diff --git a/Lib/subprocess.py b/Lib/subprocess.py
index 546a7a0..78e4fcf 100644
--- a/Lib/subprocess.py
+++ b/Lib/subprocess.py
@@ -1654,7 +1654,7 @@
                             if self._input_offset >= len(self._input):
                                 close_unregister_and_remove(fd)
                     elif mode & select_POLLIN_POLLPRI:
-                        data = os.read(fd, 4096)
+                        data = os.read(fd, 32768)
                         if not data:
                             close_unregister_and_remove(fd)
                         self._fd2output[fd].append(data)
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 0eac7fb..5eacf9c 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #19929: Call os.read with 32768 within subprocess.Popen.communicate
+  rather than 4096 for efficiency.  A microbenchmark shows Linux and OS X
+  both using ~50% less cpu time this way.
+
 - Issue #19506: Use a memoryview to avoid a data copy when piping data
   to stdin within subprocess.Popen.communicate.  5-10% less cpu usage.