Speed Learning for Rebels with Howard Berg

“Speed reading doesn’t work. Speed learning works.”

What happens when a kid from Brooklyn grows up to become the world’s fastest reader and teaches others to learn 100% faster in just four hours? In this episode, I talk with Howard Berg about speed learning, knowledge, and why smarter decisions could change the world.

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This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.

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In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Howard Berg, officially recognized as the world’s fastest reader by the Guinness Book of Records. Howard reads at a staggering 80 pages per minute, but more importantly, he has spent decades teaching others how to learn faster, retain more, and apply knowledge in ways that transform lives .

Howard grew up in the Brooklyn projects, where the library became his safe haven from gangs. By eleven, he was already reading at a college level. Later, while double-majoring in biology and psychology, he discovered that no one ever teaches students how to learn—only what to learn. Determined to change that, he developed methods that helped him finish a four-year psychology program in just one year, all while working multiple jobs. He proved his system worked by acing the GRE after reading 48 textbooks in three nights .

Since then, Howard has taught speed learning techniques to the U.S. Special Forces, the Royal Thai Army, corporate teams, and students around the world. He explains why speed reading alone isn’t enough—it’s about combining reading with comprehension, retention, and emotional intelligence to ensure knowledge sticks when it matters most. From teaching 11-year-olds to write graduate-level papers, to helping entrepreneurs read a business book a day, his system opens new doors for anyone willing to learn .

The conversation also touches on Howard’s personal journey—his years as a Red Cross swimming instructor, his eclectic reading habits, his love of travel and music, and the joy he finds in helping others succeed. He shares stories of students who went from struggling to excelling—like a C student who became a professor at 22, and another who finished a college degree in just six months before selling his company for $38 million .

Howard’s message is simple but powerful: the world’s problems won’t be solved by more people making bad decisions. If we can learn faster, understand more, and apply knowledge wisely, we stand a better chance of building a smarter, better future.

Quoteable Quotes

“The library was the safest place in Brooklyn—gang kids would rather be dead than caught there.” — Howard Berg

“Speed reading doesn’t work. Speed learning works.” — Howard Berg

“Truth is, you don’t need the stories—you need the ideas.” — Howard Berg

“The number one asset every entrepreneur has is their ability to make choices and decisions.” — Howard Berg

“This is already a learning process for me.” — Michael Dargie

Episode Highlights

World’s Fastest Reader | How Howard Berg earned his Guinness record.

Brooklyn Beginnings | Finding safety and purpose in the library.

Learning to Learn | Why schools never teach how to learn.

The Psychology Degree | Finishing a four-year program in one year.

Speed vs Learning | Why comprehension and EQ matter as much as speed.

Teaching the World | From 11-year-olds to the U.S. Special Forces.

One Book a Day | How entrepreneurs can transform by reading daily.

Stories of Students | From struggling kids to millionaire founders.

Life Outside Reading | Swimming, travel, music, and family.

Advice to Rebels | Learn from those who’ve already done it—and do it faster.

Links From Episode

Howard Berg’s Website (http://www.berglearning.com/)

Howard on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardstephenberg/)

Howard on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/howard.berg.988711)

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