Which President could read 2000 words a minute?

Asked by: Braden Haley  |  Last update: June 4, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (29 votes)

President Jimmy Carter is the U.S. President known for his exceptional speed-reading ability, claiming he could read up to 2,000 words per minute with high comprehension after taking a speed-reading course, though some experts suggest such speeds often involve skimming rather than deep reading.

Which president was the fastest reader?

U.S. President John Kennedy could read 1,200 words per minute.

How many words could JFK read in a minute?

Reading Speed: John F. Kennedy could read 1,200 words a minute. In 1954-1955 he attended meetings at the Foundation for Better Reading in Baltimore.

Who was the youngest man ever elected president who could also read 2000 words per minute with almost total comprehension?

President John F.

A passage from the book “Camelot at Dawn” titled “The Speed Reader” describes JFK's ability to read fast: “JFK developed a phenomenal ability to read material quickly.

How many words a minute could Jimmy Carter read?

Because of his parent's attention to the importance of reading at such an early age, Carter was a speed reader, reading up to 2000 words per minute.

Can you keep up? Speed Reading and RSVP

24 related questions found

How fast can Bill Gates read?

Bill Gates reads incredibly fast, with reports from close sources claiming he reads around 150 pages per hour with 90% comprehension, though he's noted that sometimes deep processing takes longer, and he focuses on reading about 50 books a year, often taking extensive notes to aid retention. While he doesn't claim a specific WPM, his method involves focused, hour-long sessions and reading multiple books at once for synthesis, making him an exceptionally efficient learner. 

How fast can Howard Berg read?

Howard Stephen Berg from the United States has claimed to be the Guinness World Record holder for fast reading with a speed of 25,000 words per minute, and Maria Teresa Calderon from the Philippines claims to have earned the Guinness World Record for World's Fastest Reader at 80,000 words per minute reading speed and ...

Did JFK read a lot?

He'd read walking, he'd read at the table, at meals, he'd read after dinner, he'd read in the bathtub . . . He really read all the times you don't think you have time to read. . . He was always reading—practically while driving a car."

Who was the most educated U.S. president?

Woodrow Wilson is the most educated U.S. President, being the only one to earn a Ph.D., which he received in History and Political Science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886. His extensive academic background also included serving as President of Princeton University before his presidency, where he earned his undergraduate degree.
 

Who is the fastest reader of all time?

Howard Stephen Berg is recognized as the "world's fastest reader." Berg reportedly set a record in 1990, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, for reading at a speed of 25,000 words per minute, equivalent to about 80 pages per minute, depending on the book's word density.

What was JFK's IQ score?

John F. Kennedy's IQ isn't definitively known as he never took a standardized test as an adult, but studies using historical data estimate it to be very high, around 150-160, placing him among the most intelligent presidents, though some sources note an actual test from his youth showed an average score (around 119). Psychologist Dean Keith Simonton's historiometric method estimated it at 150.6, while other interpretations suggest scores like 159.8 or 158, based on his accomplishments, education, and writing.
 

Is reading 500 wpm possible?

The average adult can read 200 – 250 words per minute. Other adults report reading faster than that, of over 500-words per minute. Thanks to the amount of reading the average high-level executive does, they can read over 575-words per minute.

Did JFK have two caskets?

Yes, President John F. Kennedy had two caskets: an initial bronze one used for transport from Dallas to Washington, D.C., which became unusable due to the gruesome nature of his wounds, and a second, more dignified mahogany casket for the public viewing, lying in state, and burial at Arlington National Cemetery. The first casket, damaged by leakage, was later secretly disposed of by the U.S. Air Force by being buried at sea in 1966, fulfilling a symbolic wish of the President's for a naval burial.
 

Which president loved to read?

Roosevelt loved to read. By the time of his death on April 12, 1945, FDR had amassed a personal book collection containing about 23,000 books!

Is it possible to read 1000 books in a year?

Yes, reading 1000 books in a year is possible, but it requires significant dedication, fast reading, and often focuses on shorter books or audiobooks, breaking down to about 3 books daily, which some fast readers achieve by reading in every spare moment, though many people find 100-200 books a more realistic goal for deep reading. 

How fast did Teddy Roosevelt read?

Associates said he would would flip through two or three pages in a minute. Despite reading so quickly, Roosevelt could relate back in minute detail all of a book's important points and even recite quotes from the text. Being able to plow through so many books so quickly benefited TR's leadership and influence.

Did Abraham Lincoln read a lot?

While his lack of formal education was perfectly normal for children living on the trans-Appalachian frontier, his desire for book learning and his constant scribbling were not. Lincoln's lifelong engagement with reading and writing tells us a good deal about his method of self-improvement and how he engaged his world.

Did Kennedy have ADHD?

While John F. Kennedy (JFK) was never officially diagnosed with ADHD, historical accounts and biographical details strongly suggest he met criteria for the disorder, with researchers noting symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty concentrating, possibly explaining his chronic pain and fast-paced lifestyle. 

What were John F. Kennedy's last words before he died?

Nellie Connally turned and commented to Kennedy, who was sitting behind her, "Mr. President, they can't make you believe now that there are not some in Dallas who love and appreciate you, can they?" Kennedy's reply – "No, they sure can't" – were his last words.

Is there a book with 10,000 pages?

A 10,000-page book is exceptionally large, with the published Shree Haricharitramrut Sagar holding the record at over 10,000 pages, while a typical novel is around 300-400 pages; reading 10,000 pages could take a week or more, depending on reading speed, and physically printing such a volume would result in a massive, heavy book with a huge spine, making it impractical for standard use. 

How to remember 80% of what you read?

To remember 80% of what you read, you need to shift from passive reading to active engagement by previewing (skimming headings), annotating (marginal notes, highlights), summarizing in your own words, using the Feynman Technique (explaining it to others), and employing spaced repetition for review, plus visualizing concepts to create mental movies. Eliminating distractions and taking short breaks also significantly boosts retention.