Afleveringen
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Original article on Quora.com
I was standing outside an art supply store on central park, south side.
Looking in the window at all the canvases and paint brushes. Wondering whether I should start painting. Gradually, I became aware that someone was standing next to me. A bit too close. I looked at her, a classy looking older lady. Maybe in her sixties or early seventies. She smiled broadly at me and said, you look nice. For a long time.
I didn't know what to say. And then I stammered. Thanks. She said, would you like to come to my apartment for dinner? For the next five or six years, I regretted my response. You see, no one had ever tried to pick me up before and certainly never a woman 20 or 30 years older than me. I am also extremely introverted and not used to talking to strangers at all. I said no, in a harsh voice. It just came out of me.
I saw her smile collapse, and I fled. As soon as I recovered my wits, I was disgusted with myself that poor old lady, she took a huge risk approaching me like that. And I humiliated her. It would have cost me nothing to have been kind to say. Sorry. I can't. I'm married. But I'm very flattered.
. I would hate it. If someone treated me the way I treated her. Guilt about this incident ate at me for years. Whenever I thought about it. Then one day I saw a photo of her online, turns out she was a famous prostitute and that was her spot. She'd been accosting man in front of that art supply store for decades. I spent about two minutes feeling relieved. She wasn't attracted to me.
She was just trying to make money. Then I thought. The one time anyone tries to pick me up, it's a hooker. Damn.
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Jimmy Carter to begin receiving home hospice care.
But who is Jimmy Carter? Listen to a brief summary in this podcast.
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Summary:
In this interview episode, the host of the language learning podcast My Fluent Podcast, Daniel Goodson, is interviewed by an AI called Peter about his English learning journey.
Daniel shares that he has been learning English passively for many years through activities such as reading books and listening to podcasts in English. He also started his own podcast, My Fluent Podcast, to practice speaking with native speakers and improve his skills. Daniel shares that immersing himself in the language and speaking with others, whether native or non-native speakers, has helped him a lot in his learning journey. He also encourages other language learners to start their own podcasts as a way to practice and improve their skills.
Show Notes:
Introduction to the AI interviewer, Peter, and the topic of the episode Daniel's background as an English learner and language enthusiast What inspired Daniel to start learning English and helpful resources he has found in his journey Daniel's experiences practicing English with native speakers and the impact on his learning How Daniel started his own podcast, My Fluent Podcast, as a way to practice speaking and improve his skills Tips and advice for other language learners interested in starting their own podcasts or finding other ways to engage with native speakers Final thoughts from Daniel on the importance of starting and being creative in language learning.The complete chatGPT prompt I used:
"I want you to act as an interviewer in a language learning podcast. I will be the interviewee and you will ask me the interview questions relating to my English learning journey. I want you to only reply as the interviewer. Do not write all the conservation at once. I want you to only do the interview with me. Ask me the questions and wait for my answers. Do not write explanations. Ask me the questions one by one like an interviewer does and wait for my answers. My first sentence is “Hi”"
What do you think of AI in language learning? Share it with us:
Open AI in on the rise. In general, ChatGPT or AI is taken the world by storm. Should we be afraid of it? I would rather say, we should use it to our benefit. We have no other choice. It's just a matter of time until it will dominate. Be prepared!!
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Why do people read novels?
Transcript:
We read novels because we want to live, even vicariously, in a world with meaning.
Too many senseless events happen in the real world: children die of starvation at the very gates of the wealthy, innocent and admirable people perish in natural disasters, wars that destroy young lives and entire countries are waged for the pettiest of reasons.
A novelist, whether realistic or fantastic, extrapolates meaning onto his or her envisioned world. Sometimes the good guy wins. The sick child recovers. The impoverished orphan has a secret fortune.
Even when the ultimate theme is meaninglessness and futility, the novelist reveals the inherent strength in a character, the machinations of history in everyday affairs, the possibility that society is capable of change.
Thomas Hardy's overriding theme is that the universe is malevolent or at best indifferent to the affairs of man. Yet his characters navigate a world of symbols: the unchanging, unyielding heath; the rick fires that challenge Gabriel Oak to exhaustion; the closed doors of the Yeobrights and Christminster.
A character's life *means* something. Ultimately that's what a reader wants to extrapolate back onto him/herself.
