Iris Reading Review – 2024 Guide

Image Iris Reading - Review Guide 2021

Iris Reading is a well-trusted and popular provider in the field of speed reading aiming to improve their customers’ technique, comprehension and memory.

They offer locally hold live classes in the U.S. and abroad as well as online video courses that will teach you the same skills. Our Iris Reading review will cover both options starting with the online courses. Jump down to read the live class review first.

Iris Reading – Overview

An Iris Reading course (visit website) will map out where you are going wrong in your current reading style and also highlight how you can improve it. Local classes come as 90 minutes, 3, 6 or 12 hours sessions while online courses can be handled in a few hours. Prices start at $50 for online tutorials and from $199 for in-person classes.

Learning objectives

  • reduce the fixation points we have on specific words and thus increase speed
  • focus on how we link words together to improve language comprehension
  • reduce bad reading habits such as regression or sub-vocalization
image of Iris reading - Review rating
Foundation CourseMastery CourseComprehension Course
image of iris foundation courseimage of mastery courseimage of comprehension and memory course
★★★★★★☆★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★
Beginners. 5 hours.Advanced. 7 hours.All levels. 14 hours.
Based on live classBuilds on FoundationImproves reading efficiency
View Course WebsiteView Course WebsiteView Course Website

Iris Live Classes are being offered in many cities in the U.S., Canada or the UK and increasingly in places around the globe as well. View available cities and schedules.

Iris Reading – Online Courses

1. Iris Foundation Class

Image of Iris Reading - Foundation Course

The Foundation course (view website) focuses on techniques to improve reading speed and overall comprehension. It is an introductory module.

Video lectures deliver the bulk of the content and you can either download or watch them online. The material also includes a 121 e-book reader plus a report named “30 Tips to Improve Your Memory” to further enhance your learning.

According to Iris Reading, this is their most heavily frequented course by students and professionals. It comes with excellent support to allow students to ask their questions.

Highlight and features

  • Introduction to Iris speed reading
  • Learn to double or even quadruple your speed
  • Strategies to improve understanding and comprehending while going faster
  • Eliminate sub-vocalization, reduce regression and expand eye-fixations
  • Apply speed drills to practice
  • Improve focus and concentration
  • Intro to use techniques on digital screens
  • Methods to handle non-fiction material
  • Set realistic goals based on proven techniques
  • Iris Reading Certificate

Price: $100. View website. Ideal for beginners. Get all 9 courses for just $550.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆

2. Iris Speed Reading Mastery Class

Image of Iris Reading - Mastery Class

This module consists of 10 webinars with seven hours of video content to further enhance your skills. It will strengthen especially those skills you may have only briefly practiced or talked about in the introduction class. A bonus PDF on remembering names effectively will be added to this package.

You will learn about these skills and topics:

  • Reading chunks of words
  • Reducing sub-vocalization
  • Remembering more
  • Eye Training
  • Visual reading and remembering
  • Focus and speed
  • Comprehension techniques
  • Applying techniques to non-fiction and news
  • Advanced Exercises
  • Read a Book in only one day
  • Certificate of Completion

Price: $100. View website. Advanced. Follow-up to the Foundation module.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆

3. Iris Comprehension & Memory Class

Image of Iris Reading - Comprehension & Memory Class

Whilst improving your speed to above the average of 250wpm (words per minute) is a fantastic skill to have, actually deciphering text at greater speeds can be tricky as meanings and clarity can blur.

The Iris Reading Comprehension class is designed to alleviate this problem and reduce the need to reread the text. Video lectures are the predominant form of teaching with a focus upon understanding how the brain remembers information, as well as other useful methods of conveying information across.

Price: $100. View website. Combines well with Iris Reading Foundation.
Rating: ★★★★★★★

4. Iris Productivity Class

Image of Iris Reading - Productivity Course

The Productivity class completes the list of core skills to learn at Iris Reading. It aims to bring structure into the lives and routines of busy students and professionals.

The key goal is to increase your productivity and organize daily duties more efficiently. The question is whether you should complete it before or after any of the modules mentioned above. Simply a preference.

Details

  • 33 videos
  • 13 Hours of content
  • Watch on mobile devices
  • Download videos
  • Support for questions
  • Includes 3 bonus Iris Reading webinars
  • Certificate

Instructor: Paul Nowak, Founder
Price: $50. Combines well with all Iris Reading classes. Visit website.
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆

Iris Reading – Live Classes

If you live in the US or Canada you might be near to one of the many locations to attend a local Iris class (view available cities). If you prefer learning face to face or in groups these seminars offer an attractive opportunity to master your reading skills.

Though they are more expensive than online lessons – prices start from $199 – participants will hugely benefit from learning with all their senses, from asking questions or doing the exercises right there on the spot.

Iris Reading live classes will support students to succeed in exams such as GRE, ACT/SAT, LSAT, GMAT or MCAT. Professionals will learn to handle large amounts of reading material easily or improve their time management and workflow efficiency. Individuals will be able to increase their knowledge in a wide area of topics more accurate and faster.

BostonChicagoNew YorkTorontoLondon

Recently, further international cities have been added to the program which includes Mumbai, Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, Rio de Janiero, Shanghai or Moscow. The U.S. covers a wide range of cities, so it would be best to check the Iris website when the next class will take place in your area.

What is an Iris Reading class like?

There are various formats available: 90 minutes, 3 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours of workshops. Students will conduct a reading speed test to set a goal and evaluation figure for each seminar.

