Getting Started with Readable: A Quick Guide

What Readable is

Readable is an RSVP speed reader. It shows one word at a time at a fixed focal point so your eyes stay still and words come to you. Traditional reading requires constant back-and-forth eye movement called saccades; RSVP eliminates that entirely, which is where the speed gains come from.

Each word is aligned so its optimal recognition point sits at the center of the display, roughly 30 to 40 percent into the word, highlighted in your theme's focal color. Keep your gaze locked on it and resist the urge to chase the beginning or end of each word.

Your first read

• Open a document from your library (the built-in Readable Guide is a good first read) or upload a PDF, TXT, EPUB, or DOCX from the sidebar.
• Press "Read whole document" to begin, or select a passage and press "Read selected text" to read just that section.
• In reading mode, press Space to play or pause.

Keyboard shortcuts

Picking a starting speed

Start at 200 to 250 WPM if you're new to RSVP - comprehension matters far more than raw speed. Once you can follow the meaning comfortably, nudge up by 25 WPM and hold there until it feels natural. Most practiced readers settle between 350 and 600 WPM for fiction, and 250 to 400 WPM for dense nonfiction or technical material.

The habit that limits you

Subvocalization (silently pronouncing each word in your head) caps your ceiling at roughly speaking pace. To reduce it, relax your jaw and tongue while reading, and focus on grasping each word as a whole rather than sounding it out.

Themes and fonts

Switch fonts and themes from the header and settings panel. Helvetica and Inter are neutral choices that reduce letter confusion at high speeds; Georgia adds stroke contrast some readers prefer for long sessions. Dark mode reduces glare in low light, and several additional color schemes are available, plus fully custom themes on paid plans.

The AI features (Pro and Max)

• Summarize (Pro+): generate a condensed version of a whole document to read in-app or export.
• Parse into chapters (Max): split the document into labeled sections to jump between, with optional pauses.
• Ask your document, recaps, and comprehension quizzes: check understanding and pick up where you left off.

Tips for best results

• Read in short focused sessions of ten to fifteen minutes when starting out.
• If your mind wanders, slow down rather than stopping entirely.
• For technical documents, skim the structure in document view first, then RSVP the body text.
• Use zoom and line-width controls in document view to preview content before committing to a read.