🚀 Getting Started
What is Ludicrous Read?
Ludicrous Read is a speed reading tool that uses RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation) technology to help you read faster by displaying one word at a time at your chosen speed. This eliminates eye movement and improves focus.
💡 Pro Tip: Most people can read 2-3x faster with RSVP after just a few minutes of practice!
First Time Setup (1 Minute)
- Install the extension from Chrome Web Store
- Pin it to your toolbar (see instructions below) ⭐ Important!
- Click the extension icon to open the menu
- Start reading! Try "Read Current Page" on any article
What You Can Read
- Web Pages: News articles, blog posts, Wikipedia, etc.
- Pasted Text: Copy from anywhere and paste into the reader
- PDFs: Upload and read with Pro
- EPUBs: eBook files with Pro
📌 How to Pin the Extension
This is the most important step! Pinning makes Ludicrous Read easily accessible.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Look for the puzzle piece icon 🧩 in your Chrome toolbar (top-right)
- Click the puzzle piece to open the extensions menu
- Find Ludicrous Read in the list
- Click the pin icon 📌 next to it
- The extension icon will now appear in your toolbar!
💡 Quick Access: Once pinned, you can click the extension icon anytime to start reading the current page or paste text.
Can't Find the Puzzle Piece?
If you don't see the puzzle piece icon, you're using an older version of Chrome. Update to the latest version for the best experience.
📖 Reading Options
Ludicrous Read gives you three ways to speed read:
1. Read Current Page
The fastest way to start reading any web article.
- Click the extension icon
- Click "Read Current Page"
- The reader opens with the article text loaded
- Click "Play" to start speed reading!
💡 Best For: News articles, blog posts, Wikipedia, documentation, any text-heavy web page.
2. Paste Text
Read anything from anywhere - even offline documents.
- Copy text from any source (Word doc, PDF, email, etc.)
- Click the extension icon
- Click "Paste Text"
- Paste your text and click "Read"
💡 Best For: Study materials, emails, documents, research papers, anything you've copied.
3. Upload PDF or EPUB (Pro)
Read entire books and documents at speed.
- Click the extension icon
- Click "Upload File" (Pro only)
- Select your PDF or EPUB file
- Start reading immediately
💡 Best For: eBooks, research papers, long-form documents, textbooks.
Reader Controls
- Play/Pause: Start or stop the reader
- Speed: Adjust WPM (words per minute)
- Progress Bar: Jump to any point in the text
- Skip Controls: Jump forward/backward by words, sentences, or paragraphs
✨ Bionic Reading
What is Bionic Reading?
Bionic Reading is a reading method that bolds the first part of each word, creating "fixation points" that guide your eyes through text. Your brain fills in the rest of each word automatically.
Example:
Bionic Reading helps you read faster with less effort.
How to Use Bionic Reading
- On any web page, right-click anywhere on the text
- Select "Bionic Read This Page" from the menu
- The page text transforms with bold fixation points
- Read naturally - your eyes will follow the bold text
Adjusting Bionic Intensity
You can control how much of each word is bolded:
- Low (30%): Subtle, works well for beginners
- Medium (50%): Balanced, recommended for most users
- High (70%): Strong guidance, great for difficult text
Change this in Settings → Bionic Reading → Fixation Strength
💡 Pro Tip: Start with Medium strength. If it feels too subtle, increase it. If it feels overwhelming, decrease it.
When to Use Bionic Reading
Best for:
- Long articles and blog posts
- Reading when tired or distracted
- Learning new complex material
- Improving reading focus
Less effective for:
- Social media feeds (too fragmented)
- Heavily formatted pages (tables, code)
- Pages with lots of images/ads
Turning Bionic Reading Off
- Right-click → "Turn Off Bionic Reading"
- Or refresh the page
⚙️ Settings & Customization
Accessing Settings
Click the extension icon → Click the gear icon ⚙️ in the reader
Reading Speed
- Default: 300 WPM (average reader)
- Range: 50-1000 WPM
- Recommended: Start at 250-350, gradually increase
- Adjust anytime: Use slider or arrow keys while reading
💡 Speed Guide: 200-300 WPM = Comfortable | 400-600 WPM = Fast | 700+ WPM = Ludicrous!