The tutor will also outline all techniques followed by exercises to practice the new skill. You can watch the video below to get a feeling for it.

Price: from $199.
Rating: ★★★★★★★

Iris Reading Supplementary Classes

Mind Mapping

Image of Image of Iris Reading - Mind Mapping Course

This might be the “next step” in advancing your understanding of recalling information more reliable. The popular add-on module is a package of 15 instructional videos to make note-taking an easier and even fun task.

Mind Mapping is a very visual way of presenting information and common uses include brainstorming, project management or standard note-taking. You will be accompanied by mind-mapping expert Joseph Rodrigues and learn all the techniques to create creative and info-packed graphics.

There is about 91 minutes of content available with lifetime access to all videos and future content updates. The target audience is very much the same as before, due to its portrayal as a furthering of previous experience. A certificate will be issued upon completion.

Price: $39. To advance your retention skills.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆
Website: Visit website.

Iris Communication Skills – Talk to People

cover image of Iris Reading - Communication Skills

‘How To Talk To Anyone To Advance Your Career’ is video-based training to build better business and personal relationships. This Iris course might be suitable if you want to improve your networking and small talk skills but so far hesitated to attend an in-person class.

The main goal is to improve those skills allowing you to find better jobs or reduce anxiety when it comes to socializing in groups, with business partners or colleagues.

Students will have lifetime access to more than three hours of video content and all future updates. You can use Iris Reading on mobile devices.

Price: $39. Improve confidence in your communication and socializing skills.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆

How To Remember Names Effectively

cover image of iris reading - remember names

The skills taught in this module will actually be covered in one of the core courses mentioned above. The context is just different. If you wish to have a more specific learning outcome toward a predefined topic or skill, this tutorial will serve its purpose.

After completion, you will be able to not only remember the names of new colleagues, professionals or celebrities easier but also numbers or shopping lists more reliable.

There is lifetime access for participants to video content of roughly 90 minutes. An Iris Reading certificate will be issued for those completing it.

Price: $39. Apply memory techniques to specific topics.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆

Fast Reading for Digital Readers

image of Iris Reading - digital reader course

Digital reading has grown hugely in prominence in the past decade. However, it is tiring on your eyes. Data can also be heavily misconstrued.

This module is similar to Iris Reading Foundation and focuses on improving your pace and comprehension on electronic devices. What is different, however, is the sheer number of lessons (well over 30 in total).

Price: from $50. Good value for content provided. Currently not available.
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆

What students think of Iris Reading

Quality – Iris Reading Courses are well placed within the market and have, for the most part a quality standard of learning that has helped many students significantly improve their scanning speed when faced with a wide variety of texts.

Useful – The majority of students post incredibly positive reviews of Iris Reading classes, drawing particular notice to the usefulness of the modules offered and the detailed and concise nature of the learning schemes.

Modern format – The predominant learning format of videos is a modern, efficient and forward-thinking way of educating, as clean editing and a concise format are vital when attempting to inform students of how to speed up their comprehension rates and this is something striven for by Iris Reading.

It also allows for the most relevant information to be properly exemplified in the production stage, which only benefits all involved.

Interactive – A similar comment can be made about the webinars provided as part of the learning process. The interactive nature and the ability to live commentary are reassuring for students who may be facing unique problems with getting their speed up to par and allows for others to share their advice going forward too.

Iris Speed Reading Webinars can be paused at any time by anyone who has access to them, which further aids the learning process and allows students to clarify their education further.

What to consider?

One criticism that does ring true for the services Iris Reading offers is that their learning format for some of their online modules is incredibly similar. Every format revolves around video and visual engagement. Whilst in small doses it is effective, it may become wearisome on the eyes after a great period of time.

Update: Iris Reading has now optimized its structure and condensed its online program to four major courses that distinguish from each other a lot better than before. Furthermore, there are 3 supplementary modules to complete the educational package.

Some of the information provided might also just seem to be incredibly obvious to the majority of people, especially in the introductory “Iris Foundation Course” which details how to focus better, for example.

Alternatives – There might be the question of why you should pick Iris Reading in the first place. This review of speed reading courses, for example, compares popular programs targeting similar goals and some of them coming with videos too (e.g. Spreeder).

Iris Reading Review – The Verdict

At the first glance, the bottom line is that competition out there is huge and, in such a vast market, their online tutorials may not sound defining enough to make them a clear favorite straight away.

Effective – On the other side, in-person Iris Reading classes have been praised for their quality and efficacy. The online tutorials will bring this knowledge to a much broader audience. In the grand scheme of things, the package is slick and by-and-large efficient in its achieving of objectives.

Good to know – Sure, the learning style can feel somewhat too streamlined at times and the style of educating can suffer from the same fate, especially if one wants to sit down for any greater length of time to absorb themselves in the process of quickening their speed. But the results and reviews of Iris Speed Reading and their product speak for itself.

Benefits – For the majority of us, not only our speed will improve. It will look impressive to employees if you can understand a document faster than anyone else. It will allow us to process menial reading tasks faster, allowing us to get on in our daily activities. And it also gives us a mental edge, aiding with concentration levels and time management.

These are perhaps the real benefits of Iris Speed Reading, and hence why it is one that you should consider investing in (visit website).

Have you got experience with any of the Iris Reading Classes? I would be interested to read your opinion in the comment section below.

Further resources: Review of Reading Improvement Software | Active Reading Skills | ESL Exercises | Academic Comprehension Tips

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