The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell
by Aldous Huxley
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2014)
Read in December, 2007
i give doors of perception 3 stars, and heaven and hell 1. overall, there was just not much interesting material in these books. i found two ideas in "the doors" that were interesting to me.
first, the idea that the primary function of the brain is as a filter, to reduce the massive amount of incoming information that comes into a smaller set that is useful for survival and propagation. in itself, this is not much, but the implications as to what that unfiltered set looks like, is. ...more
first, the idea that the primary function of the brain is as a filter, to reduce the massive amount of incoming information that comes into a smaller set that is useful for survival and propagation. in itself, this is not much, but the implications as to what that unfiltered set looks like, is. ...more
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Read in October, 2007
Read online here. A friend told me to read this, I think in my rant against drug use, lol. This book was popular in the 1970s, and argues that we need to find a safe drug that will allow everyone to escape reality without damaging our bodies. Some fun quotations here.
"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to f...more
"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to f...more
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Read in December, 2000
(review from Dec. 2000)
people and their selves... restriction of language .. panic experience... generic labels... Huxley's mind works like mine!! This book simply amazed me, and I read every word of it with the intention of reading it over again soon. I am stunned at the similarity between thoughts or concepts I have recently stumbled upon or reached through my own path, and those which Huxley attempts to explain! It makes me very excited, because if I came across ideas or generated and ...more
people and their selves... restriction of language .. panic experience... generic labels... Huxley's mind works like mine!! This book simply amazed me, and I read every word of it with the intention of reading it over again soon. I am stunned at the similarity between thoughts or concepts I have recently stumbled upon or reached through my own path, and those which Huxley attempts to explain! It makes me very excited, because if I came across ideas or generated and ...more
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Read in November, 2003
recommends it for:
people who like taking psychedelic drugs, perennial religious seekers, cognitive scientists
This is one of the most influential books on my personal world view. It is masterfully written and the ideas presented within it are fascinating.
Between the two essays the unifying argument is that the part of the human brain that processes perception has evolved as a complex filter. It filters out all the the things in the universe that are not necessary for our survival. In the case of psychedelic drugs, the action is to reduce the efficacy of the brain as a filter allowing us to percei...more
Between the two essays the unifying argument is that the part of the human brain that processes perception has evolved as a complex filter. It filters out all the the things in the universe that are not necessary for our survival. In the case of psychedelic drugs, the action is to reduce the efficacy of the brain as a filter allowing us to percei...more
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Read in June, 2008
A thoroughly thought provoking book! I really enjoyed the various thoughts and discussions on the nature of reality and perception - that is, the idea that what we see/interpret is unique no matter what we do to try to convey to another person. Some great excerpts:
"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to fu...more
"We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to fu...more
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Read in July, 2008
Doors of Perception is a deeply interesting short essay by the famous author Aldous Huxley. In 1953 he was involved in a controlled experiment into the psychological effects of the drug mescalin.
What he describes is less a mere hallucinatory experience and more an opening of his ability to percieve, and to see himself as part of the Oneness of the universe. He argues (quite correctly) that a massive part of the function of the brain is to selectively discard sensory input, keeping only what i...more
What he describes is less a mere hallucinatory experience and more an opening of his ability to percieve, and to see himself as part of the Oneness of the universe. He argues (quite correctly) that a massive part of the function of the brain is to selectively discard sensory input, keeping only what i...more
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Read in April, 1971
This is a collection of two long essays by Aldous Huxley. The First one featured is the Doors of Perception. It argues that the primary purpose of the brain is to filter out irrelevant thought, rather than creating relevant thought. This has somewhat been confirmed by modern neuroscience. with side effects from psychiatric medications and astral energy form covert groups, creating allegic dependsay on such normal things as caffine, alchol,tobacco, Through thease and recreational drugs, hallucino...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in October, 2006
"The Doors of Perception" by Aldous Huxley is about mescaline. Mescaline is the psycho-active substance in peyote. Huxley writes about his experience with mescaline, and his mind opening experience. Supposedly, Huxley's account of his mescaline experience and his explanation there after is one of the most in depth and detailed studies on what mescaline can teach, as well as how the mind works. Huxley firmly believed that taking mescaline would open the doors of perception. He does an i...more
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I picked this up for a nickel to find out why Jim Morrison liked it enough to name his band after it. And for the fun of finding out what aldous huxley thinks of mescalin. I dont know how much of the scientific part is still credited.
huxley says that the brain funnels through information it recieves and only saves what is likely to be practically useful for survival. These funnels run off glucose, and mescalin restricts glucose to the brain. Observance of colors, shapes, and textures are hig...more
huxley says that the brain funnels through information it recieves and only saves what is likely to be practically useful for survival. These funnels run off glucose, and mescalin restricts glucose to the brain. Observance of colors, shapes, and textures are hig...more
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Read in September, 1969
recommended to erik by:
John O'Reillyrecommends it for: anyone interested in psychedelics or in Huxley
Towards the end of his life Aldous Huxley was introduced to psychedelics, still legal at that time. His analyses of the phenomenon are detailed in these two essays here combined in one volume. For further reading about his relationship to such drugs see, of course, the various biographies about Huxley, particularly Huxley in Hollywood, and his wife's collection of essays by and about him and these drugs entitled Moksha. For his use of his experiences in literature see his Island.