Themes
Free Themes:
- Midnight (Dark): Easy on eyes, great for night reading
- Sepia: Warm tone, reduces eye strain
Pro Themes:
- Ocean Blue
- Forest Green
- Sunset Orange
- Purple Haze
Fonts
Free: System Default
Pro: OpenDyslexic, Georgia, Merriweather, Courier, Roboto
Font Size
- Small (18px)
- Medium (24px) - Default
- Large (32px)
- Extra Large (40px)
Auto-Save
All settings save automatically. You don't need to click "Save" unless you're switching devices.
⭐ Pro Features
What's Included in Pro
📄 PDF Reading
Upload and speed read any PDF document
📚 EPUB Support
Read eBooks at lightning speed
🎨 Premium Themes
6 beautiful themes to choose from
🔤 Premium Fonts
5 specialized reading fonts
💾 Resume Reading
Pick up where you left off automatically
📊 Statistics
Track your reading speed and progress
Pricing
- Monthly: $7.50/month
- Annual: $30/year (Save 66%!)
How to Activate Pro
- Click the extension icon
- Click "Upgrade to Pro"
- Choose Monthly or Annual
- Complete checkout
- Enter your license key in Settings
- Pro features unlock immediately!
💡 30-Day Guarantee: Try Pro risk-free! Full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.
Resume Reading Position
Pro automatically saves your position in any document. When you return, pick up exactly where you left off.
Statistics Tracking
Pro tracks:
- Total words read
- Average reading speed
- Time saved vs normal reading
- Reading streaks and progress
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts
Reader Controls
- Space - Play/Pause
- ← → - Adjust speed (±10 WPM)
- ↑ ↓ - Jump forward/back 10 words
- Shift + ← → - Adjust speed (±100 WPM)
- Shift + ↑ ↓ - Jump by paragraph
- Home - Jump to start
- End - Jump to end
Quick Actions
- Esc - Close reader
- S - Open settings
- B - Toggle Bionic Reading
💡 Pro Tip: Use arrow keys while reading to adjust speed on the fly without breaking your flow!
🔧 Troubleshooting
Extension icon not showing
Make sure you've pinned the extension to your toolbar. Click the puzzle piece 🧩 icon and pin Ludicrous Read.
"No text found" error
The page might use dynamic content. Try using "Paste Text" instead, or refresh the page and try again.
Reader is too fast/slow
Use the speed controls or arrow keys to adjust. Settings are saved automatically.
Bionic Reading not working
Some sites use complex layouts that Bionic Reading can't process. Works best on articles and blog posts.
License key says "Invalid"
Make sure you're entering the complete key including "LR-" prefix. Keys are 19 characters total. Contact support if issues persist.
Settings aren't saving
Make sure Chrome sync is enabled, or click "Save" before closing Settings.
Still having issues?
Email us at support@ludicrousread.com with details about the problem.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ludicrous Read free?
Yes! Core features (Read Current Page, Paste Text, Bionic Reading, basic themes) are completely free. Pro features require a subscription.
Does speed reading reduce comprehension?
Not with RSVP! Studies show RSVP maintains comprehension while increasing speed because it eliminates regressions (re-reading) and improves focus.
How fast can I read?
Average readers start at 250 WPM. With practice, most people reach 400-600 WPM. Some achieve 800+ WPM while maintaining comprehension.
Can I use this for studying?
Absolutely! Use "Paste Text" for textbooks, or upload PDFs with Pro. Great for reviewing material quickly.
Does it work on all websites?
Works on 95%+ of sites. Some heavily-protected sites (banking, paywalls) may block extensions for security.
What about privacy?
Ludicrous Read processes all text locally in your browser. We never see or store what you read. See our Privacy Policy.
Can I get a refund?
Yes! We offer 30-day money-back guarantee on Pro subscriptions. Email support@ludicrousread.com.
Do you offer student discounts?
Not yet, but we're working on it! Email us from your .edu address to get notified when available.