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The Doors of Perception: And Heaven and Hell
 
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The Doors of Perception: And Heaven and Hell (Paperback)

by Aldous Huxley (Author), J.G. Ballard (Introduction)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; New edition edition (3 Jul 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0099458209
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099458203
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 13 x 1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7,937 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Health, Family & Lifestyle > Psychology & Psychiatry > History & Philosophy > Philosophy of Mind
    #3 in  Books > Fiction > 20th Century Classics > Huxley, Aldous
    #4 in  Books > Fiction > Cult Authors > Ballard, J.G.

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Product Description

Product Description

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 was transformed. Huxley described his experience in "The Doors of Perception" and its sequel "Heaven and Hell".


About the Author

Aldous Huxley was born on 26th July 1894 near Godalming, Surrey. He began writing poetry and short stories in his early twenties, 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 'Enda 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 famous account of his first mescalin experience, 'The Doors of Perception', 1954. Huxley died in California on 22nd November 1963.

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The Doors of Perception: And Heaven and Hell
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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse of reality?, 16 Mar 2006
By Michael de Waal (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The Doors of Perception is the account of Aldous Huxley's experience with the hallucinogenic drug mescalin. It is full of incredible insights into human nature and apprehensions of an ultimate reality. Though his mystic experience was drug-induced, it was nonetheless genuin and astonishing. It was on that Spring morning in 1953 that Aldous came to a complete understanding of exactly what Blake had meant when he said "If men's doors of perception were cleansed he would see everything as it is, infinite". This account is beautifully written (compiled by Huxley after the event) with the aid of his recording, thus ensuring nothing he said was lost.

To quote from the blurb: "Hugely influential, still bristling with a sense of excitement and discovery, these intense and illuminating writings remain the most fascinating accounts of the visionary experience ever written."

At only 50 pages in length (excluding the later-added 'Heaven and Hell'), The Doors of Perception is an amazing glimpse into what Huxley called 'Otherness'; "To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness." I urge anyone interested by what's been said to pick up a copy (the Vintage Classic edition is your best buy) of this unique trip.

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most intelligent looks into the human mind there is, 10 Sep 2006
First I'd like to say this is a very hard books to read. Huxley is talking about a subject which is outside of our own perception; he does it with great eloquence and clarity but it may seem impenetrable for some, and certainly is no easy read, even at 100 pages.

It's eye opening, and gave me a whole new perception on religion, art, history, etc. Ultimately, it explains that visionary experience (the kind that mescalin induces), is a naturally occuring mechanism when the body is under stress that has disappeared. Read it, believe it and take the implications of that to be whatever you think it is.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Credible Argument for Responsible Use of Hallucinogens, 17 Mar 1999
By A Customer
In the first half of the book, DOORS OF PERCEPTION--originally a separate volume--Huxley offers a cogent and erudite argument for the use hallucinogens (specifically, mescaline) as a means for opening up the thinking mind to new ideas and perceptions, or even as a method for jumpstarting human creativity in the common man. Not only does he offer compelling historical precedents and sound medical research, but he also reveals positive details about his own personal experimentation with the drug. As is always the case with Huxley's essays, his various hypotheses are very articulately expressed and not easily dismissed.

The second part of the book, HEAVEN AND HELL--also originally published separately--Huxley introduces the idea that spiritual insight and personal revelation can also be achieved through the use of hallucinogens. (By the time he had written this volume, Huxley had added LSD to his psychedelic repertoire.) While just as articulately written and researched as the first volume, the idea that religious insight can be gained through drugs may offend some readers (theists and atheists alike), and the premise seems odd and contrived or expedient (was he trying to gain support of the clergy?) coming from a generally non-theist thinker-philosopher such as Huxley. Nevertheless, it is still thought-provoking reading for both professionals and amateurs interested in the positive potential of mind-altering drugs.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Yeah, this is a really good book. Although both were a bit shorter than I expected, they were also brimming with knoledge and ideas. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. G.

5.0 out of 5 stars Russells new book
I enjoyed this book, I know its one I will read again soon
theres so much to it even though it has not many pages.
Published 6 months ago by Russell Wells

5.0 out of 5 stars The Doors Of Perception by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley explains clearly and dispassionately the effects of a small dose of mescalin he took.He compares the experience of seeing the world in it's heightened and altered... Read more
Published 8 months ago by D. Mcmullin

5.0 out of 5 stars The Doors fo Perception
Genius, a seminal masterpiece. If you are looking for an insightful text to further your understanding of the possibilities and wealth of perception outside the premises of... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Melanie J. Harris

5.0 out of 5 stars reader
A truly inspiring book, every human should be issued with it at birth. I cant really describe it because, it wouldnt really explain it well, just read it...... Read more
Published on 19 April 2006 by G. N. Piette

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime reading
It is only short but (for me) was quite a difficult book to read. The descriptions Huxley gives are enthralling, insightful and original. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2004 by laurie neale

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read it!
I think it is on of the best books I have ever read, I would recomend it to everyone.
Published on 23 Mar 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, evocative, wise and, above all, humane.
There is nothing the pen of Huxley touches that it does not illuminate and as the record of a highly civilised, brilliantly articulate man under the influance of an astonishing... Read more
Published on 2 Jul 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploration of the Mind at Large
One of the most fundamental things to keep in mind when reading this work is that Huxley is no telling the general populous to go find the nearest meth dealer but rather to remain... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars enlightening
This book changed the way I look at books. Huxley was able to take the findings of his experiment and make it into elloquent reading. The book was captivating and intriguing. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 1998

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