Augmented reality speed reading is provided by detecting a reader's changing gaze direction; detecting movements of the reader's eye; and between movements of the reader's eye, displaying text at the reader's gaze direction. An exemplary apparatus includes an eye illuminator that delivers light to a reader's eye; an eyeward camera that generates digital images of the reader's eye including reflected light from the eye illuminator; a display; and a processor that is connected in communication with the eyeward camera and the display. The processor implements an eye tracking module that receives the digital images from the eyeward camera and detects the reader's gaze direction, and the processor implements a text display module that controls the display to present text at the reader's gaze direction.