The Lazy Scholar

In my experience, there are three main types of readers:

1. The Sprinter: the one who reads quickly, but doesn’t fully understand because they either don’t care or don’t have time.
2. The Savant: the one who reads slowly and methodically, memorizing every detail and arriving at the deepest understanding possible.
3. The Lazy Scholar: the one who reads quickly and actively, gaining a deeper understanding than sprinters.

I’ve always been the lazy scholar. Though “lazy” has negative connotations, I’ve found that it can motivate me to be more efficient.

Why I’m a Lazy Scholar

The first time I read something, I take notes or select quotes. I read it slow enough to process, while skimming slower and less important parts.

I read a little slower than the sprinters, who rush through books and might have to go back to them to understand them, and a little faster than the methodical, obsessive readers who believe every word counts.

This method has helped me through my degrees and with this blog. When write about a book or work, I’ve essentially already started to analyze it. Sometimes, I get to the end of the book and have a little more work to do.

Active Reading

I have always been an active reader. Physically, I move around quite a bit when I read. I take breaks and get up every so often just to move around. This actually helps with blood flow, helping my brain to be more oxygenated and thus enabling me to better think about what I’m reading.

Sometimes I take handwritten notes, which could be as vague as a few words and a page number, or I’ll copy and paste quotes if it’s in Kindle. I’ve learned not to overdo it with the notes, as that will slow down the reading quite a bit.

I’ve made a rule that I only take a note on something if I think it might be important. It takes time to develop this judgment, and what’s important will change based on what kind of text you’re reading. At my active reading speed, I can average about 3 minutes per page (unless it’s dense philosophy or something super technical).

Speed Reading

I’ll be honest: I’ve never been a speed reader, but I do occasionally use speed reading as a tool when needed.

For example, if the book is giving more basic information or has a very simple plot line and thin prose, then I can skim and get the main points. I tend to read about 40 seconds- 1 minute per page (250-300 words) when I’m speed reading.

I admire the sprinters for their speed, but I know that I wouldn’t be satisfied with reading at that pace on a regular basis. Like I said, I only do that when needed and necessary, but I think it’s essential for people who are studying at times (We all know that teacher who assigns 400 pages per week!).

Why I’m Not a Savant

I deeply admire the savants and their dedication to understanding all the particulars of a text. Yet, I’ve found I’m interested in learning so many different things that I wouldn’t be content to spend days on end on a single text or subject.

Maybe it’s my creative spirit or my extraversion, but I am compelled to continually move on to the next great literary treasure.

What about you? Which type do you lean toward? Or maybe you’re one I’ve not listed!