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-read-novels/answer/Ann-Litz
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Never mind if she can’t cook. If she loves you and you love her, that is enough to lead a happy married life.
Cooking is not rocket science. Both of you can learn it together.
By the way my wife married me in spite of my inability to cook.
I married her in spite of her inability to drive.
We are a happily married couple. She cooks for me and I drive her around.
Don’t let these minor difficulties come in your way.
Here is a picture of us that I haven’t shared before.
https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-7825d7eac1da0d29a417c5c33a76a70a-pjlq
Vocab:
rocket science (something very difficult to understand)
Original article on Quoa.com:
https://qr.ae/pvo7LK
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Quora.com
(Whis is not an official Quora Podcast)
https://qr.ae/pvHyKT
Difficult words:
ambiguity (he presence of two or more possible meanings in a single passage.)
cliches (Formally, a cliché is “a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.” It can also be defined as “anything that has become trite commonplace through overuse.)
monosyllabic (having only one syllable)
perception (opinion, perception, understanding)
ADDENDUM (an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something.)
One characteristic that will make everyone think you’re unintelligent, even if you aren’t, is speaking poorly. I don’t necessarily mean using slang or having a thick accent (although those might count against you in some circles). I mean not communicating well with words. People who speak well are usually rather precise. They say what they mean as unambiguously as possible (unless they intend ambiguity) in a way that is concise but clear.
Speaking in vague generalities and relying on cliches can make you sound less intelligent, as can an over-reliance on a small set of (often monosyllabic) words. Again, you might be smart, but you won’t come across as such.
ADDENDUM:
For some reason this answer has been getting a lot of replies lately saying that speaking well is not the same as being smart. I want to emphasize the last sentence above. This is not about whether how you speak is actually indicative of your intelligence. It is about perception. If you speak well, you can be perceived as being smarter than you are. If you speak poorly, you can be perceived as being less intelligent.
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Is it rude to flake on someone? Why do people do it?
Transcript:
https://share.descript.com/view/9yJOXFDlqpt
Original post on Quora.com
https://qr.ae/pvFeSG
https://qr.ae/pvFeSL
Other examples with the expression "to flake on someone":
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbA60d2DfUG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
The one time I actually depend on you, and you flake on picking me up from the airport.
Marge, don't flake out on me.
Don't you flake on me!
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Audiogram version:
https://share.descript.com/view/8wPOQ3qrGey
Transcript:
Today's question on Quora Knows Best is how to be more focused. And the answer comes from Rafael Eliassen and it goes like this:
1. Keeping a straight poster, your body language controls, how you feel and vice versa.
2. Create a reward system. Willpower is hard to muster. When you live a mundane life,
4. Remove distractions, you can't function with multiple things, trying to take your attention.
5. The more relaxed you feel, the easier it will be to focus. Do things that make you feel less stressed.
6. Create a schedule. It will keep you on track and avoid confusion about what.
7. Practice meditation: The more aware you are about your thoughts and feelings, the better.
8. Take care of your health, eat, sleep, and exercise right to maximize productivity.
9. Be patient don't get discouraged. If you don't have laser focus after reading these. It will take time.
Thank you for listening. This was Quora Knows Best. I am Daniel Goodson, the host of another show as well. It is called My Fluent Podcast in which I talk about methods and approaches on how to become fluent in a foreign language bye.
Article on Quora:
https://qr.ae/pGLYRX
(65) How to be more focused? - Small Business Ideas Online (quora.com):
https://smallbusinessideasonline.quora.com/How-to-be-more-focused
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Video with subtitles:
https://share.descript.com/view/VCM4bNkBrob?t=0
Full article:
https://qr.ae/pGQnSI
www.quora.com
Vocabulary:
To tag along:
go along with, often uninvited; "my younger brother often tagged along when I went out with my friends" accompany - go or travel along... (see The Free Dictionary.)
To settle down:
to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc. (see merriam-webster)
Upbringing:
early trainingespecially : a particular way of bringing up a child
Burgeois: a middle-class person,
weed: (1) tobacco products
(2): MARIJUANA Full Transcript:Those that still live are now people in their seventies or eighties, and probably someone’s grandparents. Some will have adapted to a more conservative lifestyle. Others not so much.
