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The Doors of Perception
And Heaven and Hell
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In 1953, in the presence of an investigator, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gramme of mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen. When he opened his eyes everything, from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers, was transformed.
The profoundly wise and humane account of Huxley's famous experimentation with mescalin that has influenced writers and artists for decades.
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The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley is a profoundly wise and humane account of the author's famous experimentation with mescalin that has influenced writers and artists for decades. This groundbreaking work takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the depths of the human mind and the nature of perception.
In 1953, under the supervision of an investigator, Aldous Huxley ingested four-tenths of a gram of mescalin and embarked on an inward voyage to explore the effects of this powerful hallucinogenic substance. As he sat down and waited, he soon experienced extraordinary shifts in consciousness. Every object in his surroundings—from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers—was transformed, glowing with an otherworldly significance. Huxley’s vivid and immediate descriptions offer fascinating insights into the altered states of awareness and perceptions brought on by the mescalin.
The Doors of Perception delves deeply into the nature of these visionary experiences, drawing upon Huxley’s vast knowledge of history, philosophy, and religion. His exploration is not just about the effects of a mind-altering drug but also a profound commentary on human consciousness and the potential for unlocking new realms of understanding. With its evocative prose and contemplative depth, the book has become a crucial work for anyone interested in the human mind, spirituality, and the possibilities of perception.
In the accompanying sequel, Heaven and Hell, Huxley extends his inquiry into the realms of mysticism and visionary experiences. Here, he examines the historical and cultural contexts of these experiences, arguing that they have always been a vital part of the human condition. Together, these writings remain some of the most illuminating and influential accounts of visionary experiences ever penned.
J.G. Ballard, in the foreword to this edition, praises the work for its concise, evocative, wise, and above all, humane exploration of the human psyche. The Doors of Perception stands as a masterpiece, a testament to Huxley's brilliance and curiosity.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Concise, evocative, and humane, The Doors of Perception is praised as a masterpiece by Sunday Times. The Daily Telegraph highlights its illuminating quality as Huxley records his experiences with an astonishing drug. The Times draws parallels between Huxley and the Beatles, noting Huxley's innovative and experimental spirit, while the Financial Times finds the book poignant for revealing the frailties and yearnings of a cerebral writer.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780099458203
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 September 2004
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vintage Classics
Contributors:
- Introduction by J G Ballard
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 8.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 106g
Pages: 144
About the Author
Aldous Huxley was born on 26 July 1894 near Godalming, Surrey. He began writing poetry and short stories in his early 20s, but it was his first novel, Crome Yellow (1921), which established his literary reputation. This was swiftly followed by Antic Hay (1923), Those Barren Leaves (1925) and Point Counter Point (1928) - bright, brilliant satires in which Huxley wittily but ruthlessly passed judgement on the shortcomings of contemporary society. For most of the 1920s Huxley lived in Italy and an account of his experiences there can be found in Along the Road (1925). The great novels of ideas, including his most famous work Brave New World (published in 1932 this warned against the dehumanising aspects of scientific and material 'progress') and the pacifist novel Eyeless in Gaza (1936) were accompanied by a series of wise and brilliant essays, collected in volume form under titles such as Music at Night (1931) and Ends and Means (1937). In 1937, at the height of his fame, Huxley left Europe to live in California, working for a time as a screenwriter in Hollywood. As the West braced itself for war, Huxley came increasingly to believe that the key to solving the world's problems lay in changing the individual through mystical enlightenment. The exploration of the inner life through mysticism and hallucinogenic drugs was to dominate his work for the rest of his life. His beliefs found expression in both fiction (Time Must Have a Stop,1944, and Island, 1962) and non-fiction (The Perennial Philosophy, 1945; Grey Eminence, 1941; and the account of his first mescalin experience, The Doors of Perception, 1954. Huxley died in California on 22 November 1963.
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