The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell (Perennial Classics)

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It's a hit!

This is the first non-fiction book I read by Aldous Huxley and I was hoping for a great read to be relative to insight rather than imagination and ... (show more)

This is the first non-fiction book I read by Aldous Huxley and I was hoping for a great read to be relative to insight rather than imagination and that is what I recieved reading this book. I have previously read three other novels by Aldous Huxley - all three being fiction but nevertheless very entertaining and thought-provoking and one becoming my all-time favorite novel until further notice. So in the honor of Huxley's writings, I have to say that I have not been disappointed and probably will never be if all his books and writings are just as is.

With this book being two non-fiction essays, I found them to be two different insights. In "Doors of Perception", I found the relative question that there are way too many people doing research on many issues and views considered to be a hot topic but not placing themselves on an experienced level when it comes to the hot topic in the first place. Huxley does this by experimenting with mescalin which was a very controversial drug back during his time. He then puts his own insights as well as relevances to other people's views and insights when they take it themselves thus the perception of the drug is different per person compared to those who just study and judge from what they read but may never on an experienced level know unless they try.

"Heaven and Hell" takes a different take but uses a lot of the essay writing insight from the previous essay of "Doors of Perception" in which the perception of things are different through time and through individual views. Huxley expresses this mostly through art and things that are considered "beautiful" and ends it with the perceptions used when it comes to the views of Heaven and Hell through religion, faith, and/or both at the same time. Example given would be stained glass and how it was symbolic of everything Heavenly good back during the time when the Catholic church was in dominance with their architecture. However in our society in the present time, stained glass is a common item and doesn't show the same representation on the emotional or even spiritual level as it did back during its introduction into churches and other religious buildings.

In conclusion, I found this book to be very insightful and I learned a lot from the two essays. I would recommend this book to those who are into philosophy and definitely sociology as well as anthropology. This is such a good book for those three fields along with who it is still entertaining to read instead of just a mundane essay about a topic to write about. (show less)

 

 

by Jan-Michael Turla

No, it's a flop!

I didn't see how this book could go wrong; I loved Brave New World, and this is Huxley getting high on mescalin and writing down his experiences. P... (show more)

I didn't see how this book could go wrong; I loved Brave New World, and this is Huxley getting high on mescalin and writing down his experiences. Plus, Jim Morrison was so influenced by the book as to name his band the Doors.

That aside, I thought the book (or books, as Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell are two works combined in this publication) was rather dry and dated. I emphasize the latter- one has to make a conscious effort to remember he wrote this in the 50s-60s.
He makes the hypothesis that humans cover a spectrum of sensitivity to a higher existence, at one polar end clairvoyents and mystics, the other schizophrenics, and the majority of us falling in the middle. Mescalin, Peyote, LSD and other hallucinagens are a way to bypass the mental blocks that seperate us in the median from experiencing this wonderful world that isn't predominated by pre-programmed perceptions.
In all, I think he only succeeded in writing about a very left-brained, non-artistic man getting high for the first time, who himself had great pre-concieved notions about what was going to happen.

Also, with the numberous references to artwork, the publsher should consider next time adding illustrations so that those who are not familiar with art history will know what Huxley is on about. (show less)

 

 

by Zachary Higdon

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  Aldous Huxley, always an especially clear voice able to nail down abstract ideas into precise language, takes us on a journey deep into his psyche, presenting it as a window into what he believes is basically true of all psychedelic experience. Under the influence of LSD back when it was new, he had his observations recorded, and later he wrote this book about them. But The Doors of Perception is far more than just the account of a good trip. It is an examination of the blurred lines betwe... (show more)

  Aldous Huxley, always an especially clear voice able to nail down abstract ideas into precise language, takes us on a journey deep into his psyche, presenting it as a window into what he believes is basically true of all psychedelic experience. Under the influence of LSD back when it was new, he had his observations recorded, and later he wrote this book about them. But The Doors of Perception is far more than just the account of a good trip. It is an examination of the blurred lines between substance-induced states of consciousness and the mystical states that are part of many religious traditions. Ever the social scientist, Huxley then proceeds to recommend a world in which substances are no longer taboo, but responsibly used as a vehicle toward realizing the transcendent. He is cautious about this recommendation, realizing that every drug has negative effects upon the individual and upon society; however, his thoughts on easing those restrictions still give the thinking reader ample reason to pause and reconsider what they believe about the American "War on Drugs." I personally was persuaded of a more libertarian philosophy about the legalization of drugs (which is not to say that I had to budge an inch on my ideas about the evils of addiction). As someone who works with recovering addicts, I also found in this book the helpful message that what is sought in the use of drugs is universally found in authentic expressions of human spirituality, even without the aid of substances. As a spiritual person, this also helped me to realize anew just how privileged I am to be able to experience the Divine without the aid of the drugs that many others use to induce those experiences. A fascinating read, in an intellectual yet engaging tone. Can be read in one or two sittings. (show less)

   

   

  by Kevin Southern on Aug 04, 2009 at 02:25AM

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  I liked 'Doors of Perception'. I liked it enough to try and figure out how I could get some mescalin and try it out for myself. I thought he narrated his experience very well, for someone under the influence of a mind altering drug. I must admit that because I didn't know about the Dharma-body and such things as that, I'm afraid much of the point of the essay went over my head. However, it is still an enjoyable and fairly quick read that left me both satisfied and curious to learn more about ... (show more)

  I liked 'Doors of Perception'. I liked it enough to try and figure out how I could get some mescalin and try it out for myself. I thought he narrated his experience very well, for someone under the influence of a mind altering drug. I must admit that because I didn't know about the Dharma-body and such things as that, I'm afraid much of the point of the essay went over my head. However, it is still an enjoyable and fairly quick read that left me both satisfied and curious to learn more about what went over my head. Always the sign of a good read.

  'Heaven and Hell', on the other hand, I did not like. I felt that Huxley should have concentrated more of his efforts on what is at the antipodes or what their function was. Instead, he spent a great deal of his time talking about howone could access the antipodes or very nearly access them, or have the beginnings of "visionary and mystical experiences". Maybe if I had known more about the purpose of antipodes and these mystical experiences. I would have better appreciated the work. It was just not as easy to get into and, upon trying, felt more like being kept out rather than just not understanding. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Jul 16, 2009 at 09:03PM

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