If you haven't enough time for the reading you'd like to do, scan the first and last paragraphs of an article or the first and last pages of a book's first chapter to decide if it's worth your while to read what's in between.
Set time limits on your reading material and sort it accordingly: a high-priority pile for newspapers and news magazines that become useless quickly; a medium-priority pile for material that should be read for your job or your investments; a low-priority pile for material that can wait, such as cookbooks, novels or travel magazines.
Don't try to read everything - some-times it's enough to know that you have an article on file in case you need specific information in the future.
Make an appointment with yourself to do your reading; if necessary, get up half an hour earlier, go to bed half an hour later, or plan to read during your quiet time, as on a bus or train.
If you're looking for something other than a best-seller, ask your librarian for advice; she may ask about your interests or refer you to one of several guides to the classics.
Don't throw away all those paperback books; set up an exchange at work. If you find you don't like a book you borrowed, there's no need to feel guilty - you haven't spent anything; just return it for another.
If your child resists 'good' books, consult a children's librarian or a sympathetic, well-informed bookseller. She may be able to interest him in books you don't know about.
Scanning for speed
Let your eyes follow your hand as it brushes down each page. Practise focusing on a whole line rather than one word at a time.
Run your fingertip or a bookmark under every line as you read it, to focus your attention and prevent your mind from wandering.
As you scan, mark the passages you'd like to return to with a pencil or a high-lighter. Or jot down the page numbers on a piece of paper and slip it into the back of the book.
