It was schoolteacher Evelyn Wood who first called the ability to read fast “speed-reading,” and it is she who first developed a method for teaching this skill, and took it into classrooms all over the world. Very soon people saw the benefits of learning to read faster, and began to acquire this skill. For over 60 years now the name Evelyn Wood has been synonymous with the art of speed-reading, even after the 20 years following her death.
Times have moved on though, and now learning to speed-read can be achieved through courses, and software from the Internet. Online teaching is now superseding the more traditional teaching approach of classroom, paper, and pen, but back in 1958 that is all Mrs Wood had when she began her pioneering advances in the realms of reading.
However, even pioneers are moving with the times and you can now purchase the teachings of Evelyn Wood on DVDs for home-study on your computer, in the comfort of your own sitting room, as well as whole range of good (and not so good) software packages.
One of the better ones is 7 Speed Reading by eReflect, and this review seeks to weigh the one against the other in an attempt to distinguish the pros, and cons of both.
Now, generally one should be respectful of pioneers, and their outstanding achievements, but in this case when considering Evelyn Wood’s Reading Dynamics software it is hard to get excited about it simply from the website. To be honest, it is not the best website going – mainly because it really doesn’t tell you much about what you get in the package. You don’t even get a decent outline of any of the speed-reading theories. It is as if the people responsible for marketing the software are relying simply on the good name of Evelyn Wood. This is a serious marketing flaw, as people coming across the website without knowing who Evelyn Wood is aren’t going to rush off and find out. They will see her photograph, but that is it. There is no glowing tribute to her work, and her discovery to draw would-be students in.
7 Speed Reading on the other hand tells you everything you need to know right from the word go. For one thing, you are informed that it takes just 7 minutes a day to start improving your reading speed, which is an instant eye-catcher, and then you are given a brief, but effective summary of the speed-reading theories including Subvocalization, Regression, Fixation, Memory, and Comprehension. You also become excited by the accent on personal coaching, video instruction, and the real-time monitoring to gauge progress. You also get an amazing 600 downloadable e-books to work with, as well as access to Wiki-Connect allowing the student to view wiki articles, books, and other material.
Another unfortunate turn-off with Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics is the price. If you were considering purchasing the whole package it will set you back a staggering $700!
7 Speed Reading costs just $67 and you get EVERYTHING in one go, not in installments.
It is the job of websites to grab people’s attention, and draw them further in with easy to understand, and eye-catching information. They need to be enticing. Sorry to say Mrs Wood, your software needs someone to pioneer it…and quick.
