Reading takes you a long time? That might be good for you!

Do your readings take a long time to get through? You’re not alone. Many students—graduate or undergraduate, multilingual or native English speakers—find academic reading slow and exhausting. It’s easy to feel discouraged, especially when the reading load piles up. But here’s something that might surprise you: taking longer to read academic texts can actually be a good thing. 

Reading complex texts is not just about moving your eyes across the page. Academic and technical writing demands focus, memory, and interpretation. When reading feels hard, that’s often a sign your brain is actively working—making connections, identifying gaps in understanding, and testing your knowledge. These processes are central to learning. Cognitive science and neuroscience both show that deeper understanding often comes from effortful learning—where your brain has to slow down and work through difficulty. 

Techniques like skimming, scanning, or reading topic sentences are helpful tools. They can help you preview a text, get oriented, and figure out what to focus on. In fact, these are essential parts of being an active reader. However, focusing too much on speed, especially when it involves using summaries prepared by others/AI will lead to superficial understanding. Taking shortcuts might look efficient in the short run, but it means you don’t build the mental muscles you need to learn, argue, or think effectively. Deep comprehension, especially of complex or technical material, often requires slower, more deliberate reading.  

Learning is work. The mental effort you put into understanding a reading—whether through slow reading or smart skimming—is the learning. It’s how you recognize patterns, fill in gaps, and make sense of complex material. Quick answers might help you finish a reading quiz, but they won’t help you develop the skills you’re here to gain.