the doors of perception (Vintage classics) Paperback – Import, January 1, 2004

I first read this book when I was 13. I am now 66. Did it influence my life? Looking back, perhaps even more so than I had realized. It was 1963 when I read it. I had been reading dystopias and had just finished "Brave New World." There was so much talk about LSD, mescaline, peyote and other hallucinogens as being "mind-expanding" and all that stuff that is now history. One interesting point of history regarding Aldous Huxley's life. He died the day JFK was shot. He was taking LSD at the time because he wanted to experience death as fully as he could.The title was taken from William Blake who had said, "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite." That quote and this book would later help Jim Morrison in naming his band, "The Doors."I read it with rapt attention. I was entranced. When I reread it recently, I was amazed at how much I remembered and how much of my life choices it had influenced.I do remember that I promised myself at that young age, that when I was older, I would try these drugs as the search for "God" and spirituality was very important to me then and is still now.In particular, I recall the passage where, staring at a simple chair, Huxley waxed eloquently about what the chair revealed about its maker. Most of all, I recall his referring to perceiving the "isness" of the chair.This book was originally published in 1954. It was an important book then and it remains so now. It is a "must-have" for the library of any seeker of the truth, any who seek "higher learning", (pun intended and not), any who are investigators of world spirituality. Very highly recommended.

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there is a reason this book is a classic

The only reason I gave this book only 4 stars instead of five is that the second essay, _Heaven and Hell_, struck me as rather weak. Taken by itself, _Doors of Perception_ is definitely a 5 star work. This book is a watershed moment in the psychedelic literature movement. It is beautifully written, with a clear and understandable style. Huxley has a particular knack for knowing when he has come up against the unknowable, and is able to recognize the unknowable for what it really is. He sort of maps out the edges of the unknowable, highlighting what is within the grasp of our knowledge, while defining a clear boundary demarcating the realms of knowledge that can only become known in another life. This, of course, was the book that inspired the great philosopher Terrance McKenna, and after reading it, you might also become inspired to try to become the next great philosopher. _Doors of Perception_ is notable in that it triggers a desire for knowledge rather than simply expounding data. This is definitely a good thing, and the reader can't help but be infected with a love for the astonishment and wonder that philosophy can provide.

In this book, Huxley describes his high off the drug Mescalin, and how it affected his ways of thinking, opening the Doors of Perception. Lots of background. Lots of comparisons to art that I have never heard of, but looked up to understand a little clearer. The author is obviously extremely smart, which is apparent through his amazing writing. It's not a quick blog about his personal experimentation with psychedelic drugs, it is a quite detailed account of the psychedelic experience. He also talks about how it is possible that schizophrenia could be related to effects of psychedelic drug, not in a sense of cause and effect, but in a sense of comparing the high that it is produced by mescalin and the experience of being schizophrenic. I think if you have an open mind, this will definitely be enjoyable to read and even if you are iffy about reading up on drug experiences, it is so well written and knowledgeable you will probably still love it.

a book

years ago I read Brave New World by the same author and really enjoyed it. Also, years ago, I enjoyed the rock band The Doors. I believe they chose the name of their group based on this book so I was mildly curious to read it.....I gave it a 3 as to call it average. it was ok. probably a hard topic to write a book about. glad I finally got around to reading it but it just barely held my attention to the end....but, it is a short book. give it a try if you like. disclaimer; never done any hard hallucinogenic drugs so maybe I missed a lot of the relevance.

It’s almost as if, in "Brave New World,” Aldous Huxley actually foresaw what society might be beginning to feel like by this time. Considering the totality of his writings, it’s easy to wonder whether or not he could have been onto something throughout his career or just “on” something a lot.