Mirror Reading: read backwards and upside-down text

How to play Mirror Reading

1. 1

   Read

   Read the mirrored text carefully. Your level sets how much time you have.

2. 2

   Answer

   Answer the questions about the text you just read.

3. 3

   Level up

   At higher levels some words fade, letters move closer together and the text tilts.

Why backwards text is hard

Skilled readers recognize whole words at a glance. Flip the text and that shortcut breaks:

• letters like b and d swap roles;
• familiar word shapes disappear;
• your eyes have to work right to left.

You slow down and read almost letter by letter, then gradually speed up as the flipped shapes become familiar. And because questions follow, decoding isn't enough: you have to keep the meaning in mind while your attention is busy with the letters.

Two games, two flips

The most famous mirror writer is Leonardo da Vinci, who filled his notebooks with right-to-left mirror script.

Tips

1. 1

   Start on the right

   Find the start of the line and read in chunks of two or three words.

2. 2

   Use context

   Once you know the topic, you can predict many words from their first letters.

3. 3

   Don't reread

   Keep moving: the questions are about the main points, not every word.