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The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell by Aldous Huxley
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The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell

by Aldous Huxley

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I enjoyed Huxley's perspective as a research subject experiencing the effects of mescalin for the first time. Also enjoyed the description of art/artists and how Huxley sees art history as connected to the visionary experience of a 'mescalin taker.' ( )
  juliana_t | Oct 3, 2009 |
It was good- but pretty matter-of-fact. I felt as though he was just recounting what he did. It was interesting, but nothing novel or inspirational for me- probably because I had already known. ( )
  sarahtakash | Jul 29, 2009 |
Huxley's "The Doors of Perception" is one of the most interesting books i've encountered. Obviously, its notable for its account of an experiment with the drug mescalin, found in peyote. The fundamental notion of the work is that the mind acts, in its most normal and evolved state, as a "reducing valve." The world of perception is way too intense for one mind to encounter so it seeks to reduce experiences as a need for survival. A drug induced experience allows for the opening of said "reducing valve" ushering in opportunities to see things "isness" and "suchness." I found it particularly interesting that Huxleys suggested that the increase in drug use is in direct relationship to the lack of "transcendance" provided by organized religion. A shortcoming Huxley thinks the church should be addressing.

I found this book to be interesting, informative, and challenging. All symptoms of a good read. ( )
1 vote jwcs81 | Jun 15, 2009 |
Huxley's fascinating account of LSD experimentation in the early 1950's.......Title of his book was taken as a name

by the Rock group, "The Doors of Perception" ( )
  drwhy | Apr 10, 2009 |
anyone who has interest in the future and everyone who has experimented with acid or psychedelic drugs in general must this book (preferably before the drugs) ( )
  TakeItOrLeaveIt | Feb 25, 2009 |
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Contains "The Doors of Perception" AND "Heaven and Hell" - please don't combine with editions containing only one of these.
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Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0060595183, Paperback)

Sometimes a writer has to revisit the classics, and here we find that "gonzo journalism"--gutsy first-person accounts wherein the author is part of the story--didn't originate with Hunter S. Thompson or Tom Wolfe. Aldous Huxley took some mescaline and wrote about it some 10 or 12 years earlier than those others. The book he came up with is part bemused essay and part mystical treatise--"suchness" is everywhere to be found while under the influence. This is a good example of essay writing, journal keeping, and the value of controversy--always--in one's work.

(retrieved from Amazon Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:31:19 -0400)

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