Title of the Book: The Doors of Perception
Author: Aldous Huxley
Number of Pages: 189
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Review:
The Doors of Perception, Aldous Huxley; the book that changed me. As humans, we all have a few things in common, like our physical features and a conscious mind. Something in particular that boggles my mind often is the fact that we were all brought here, without choice and without any knowledge of what happens next. This inquiry motivated me to strengthen my spirituality and to learn more about this life we are given from a perspective that does not include traditional religious ideas. In my research around these ideas, I noticed a common name, Aldous Huxley. I understood his dystopian ideals after reading Brave New World and was also intrigued to learn more about his cognition. These two factors where enough to convince me to read his book The Doors of Perception. After you read this book, you too will question the world around you...in the best way that is. That being said, let me break down Huxley’s masterpiece for you.

To get an idea of what you will be getting into, I’ve put together a brief summary with no spoilers! Huxley makes it clear that his book will elaborate on his psychedelic experience on mescaline. He begins with insight on the drug, its background of scientific study/research, and traditional, religious uses of peyote by the natives of Mexico/American Southwest. This information is really important if you wish to truly understand this book, especially if you have never heard of such a drug. Huxley then goes into his experience after ingesting four tenths of a gram of mescaline. He does an incredible job of balancing the visual and spiritual realm of that he enters, I can’t go into much detail about them. It is vital for you to experience the book in complete candour and ignorance. Finally, his elaboration at the end of the book is almost the most exciting part. As he shares his beliefs and new found perceptions, you may find yourself wishing there was more to read.

Huxley’s book is unique in many ways. Something I find admirable is how he never promotes the use of drugs in his work, as he says he may “throw [light] on such ancient, unsolved riddles as the place of mind in nature and the relationship between brain and consciousness”. This motivated me to write such a review and plant the idea this book in the minds of others. Aldous Huxley is not humble when it comes to showing the world his brilliance, his techniques and vocabulary are challenging yet intriguing to read through. The tone of this book is enthusiastic and critical. A quote that illustrates his uniqueness and the true honesty of Huxley, is from the elaborations after his experience, “Most men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, at the best so monotonous, poor and minited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and always has been appetites for the soul”. As new and interesting his experience was, this was my favorite moment in the book. His raw appetite for truth is so earth shaking and vivid.

This book is for individuals looking to expand their domain of perception. As we walk this earth, so many things are unknown. Huxley does an incredible job of opening up the mind and introducing ideas of visionary experience, transcendence, and truth. However, I would recommend this book to only those who are patient and pensive enough to decipher and analyze what Huxley is trying to tell us in his book The Doors of Perception. Aldous Huxley was a wise man, I call myself lucky to hear his story.