My parents are that kind. They met in 67 and spent a few years traveling and living experiences… with little me tagging along, until I had to be schooled and they settled down. They were not as ideologically motivated as other hippies were, but they wanted to feel free from their conservative upbringing.
That’s us in Ibiza, around ‘71 I think.
After that we lived in Paris for a few years before moving to Spain. Times changed and new things were happening, being a hippie wasn’t as cool anymore, maybe their life became a bit more bourgeois, but they’ve always been (and still are) unconventional people in many ways.
Now they’re old and they have three grandchildren (my sister’s kids). They live quite simply on the pension they have left, maybe my father sells a painting, or my mother gets a modelling gig being the granny in a commercial, but they don’t need much as long as they’re happy and healthy.
Well, ma likes her little bag of weed, but it’s medicinal ok?
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🎞️Video version with subtitles:
https://share.descript.com/view/VCM4bNkBrob?t=0
Vocabulary:
To tag along:
go along with, often uninvited; "my younger brother often tagged along when I went out with my friends" accompany - go or travel along... (see The Free Dictionary.)
To settle down:
to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc. (see merriam-webster)
Upbringing:
early trainingespecially : a particular way of bringing up a child
Burgeois: a middle-class person,
weed: (1) tobacco products
(2): MARIJUANA Full Transcript:Those that still live are now people in their seventies or eighties, and probably someone’s grandparents. Some will have adapted to a more conservative lifestyle. Others not so much.
My parents are that kind. They met in 67 and spent a few years traveling and living experiences… with little me tagging along, until I had to be schooled and they settled down. They were not as ideologically motivated as other hippies were, but they wanted to feel free from their conservative upbringing.
That’s us in Ibiza, around ‘71 I think.
After that we lived in Paris for a few years before moving to Spain. Times changed and new things were happening, being a hippie wasn’t as cool anymore, maybe their life became a bit more bourgeois, but they’ve always been (and still are) unconventional people in many ways.
Now they’re old and they have three grandchildren (my sister’s kids). They live quite simply on the pension they have left, maybe my father sells a painting, or my mother gets a modelling gig being the granny in a commercial, but they don’t need much as long as they’re happy and healthy.
Well, ma likes her little bag of weed, but it’s medicinal ok?
Full article:
https://qr.ae/pGQnSI
www.quora.com
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This is the video version of episode 31 🎞️
What is your opinion to today's question? Share it with us and we will publish it on this podcast. (use the videoask link below)
You can choose between video/audio-only/text.
https://www.videoask.com/f5w03f1g8
Link to the article on Quora: https://qr.ae/pGjgCO
Full transcipt further below!
Vocabulary:
wunderkind: a person who is very clever or good at something and achieves success at a young age
JPL: Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - Robotic Space Exploration.
average guy: ordinary guy, normal guy, average joe
fly - flew - flown
I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years: drop, decrease, fall.
Some people are still extremely lucid: clearn, plain, understandable
Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short:
an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. // or something like making your own mind about sth. before you know the facts.
Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short:
sell (someone, something, or oneself) short To undervalue someone, something, or oneself; to underestimate or underappreciate the good qualities of someone, something, or oneself. Often used in negative constructions.
in the blink of an eye: at a glance. in a flash. in a heartbeat. in a jiffy. In other words, it happens very fast.
Transcript
I’m just about to turn 65. I’ve been employed as an airline pilot for 36 years. I’m reasonably intelligent, but admittedly far from a wunderkind, and with no offers to work for the JPL or NASA. Pretty much an average guy who’s outstanding at being humble. At at age 64, I had to learn how to fly the most complex and advanced airliner currently in service, the Airbus A350. I had flown the relatively simplistic Boeing 767 for the past 25 years, and had never flown an Airbus, which is completely different in almost every way from a Boeing. I was the oldest person to attempt going through the Delta’s A350 Initial Qualification training program. I was warned that even much younger pilots were finding the training to be extremely challenging, and that because of my age, success might not be an option. It was an extremely complex airplane. The training manual is literally 7000 pages long. Countless Training videos, 6 weeks of simulators, extremely difficult electronic and oral exams. “It can’t be done, old guy”, many said.
