Efficient and Flexible Reading teaches students how to vary their approach to written texts based on the material and their purpose for reading.

In addition to instruction in literal and critical comprehension skills, vocabulary, and study skills, Efficient and Flexible Reading teaches students how to identify text structures and thought patterns for more efficient learning. Emphasizing reading as an active thinking process, the text presents systems for monitoring concentration, comprehension, and recall, encouraging students to assess the reading assignment and to select the appropriate strategy to suit the situation. The sixth edition brings the book and the course into the 21st Century. The revision addresses the Internet as an ever-expanding source of information and its use in an academic setting.