speedread

Read text at specific speed

$ cat [path/to/file.txt] | speedread -w [250]

$ cat [path/to/file.txt] | speedread -resume [5]

$ cat [path/to/file.txt] | speedread -multiword

speedread [OPTIONS]

speedread is a terminal-based speed reading tool using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). It displays text one word at a time, aligned on the optimal recognition point, enabling faster reading speeds while maintaining comprehension.
The technique reduces eye movement and subvocalization, allowing trained readers to achieve speeds of 400-1000+ words per minute. Text is piped through stdin, making it easy to integrate with other tools like cat, curl, or email clients.

-w, -wpm words

Set reading speed in words per minute (default: 250)

Resume from specific line number

Display multiple words at once

[

Slow down by 10%

Speed up by 10%

Pause and show context lines

Quit

Effectiveness varies by individual; speed reading is a skill that requires practice. Very high speeds may reduce comprehension. Complex or technical text may require slower speeds. Terminal must support the display formatting.

speedread was created by Petr Baudis (pasky) and released as open-source software. The tool is inspired by Spritz, a commercial speed reading technology. RSVP techniques for speed reading have been studied since the 1970s, with digital implementations becoming popular in the 2010s.

less(1), more(1), cat(1)