BULLSHIT! I went through the training and actually had an easy time of it. It was no more challenging than when I went through MD-11 training in 1991, at age 34, even though the A350 was a much more difficult training program. I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years, and aced the very challenging program without any trouble. If I can maintain my ability to easily learn complex tasks into my mid-60’s, hell, anyone can.
To answer the question: For some it might be age 30, or 40, or 50, etc, etc. However, everyone is different. Some people are still extremely lucid and able to learn well into their 90’s. Don’t assume. Don’t count yourself out at any age. Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short, because many of them are still as sharp or even sharper than you. Treat all people well, especially older people, because in the blink of an eye you’re going to be one of them, and you’re going to love it when someone treats YOU with dignity and a little bit of respect.
quora.com
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What is your opinion? Share it with us and we will publish it on this podcast. (use the videoask link below)
You can choose between video/audio-only/text.
https://www.videoask.com/f5w03f1g8
Link to the article on Quora: https://qr.ae/pGjgCO
Full transcipt further below!
Vocabulary:
wunderkind: a person who is very clever or good at something and achieves success at a young age
JPL: Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - Robotic Space Exploration.
average guy: ordinary guy, normal guy, average joe
fly - flew - flown
I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years: drop, decrease, fall.
Some people are still extremely lucid: clearn, plain, understandable
Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short:
an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. // or something like making your own mind about sth. before you know the facts.
Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short:
sell (someone, something, or oneself) short To undervalue someone, something, or oneself; to underestimate or underappreciate the good qualities of someone, something, or oneself. Often used in negative constructions.
in the blink of an eye: at a glance. in a flash. in a heartbeat. in a jiffy. In other words, it happens very fast.
Transcript
I’m just about to turn 65. I’ve been employed as an airline pilot for 36 years. I’m reasonably intelligent, but admittedly far from a wunderkind, and with no offers to work for the JPL or NASA. Pretty much an average guy who’s outstanding at being humble. At at age 64, I had to learn how to fly the most complex and advanced airliner currently in service, the Airbus A350. I had flown the relatively simplistic Boeing 767 for the past 25 years, and had never flown an Airbus, which is completely different in almost every way from a Boeing. I was the oldest person to attempt going through the Delta’s A350 Initial Qualification training program. I was warned that even much younger pilots were finding the training to be extremely challenging, and that because of my age, success might not be an option. It was an extremely complex airplane. The training manual is literally 7000 pages long. Countless Training videos, 6 weeks of simulators, extremely difficult electronic and oral exams. “It can’t be done, old guy”, many said.
BULLSHIT! I went through the training and actually had an easy time of it. It was no more challenging than when I went through MD-11 training in 1991, at age 34, even though the A350 was a much more difficult training program. I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years, and aced the very challenging program without any trouble. If I can maintain my ability to easily learn complex tasks into my mid-60’s, hell, anyone can.
To answer the question: For some it might be age 30, or 40, or 50, etc, etc. However, everyone is different. Some people are still extremely lucid and able to learn well into their 90’s. Don’t assume. Don’t count yourself out at any age. Don’t be prejudiced against older people and sell them short, because many of them are still as sharp or even sharper than you. Treat all people well, especially older people, because in the blink of an eye you’re going to be one of them, and you’re going to love it when someone treats YOU with dignity and a little bit of respect.
quora.com
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www.quora.com
https://qr.ae/pGjufJ
Chris Ebbert Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Mid Sweden University
Transcript:Realise that you may not be a failure in the eyes of someone else.
Here’s my story. I was 40, divorced, had left a life in New Zealand behind that had fallen apart in the most dramatic way possible, and was invited at my cousin’s house in Austria to a summer party.
As we ate barbecued things and drank local beer, dreams were swapped and future visions exchanged. My cousin is a sound engineer, struggling as a consultant, doing the odd gig in Vienna or Salzburg.
We talked about happiness.
And I heard myself saying, “maybe some day, when I am successful, I will know what happiness is.”
My cousin looked at me as if I was very, very drunk. And maybe, I was. And he said, “Chris; you are the dean of a French university, a Grande Ecole at that, in Shanghai. And you say ‘some day when you are successful’?”
That changed my world view.
