(a) I'm quite sure I didn't tell him that I started a new book every day (note that this contradicts with a later sentence where he attributes me saying that I now read about 4 books a week). You really should realize that many people when they write, reconstruct their memories to fit what they are trying to be didactic about.
(b) and nowhere in the article does he say that I spend 4-6 hours a day reading (this is something -you- ("optymizer") constructed (quite innocently I'm sure). I probably read about 2 hours a day, maybe a little more. This is enough to finish most books. And, yes, some books require quite a bit more effort and time -- both from length and wrt depth.
I did start putting some effort into remembering "pretty nearly" what I read, starting in 3rd grade. However, my abilities never got to the legendary levels of some readers e.g. Bertrand Russell.
(c) I didn't say I've read 20,000 books. I said I'm pretty sure I haven't read more than this. And I do know a number of people who have read more than this. In fact, I don't know how many books I've read.
(d) Why bother thinking about competing? What point is there? Why not just enjoy knowledge and the fun of interrelating it?