Similar to apps like Pocket, Instapaper allows you to save and download web text for offline consumption. The app reformats the text you give it, giving it a cleaner, easier-to-read lay out and allowing you to focus on the important part: the words.
Try reading this paragraph while repeating the ABC's out loud. You'll find that you're reading much faster than normal. This is because you're suppressing your natural subvocalization, or the internal repetition of words you're currently reading. In short, Syllable helps you learn to speed read.
You choose the text and it does the rest for you, leaving your pacing and grouping fully customizable.
Beside's it's obvious functionality as a reliable dictionary app, this digitized thesaurus also has a fantastic word-a-day feature. Challenge yourself to really learn it, within a few weeks you'll likely find that your vocabulary has improved.
Readmill is an e-reader app with a twist: you, along with the entire Readmill community, can join in on discussing and analyzing whatever book you're reading. If you choose, you can view public highlights from other Readmill users, and make highlights of your own.
With its newest update, Readmill seems to have the chance to become the largest mobile book club ever assembled.
Don't trust Oprah to make all of your reading choices now that her talk show is off the air? Trust your friends instead. Goodreads, the social book review and reading accomplishment archive can help.
You can read and write reviews, rank books, and view the reviews of the community while using this app. Goodreads will also recommend books for you to read next based on your "read" lists.
Do you like apps like Instapaper, Pocket and Read it Later, but hate having to find the content yourself? The Longform app has curated longform articles for you to read at your leisure. It's presented in a clear, digestible way, allowing you to read your favorite non-fiction on the go.
Designed by neuroscientists, the Lumosity app is built to improve your memory, focus and general brain function. If you do well in your training, you might find improvements in reading ability and retention as well.
You can play three games a day as a free user or purchase a monthly or yearly pass to gain more options. Lumosity's games are fun, engaging and seem to work, which might be all that matters.
If you absolutely can't find time to pick up a book, open up a reading app or keep your eyes focused on one thing for a prolonged period of time equal to or greater than 15 minutes, there's the audiobook. Audible, an Amazon company, has the premier audiobook app, host to over 150,000 titles.
Audible's newest update allows users to change between listening and reading, keeping you focused on your book for as long as possible.
How many books did you read last year? If your answer is more than one, congratulations: you're more well-read than about 25% of Americans over age 16, according to a 2012 Pew Internet survey.
Ironically, as we become more surrounded by words in the digital age, less of us are finding time to actually read them. The good news is that your smartphone or tablet can help.
See also: 15 Young-Adult Books Every Adult Should Read
Trying to stray from the obvious reading apps, like e-readers, we've gathered eight excellent apps that'll help you improve your reading ability and become a better literary citizen, while simultaneously boosting your brain function.
Whether you'd like to read more, faster or some combination of the two, these apps will light your path to wisdom.
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Image: Flickr, pamhule