I realised then and there that it depends very much on whom we ask whether we feel like failures, or not. All I had been able to see was how badly things had gone for me in New Zealand, and how the expat position in China really was only a gap filler till I would be able to find something to replace the life I had had in NZ. That that life in Shanghai was in itself pretty cool was somehow off my radar.
Perhaps you need to ask the right people? Try to understand what the average person’s existence on this planet is like. Success and failure are not quantitative values. They are dangerously subjective perceptions, and require some grounding in basic values.
So, stop comparing yourself to the wrong people. By comparing ourselves to stars or celebrities of some standing, we will always look bad.
Here is the full episode of My Fluent Podcast with Chris Ebbert reading out loud:
E56 - Do we have another personality in another language?
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/myfluentpodcast/E56_-_Do_we_have_another_personality_in_another_language.mp3
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Vocabulary:
0:18 conjure: implore (someone) to do something.
0:24 exacerbated by: to make more severe, to make worse (a problem etc.)
0:30 unpredictable: you can not predict it. You can not foresee it.
0:39 manic episode: is characterized by a sustained period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, intense energy, racing thoughts, and other extreme and exaggerated behaviors.
0:47 lack of sleep: not having enough sleep (see also sleep deprivation)
1:07 he’d say: he would say
1:12 Impulsivity, check. Invincibility, check:
1:28 anxiety: state of fear
1:38 pent up energy: held back energy
1:52 Kyle made bold decisions: In Simple terms, decisions that have been taken without the fear of judgement are called as bold decisions. As a coincidence they might tend to break the established stereotypes of society.
1:52 on the whim: because of a sudden decision (rather "on a whim")
1:55 and often regretted his actions once the mania had subsided: become less intense, violent, or severe.
2:15 plummeting to the ground: fall or drop straight down at high speed.
3:01 It’s like being crammed in the tube full of angry people and not being able to escape: completely fill (a place or container) to the point of overflowing
3:42 To get a grip: keep or recover one's self-control.
3:52 without being patronizing: kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending.
www.quora.com
https://www.quora.com/What-is-bipolar-disorder/answer/Alisha-Talks?ch=10&oid=215519979&share=7d64728c&srid=hmrnZ&target_type=answer
Are you a very motivated language learner and want to become part of the podcast team, drop me an e-mail: [email protected]
Full Transcript:
Today on Quora Knows Best "What is bipolar disorder?" "What is bipolar disorder?"
And Alisha talks from Quora.com puts it like this:
Bipolar disorder is a constant, internal war. You’re fighting hard to conjure a balance in a world rid of stability. It’s a chemical imbalance, exacerbated by environmental triggers. It is unpredictable, and can be a lifelong struggle.
Kyle was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder.
0:39 When he entered a manic episode, his mind would constantly be buzzing with exciting and optimistic ideas. Even with a lack of sleep, Kyle did not want to stop. His energy was off the roof. Dominating every conversation whilst speaking to his friends, Kyle would speak fast and switch topics quickly, making it hard for others to keep up with him.
Sometimes Kyle couldn’t keep up with himself.
You could break Kyle’s phone and he’d say, “ey, all the more reason to buy a new one!” Impulsivity, check. Invincibility, check. Whilst this may be confusing for friends and family, for the person living with bipolar, this may seem like a great time.
1:27 With Kyle however, as his mania elevated, so did the anxiety, excessive sweating, and irritation. He felt the adrenaline rising throughout his body, and to release that pent up energy, he would over-exercise to the point of exhaustion. His confidence was also a downfall. Kyle made bold decisions on the whim and often regretted his actions once the mania had subsided.
When the mania burnt out, Kyle had nothing left. He may have periods experiencing a ‘normal’ mood, but otherwise he’d be placed on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
The lows of depression, like rock-climbing to the very top and plummeting to the ground, sunk in deep and fast.
2:24 During this period, Kyle wants to be left alone. It’s not that he wants to be by himself, but rather, he wants everyone to disappear. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, see anyone or do anything. He feels as if no matter what he does, people call him names, and tell him that he’s doing something wrong. The easiest thing to do then is just hide.
