I have ADHD! What works for me is summarizing every couple of paragraphs or each important point in a line or two in a note app I have. I have notes for every major article or book I read (except for fiction), which helps me retain that information too.

I don’t have diagnosed ADHD but for me environment is everything.

It was only until I started flying often for work that I could put down a book a week, having almost nothing else to do made it crazy easy to read read read. Now I just try to emulate that environment as best I can when on the ground: semi-public space + no working electronics to compete for my attention + an hour or two of free time. This means actually going to libraries or cafe’s with no phone (I now own a smart-phone that has a whitelisted app store only / no browser which is a life changer).

Also- maybe it was just me because I spent the entirety of my non-tertiary education avoiding reading at all (and man was I good at this) but this reading shit was really really hard at first, and God Marx is such a snoozer when the last book you read cover to cover was Ready Player One (Book is as bad as the movie btw). I’d recommend starting with something that really captivates your interest and not the title you think will impress your PSL love interest (personally I prefer run clubs to find people I can hopelessly attempt to impress, call me traditional).

Also x2- from my experience and what I’ve read, you will get better and better at the retention part. Your brain is working harder to stay focused on what it really only recognizes as not-tiktok but once you get used to it you’ll need to re-read way less (like no longer struggling to maintain pace during a 5k, and finally being able to focus on the environment you’re journeying through).

If I (a former trailblazer in the U.S Adult Illiterate) can read often, you can too- wishing you the best on your journey. :)

I find that I usually start reading half-focused, but then settle into it if I push through, after enough pages. So now I accept it, I treat the first minutes reading as the warmup, and then once I settle in and find my rhythm that’s when the real reading begins.

you might very well register things even if you feel like you’re not reading. Though it’s more important to be assiduous when reading theory than when reading novels, but it doesn’t mean it’s all wasted.

A ruler type tool to help keep your eyes focused on the line you’re reading might be helpful too. We have one if you read online on prolewiki (totally not self-promo lol), if you press 0 on keyboard or the eye icon in the sidebar. Only works on desktop though. Otherwise for physical books you can find any ruler.

I don’t know about ADHD but I think the first step is not being hard on yourself for losing focus and just accepting it as part of your reading experience.

Likely ADHD here too (technically haven’t gotten around to getting the diagnosis, but I’d be shocked if it came back a no were I to do a formal evaluation).

Anyway, for academic texts especially, I find audio helps a lot. And combining it with other things that don’t require too much attention, like some kind of rote gameplay loop in a video game, or listening via bluetooth while taking a walk.

Granted, not everything is in audio form. But this channel has a good amount of material voiced as commie stuff goes: https://www.youtube.com/@dessalines6388/videos

And where pre-recorded stuff doesn’t exist, you may be able to use text-to-speech sometimes (provided you can get the material in a digital format).

The other thing as sitting through text goes is: 1) Making sure it’s comfortable to read. Like if you’re reading digital, ideal if you can do it on an e-ink device (the lighting is more like a book). Or reading from a book itself. 2) Minimizing distractions. Finding time and space in a quiet environment, where you aren’t likely to be disturbed for a while.

If you have privacy, you could also try reading aloud what you read and see if that helps you engage with it more. It’ll probably be slower than silent reading, but may also get you to digest it in more detail.

Taking notes alongside reading is another way, especially if it’s something for study, not just leisure.

And if mental distraction is being especially persistent, consider reflecting and see if there’s something you can do to help it recede. Like making a to-do list if your mind is looping on “things you need to remember to do” in the background. Lists in general are a common help for people with ADHD.

I don’t have ADHD personally, but my girlfriend does. For her it’s having a dedicated place to read or time of day (usually when she gets home from work, rolls a CBD doint and settles in). For me personally it’s either early morning when I get up for about 15 min or before bed, during the day it’s almost impossible to get focus/time/energy to read. So maybe it’s finding that spot and time that would do the trick for your focus. Or if you can’t manage that, use audiobooks.

I also have ADHD and stuggle with similar issues when unmedicated. Even while medicated it is not ideal. Genuinely the best advice I can offer is to just keep reading. You’ll get better at it, I certainly have. Idk if this applies to you but considering the community we are in I imagine it does, try reading books about things you are genuinely very interested in. Bonus points if the book isn’t super complex and full of concepts you don’t know that well yet. Reading is a skill and you have to build your way up to some things.

For me it was ancient history that got me to read consistently and developed my comprehension but fiction can be great as well.