The Art of Seeing
by Aldous Huxley 
On This Page
Description
A Natural Path to Better Vision Unlike the dystopian vision described in Brave New World, or the psychedelic vision described in his The Doors of Perception, in The Art of Seeing, Aldous Huxley focuses on the actual vision of the human eye. Documenting his own profound near-blindness and subsequent attempts to improve his own sight, Huxley offers a thorough instruction manual on the controversial alternative vision therapy exercises developed by W. H. Bates. Although Huxley remained visually show more challenged throughout his life, he explains how and why he was able to get significant benefits from the Bates Method and was determined to share his discovery with the world. Since optical glass was no longer doing me any good, I decided to take the plunge. Within a couple of months, I was reading without strain and fatigue, he wrote of the beginning of his process. Huxley discusses the physiology of the eye and how it can heal; the effects of disease and emotion; eye movement exercises; blinking and breathing; relaxation and many more approaches to improved optical and mental function. He describes the process of improving your vision as an art rather than a science. Those familiar with Huxley's work won't be surprised to learn that The Art of Seeing is more than just a dry manual-it is a thorough discussion of the physiology and psychology of human sight. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
When I bought the book, I expected it to be about the art of 'seeing' and perception. As many of us know, Aldous Huxley was an exceptional writer. The younger generation may not be familiar with his work, but he was a genius. There is no doubt about this.
I did not know he had problems with his vision, but he discovered and used the Bates method to correct his vision. I am glad he wrote the book because I have explored the Bates method after reading the essay and will use the techniques.
However, while his explanation of the techniques and their benefits is clear (as are his sarcastic observations on human laziness), illustrations would have helped the reader. The lack of drawings is the only shortcoming in the book. You must read the show more book slowly: the writing is dry. show less
I did not know he had problems with his vision, but he discovered and used the Bates method to correct his vision. I am glad he wrote the book because I have explored the Bates method after reading the essay and will use the techniques.
However, while his explanation of the techniques and their benefits is clear (as are his sarcastic observations on human laziness), illustrations would have helped the reader. The lack of drawings is the only shortcoming in the book. You must read the show more book slowly: the writing is dry. show less
New York ; London : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1942. 273 pp. ; red and white cloth ; no dustjacket ;
things this book tells you how to do:
- get rid of a headache
things this book doesn't tell you how to do:
- cure myopia
- get rid of a headache
things this book doesn't tell you how to do:
- cure myopia
> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Huxley-Lart-de-voir/110135
> Un aperçu de la Méthode Bates d'amélioration de la vue - Eva Lothar
In: Infos Yoga, no. 50, (Déc. 2004/Janv. 2005), pp. 4-5 … ; (en ligne),
URL : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JDN9x_65XlafPlv1EbPbfrmS5tMLi2wW/view?usp=share...
> La Méthode Bates 2ème partie - Eva Lothar
In: Infos Yoga, no. 52, (Avril/Mai 2005), pp. 4-5. … ; (en ligne),
URL : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QFERLMNNXEJULuGsnl_TJHrx4imQ1GO8/view?usp=share...
> Un aperçu de la Méthode Bates d'amélioration de la vue - Eva Lothar
In: Infos Yoga, no. 50, (Déc. 2004/Janv. 2005), pp. 4-5 … ; (en ligne),
URL : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JDN9x_65XlafPlv1EbPbfrmS5tMLi2wW/view?usp=share...
> La Méthode Bates 2ème partie - Eva Lothar
In: Infos Yoga, no. 52, (Avril/Mai 2005), pp. 4-5. … ; (en ligne),
URL : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QFERLMNNXEJULuGsnl_TJHrx4imQ1GO8/view?usp=share...
Sep 11, 2022 (Edited)French
"Vermijd verveling, indien mogelijk, en verveel anderen niet" (44).
Sep 8, 2025 (Edited)Dutch
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
286+ Works 104,736 Members
Aldous Huxley was born on July 26, 1894, in Surrey, England, into a distinguished scientific and literary family; his grandfather was the noted scientist and writer, T.H. Huxley. Following an eye illness at age 16 that resulted in near-blindness, Huxley abandoned hope of a career in medicine and turned instead to literature, attending Oxford show more University and graduating with honors. While at Oxford, he published two volumes of poetry. Crome Yellow, his first novel, was published in 1927 followed by Antic Hay, Those Barren Leaves, and Point Counter Point. His most famous novel, Brave New World, published in 1932, is a science fiction classic about a futuristic society controlled by technology. In all, Huxley produced 47 works during his long career, In 1947, Huxley moved with his family to southern California. During the 1950s, he experimented with mescaline and LSD. Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell, both works of nonfiction, were based on his experiences while taking mescaline under supervision. In 1959, Aldous Huxley received the Award of Merit for the Novel from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He died on November 22, 1963. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Aldous Huxley has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- L'arte di vedere
- Original title
- The Art of Seeing
- Original publication date
- 1942
- People/Characters
- Aldous Huxley
- Original language*
- Inglés
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 617.75 — Applied science & technology Medicine & health Medical Treatment, Surgery, Teeth, Eyes Ophthalmology Disorders of refraction and accommodation, colour vision defects; Optometry
- LCC
- RE925 .H8 — Medicine Ophthalmology Ophthalmology Refraction and errors of refraction and accommodation
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 466
- Popularity
- 65,138
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.07)
- Languages
- 6 — Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 23
- ASINs
- 21