Though da...more
Though da...more
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15 comments
Read in June, 2006
Huxley is a great author but he runs into the same issues as any other author who tries to put down in writing the psychedelic experience.
Psychedelia is best experienced rather than read and the recall of the experience ought to be communicated via haiku rather than prose. Huxley, and other authors, ought to follow the example of the Japanese culture who long ago specified that satori (sudden insight, look it up) is to be described via haiku rather than prose.
The best prose description ...more
Psychedelia is best experienced rather than read and the recall of the experience ought to be communicated via haiku rather than prose. Huxley, and other authors, ought to follow the example of the Japanese culture who long ago specified that satori (sudden insight, look it up) is to be described via haiku rather than prose.
The best prose description ...more
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"When white men try peyote". Huxley equates Mescaline to a ticket on the transhumanist express. Mckenna and Leary would take these observations to the other levels.I recommend this book for the straight edge, its not too left of center. Then again this is the guy who take LSD on his deathbed. That must have been the mother of all trips.
I like his likening drug use to near death experiences. That they open the same door in the mind which he often equates to a valve un-filtering our ...more
I like his likening drug use to near death experiences. That they open the same door in the mind which he often equates to a valve un-filtering our ...more
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Aldous Huxley: respectable when one mentions "Brave New World", despised for "The Doors of Perception". This book is two books in one, the first well known. Huxley experimented with mescaline and LSD, going so far as order himself injected with many cc's of LSD on his deathbed. What a trip that must have been! He believed that LSD and other "pschedelic" drugs opened up a "valve" that normally stays closed except for intense periods when humans are mati...more
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Read in January, 1992
This is a quick read that sheds some light on psychedelic drugs and conscious exploration. As a proponent of legalized drug use, Aldous Huxley explains some of the effects of ingesting copious amounts of hallucinogenic drugs. Although this type of experience is not for everybody, a little understanding of this type of drug experience can be helpful to people that have to deal with potheads and other drug users. An open mind is the best defense against mass media propoganda, and this book dispell...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
Huxley said that psychedelic experience will occurs if we kick our Ego out, then we begin to see things not from our perspective, but as it is. We'll experience the 'real' reality, not everyday reality which many of the information have been filtered by our brain.
We can achieve this with ritual(religious), art, meditation etc or of-course with LSD.
His writing is objective, scientific and logical. A good reference for those who curious about LSD, But nothing close to the real experience.
...more
We can achieve this with ritual(religious), art, meditation etc or of-course with LSD.
His writing is objective, scientific and logical. A good reference for those who curious about LSD, But nothing close to the real experience.
...more
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2 comments
This book is super interesting and supportive of experimental drug use. Aldous Huxley took mescalin when he was in his late 50's and wrote this essay, mostly focusing on how it altered his visual perception. He talks a lot about art and relates his connection with color and texture and depth while tripping to how artists like Van Gogh and Vermeer see all the time. Totally fascinating. It was published in '54, and probably inspired a lot of crazy drug use in our parents' generation.
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Read in May, 2002
Really clever bloke takes lots of psychedelic drugs (before they were associated with recreational drug use/abuse) and writes about it. It's very interesting in terms of Huxley's belief in self transcendence through non-religious or meditational means (i.e. eat some shrooms and have a weird enlightening experience, rather than whip the shit out of your back [self flagellation], then in a state of feverish delerium have a weird enlightening experience, then go to hospital to be treated for scepti...more
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Read in February, 2008
this book consists of two essays. the first is a detailed and very scientific description of aldus huxley's experience on mescaline. even though i haven't done any drugs at all, i found it pretty fascinating and pretty compelling. the second essay is a little more external and discusses more of the vision inducing power of art and experience, the history of drug use and other vision inducing stimulus. a little bit on the dry side. its short, the first essay is worth the whole book.
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
This book is a great book on drugs. Or rather drug. Its a detailed account of Aldous Huxley's (Brave New World, etc) experience with mescaline and then a very well written and thought out argument for why mescaline is good to experiment with and a better drug than alcohol or tobacco, both effect wise and health wise.
After reading this, you'll be really confused as to why mescaline is illegal. A drug that makes you nauseous, MAYBE? Oh no! THE HORROR!
After reading this, you'll be really confused as to why mescaline is illegal. A drug that makes you nauseous, MAYBE? Oh no! THE HORROR!
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Read in February, 2003
recommends it for:
the eager to escape simple life
Aldous Huxley is just another sane man yearning to feel the otherworldly awareness of all things creative and completely unsafe, and believes that in order to know the great inspirations and anti-conformity ideals and rituals of great composers/artists/thinkers alike, you must become insane(delve into hallucinogenic drugs in order to purge this awareness), and step into thier reality.
this book changed my life, if not, for a brief 4-6 months.
this book changed my life, if not, for a brief 4-6 months.
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