"In the World Championship Speed Reading Competition the top contestants typically read around 1,000 to 2,000 words per minute, but only manage about 50% comprehension. That's just not good enough for literature."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/book...ead-literature
Assuming Bloom *really is* reading at these speeds, how does he get by with 50% comprehension? My guess is that he re-reads literature he knows well at these speeds. He's on record as saying he reads Pickwick Papers three times a year. My guess is he skips the less amusing bits and achieves 90+% comprehension because he goes in with 90+% comprehension!
I think Bloom probably finds it amusing to claim these speeds, and it isn't a downright lie, he just forgets to tell us he skips! Anyone claiming these speeds should be tested under proper experimental conditions. Just repeating Blooms off the cuff claim that he reads 5 pages a minute (16 according of the Guardian!) isn't useful.
What is "everything you need to read" in terms of literature? I can't see that you 'need to' read any work of literature. It's more a case of wanting to read it because it gives you pleasure. And pleasure is of the moment, not of ticking a list of books.
I've never seen it argued that training to read at "1,000 to 2,000 words per minute, with 50% comprehension" leads to more pleasure than reading a page or two a minute, while enjoying the poetry and reflecting on the philosophy, quite the reverse! Literature should be savoured like a good wine, not downed like an alcoholic tramp gulping buckfast.
You ask how to read '*better* and faster'. I would concentrate on 'better'. Try reading at different times to find the times when reading comes easier. Take a break if it feels anything like a chore. Start slowly and make sure you are comprehending everything you want to comprehend, re-read if necessary. Then, if you fancy the challenge, you can slowly try reading faster, but make sure comprehension & enjoyment isn't hindered. Better to be happy than fast!
I find my concentration slipping sometimes when reading long passages of description, and instead of skipping on at 1000 pages a minute I re-read slowly and concentrate more. This has helped me become a better (and faster!) reader, and, most importantly, has increased the pleasure I get from reading.