regardless of whether they are fiction or nonfiction. That was my big mistake. So I decided to change my reading speed from now on. The speed-reading community promises quite a few advantages from reading quickly, so I wanted to find out for myself whether there was perhaps less to it than I had thought and started reading more slowly.
The Return to Depth
Speed reading has become a hallmark of our time. We skim articles, scroll through ebooks, consume Bible verses like motivational quotes. But with speed, a great deal is lost: depth. Those who read slowly encounter a text not only as a source of information, but as a space for encounter. Thoughts have time to unfold. An author's style can suddenly take effect. A verse from the Bible, for example, not only strikes the mind, but also reaches the heart. Slow reading means getting involved. I still find this quite difficult at the moment, as I have hardly paid any attention to it in the past. But it means engaging with the sentence structure, rhythm, and repetitions. I have started reading paragraphs several times, noting down individual words, and saying sentences out loud. And something happens: the text begins to respond. Not because it changes, but because I give it space. A slow reading pace forces reflection. I no longer ask myself immediately, “What does this text offer me?” but rather, “What does it really say?” In theological literature, for example, which deals with the nature of God, the cross, the law, and the gospel, reading quickly often leads to false conclusions or simplifications. Slow reading, on the other hand, reveals nuances, tensions, and secrets. I have noticed how my judgments have slowed down. I respond less quickly and think more often in shades of gray. Theological systems appear to me less as finished constructions and more as living movements of thought. I have found myself no longer wanting to “finish” books, but rather to linger in them.
More Fiction
Something else I've noticed is that I hardly ever read fiction books. I mostly read nonfiction, mainly theology, of course, but also about politics and society. The latter in particular has almost caused me to become depressed. It makes me angry and disappointed. Not on the same level as fiction books do, but much more so, because it affects our real world. I have decided to read more fiction. Classics and novels. My reading list for August and September has turned out to be a nice mix. This list is very long. I know. Nevertheless, I think I can read this number of books in two months. And if not, I'll deal with it differently. I have a different mindset. I am no longer concerned about not having read all the books on the list. It remains my goal, but I no longer wish to read faster and faster just to finish the book quickly. In the past, I tended to turn it into a competition. That is not what reading should be about. Social media and the BookTok community in particular have contributed greatly to this. And even the book market has changed rapidly in recent years. It's time to change the community.
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One of the best changes I have noticed in myself, however, is that I understand more again. Just as it should be. In the past, I definitely read too quickly and inevitably understood less as a result. I can understand why someone would want to learn speed reading. I remember exactly what my reasons were back then. There are just so many good books out there that you want to read in your lifetime, and TikTok can make you feel bad if you don't. Not to mention the FOMO you feel - the fear of missing out. Before I can truly internalize a text, I need to know where it comes from. So I often read the blurb or the foreword first. Anyone reading a theological work should also be aware of its time, target audience, and intention. The deeper my understanding of the historical and spiritual context, the deeper I can delve into the text. Slow reading begins with careful observation. One overlooked technique of slow reading is repetition. A passage that particularly appeals to me is not read just once, but several times. Aloud, quietly, meditatively. Sometimes I even copy it out by hand. In the spiritual tradition, repetition is not a sign of weakness, but of depth. For some thoughts do not open up on first reading. They require patience, reverence, silence. This is particularly important when reading the Bible. Lectio divina, spiritual reading, has four stages: reading (lectio), meditation (meditatio), prayer (oratio), and contemplation (contemplatio). This form of repetition does not lead to weariness, but to real transformation. Although reading is often considered a quiet, individual activity, I have experienced how much deeper your understanding becomes when you read texts with others. In a book club, what you read comes to life. Everyone brings their own perspective to the table. This broadens my horizons. Even controversial ideas often lead to spiritual growth. Reading in community also prevents you from becoming entrenched in your own point of view. It protects against one-sidedness. And it reminds us that reading is not an end in itself, but rather promotes relationships. That's where my book club comes in.
I would love to hear your opinion. How do you read books? What are your experiences? And which books are currently on your reading list?
If you would like to discuss a book you have read with other people, I cordially invite you to Join my book club on Fable! We are currently reading “Confessions” by St. Augustine until September 30. The app has the advantage that you can share your thoughts chapter by chapter and exchange ideas. If you use the following Link, you will also receive a 5$ credit to use on an ebook (US only).
In this way, I have rediscovered something precious: that reading not only changes my thinking, but also shapes my heart. Good books are not just packets of information, but tools of the mind. Slow reading has taught me that it is not the number of pages read that counts, but the depth of the encounter. What good is it to have read five books but understood hardly anything? That one sentence, if read at the right time, can have more impact than a hundred pages at the wrong time. And that truth is not revealed to those who pass by in haste, but to those who linger. Perhaps that is the hidden treasure of slow reading: it teaches us to marvel again. At thoughts. At language. At God. And perhaps - no, certainly - in a world of haste, that is exactly what we need: people who read like pilgrims. Slowly. Searching. Listening. With an open heart.
I stopped reading fiction decades ago. I once loved it. Education and its drumbeat of analysis killed it in me. Then, as a radio news anchor, I became aware of this fiction phenomenon happening; seemingly worldwide. Something called, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (the correct title). I bought it, to find out what all the fuss was about. It was magical. Suddenly, I was 12 years old again. The old love of fiction, reawakened. It hasn't died. I still read, almost exclusively, nonfiction. But I listen to fiction. Audio books. They are not mere narrations. They are audio plays with very talented Voice Over artists bringing the works to life. None of the strict attention that nonfiction requires. I can listen while driving, cooking, walking in the park. Anywhere, anytime. Consequently, my sit-down-and-read-with-concentration time is not shared with my reawakened love of fiction. And yes, the classics are there. I am a great fan, for example, of Charles Dickens and I have most of his works in the form of audio books.
Thank you for that. I have just begun to slow my reading, and with the Bible to start writing the text out. I am noticing so much more and feel enriched because of that.