Quote Investigator credits Allen with this joke, documenting a 1963 report and later versions. The compact “It involves Russia” wording is not the wording those transcriptions establish.
“I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia” — Woody Allen’s speed-reading joke, in a popular compressed variant; documented versions say “It’s about Russia.”
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In context
Evoking the themes of knowledge and simplicity. Theme: "I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
The source
Source
Speed-reading joke, reported performances
Evidence
Checked secondary citation; primary artifact not independently inspected
The documented joke circulated in published reports from 1963 onward. The short quotation is used only to identify and compare wording; no containing article or routine is reproduced.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Fact-check
Often misattributed
The joke is genuinely associated with Allen, but the displayed two-sentence compression is not established as his exact recorded phrasing.
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Popular creditWoody Allen
The popular credit needs the qualification explained above. Checked evidence ↗
✓Use the documented source wording and retain the attribution qualification. Checked evidence ↗
Explore
Filed under
More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
Woody Allen is an American comedian and writer. His speed-reading gag makes a tiny summary stand in for a famously enormous novel.
For writers & researchers
Cite this
The primary source (Chicago)
Shelton, Robert. “The Comic Condition: A Sad Sack Is Woody Allen.” Chicago Daily News, January 19, 1963. As transcribed and investigated by Quote Investigator, December 8, 2015.
This verification page
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/i-took-a-speed-reading-course-and-read-war-and-peace-in/