The worst thing for Kyle is hearing the words, “cheer up”, or “what happened to the happy Kyle?” It’s frustrating for him. Nothing is enjoyable. It’s like being crammed in the tube full of angry people and not being able to escape. The pent up frustration and sadness create a pessimistic view of the world. He doesn’t like to envision the future because all he sees is hardship, endless work and disappointment - “what even is the point?”.
3:22 Outro / recommendations
To worry about your loved one is completely normal. You may be afraid of their actions during an emotional low, or worried about them making reckless decisions during periods of high.
You have to remember that people with this disorder cannot control their emotions or moods. Avoid sensitive and ignorant comments such as “get a grip” or “cheer up”, offer practical help without being patronizing. Just, let them know you’re there to help in any way you can.
So this was the text of Alisha Talks from Quora.com. If you want to get more information about the vocabulary that was used here, you'll find more explanations in the show notes. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, drop me an email: [email protected] . I'm your host, Daniel Goodson, have a good one!
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Word list:
CV: curriculum vitae
IQ: intelligence quotien
to state sth.: 1. to set by regulation or authority 2: to express the particulars of especially in words : REPORT broadly : to express in words.
a Bully: One who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable
to play it down: to attach little importance to : MINIMIZE
a committee: a body of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter
you’ll be stuck up about it: you’ll be stuck up about it
to antagonize: to act in opposition to
www.Quora.com:
https://qr.ae/pGzFzi
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
Do you want to answer this question yourself? Or do you want to learn with a motivated learner? Drop me a message: [email protected]
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quora.com
For the original article head over to https://qr.ae/pGxNmK
Transcript:
Imagine, if you will, that you are in a park, sitting on the grass with a friend.Your friend is talking, and sharing with you something quite delicate, intimate. This is the kind of thing you want to hold so gently.
Dushka, he says. I suffer from terrible, insatiable hunger.
As he says this, you notice he is holding a sandwich.
I don’t know what to do about my hunger, he is saying. I will probably never encounter food again.
He puts his head down.
The sandwich is right there in his hand, and you can see it so clearly. The lightly toasted pretzel roll and thick ham slices. The generous spread of whole grain mustard. The unexpected, bright orange slice of butternut squash. Fresh arugula, for the peppery taste but also for the balance of color. It’s not just a sandwich. It’s a prize.
At this point, what I want to do, with urgency, with despair, is say “There is a sandwich in your hands! You are already holding everything you want! What is happening? How can you not see what is so clearly in your possession?”
What this makes me is a terrible listener. To him, his hunger is real, and I am denying his experience. I am being judgmental of his perception and his decision making. I am putting him down right when he is making himself vulnerable by sharing this hunger with me.
If you want to become a better listener, shut up about the sandwich.
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Quora.com
https://qr.ae/pGVlhG
Transcript:
I'm not an amazingly fast reader, but I'm faster than most of the people I know. My reading speed allows me to go through about 2 books a week (averaging 200 pages), and that's on top of a 15-credit summer quarter and a part time job.
Looking back, I've come to realize that the sheer act of reading every day was the single most beneficial factor in quickening my speed and enhancing my comprehension. In everything I tried, reading for enjoyment was the most substantial factor in helping me become a better reader. It sounds over-simplified and just like common sense, but it works. I would compare reading to a sport or playing music: practice improves your efficiency and effectiveness. Since we make use of our reading abilities daily, however, it's much harder to get out of shape or lose some of our capabilities. One of the best things you can do to read faster and think better is find some books that you really love and read as much as you can. For me, those books were pop-psychology, business, and self-help books.
As far as techniques go, I watched this short video a while back about how to read faster. It seems that most people don't move far past the stage that we learned to read in. Think back to elementary school: this was the time when you sounded out the letters and read aloud. I feel like most people continue to read this way by using their auditory/vocal systems to process words. The more advanced and much faster way has to do with using your visual systems. How is this distinction achieved? By a simple exercise. Find any sort of material to read and as you read, and as you read it repeat some sort of basic sequence. Count "1, 2, 3" or "a, b, c" repetitively as you read. What this does is separate what you say from what you see. It doesn't matter that you don't comprehend anything at first, just that you are practicing that separation. With enough practice, your mind should be able to automatically separate the two and begin using your eyes (not your mouth) to read.
I'd like to see what others think because I have very little experience with this and don't know if there's any scientific evidence to back what I said.
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