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The Doors of Perception

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The Doors of Perception

By: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Rudolph Schirmer
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About this listen

 The critically acclaimed novelist and social critic Aldous Huxley, describes his personal experimentation with the drug mescaline and explores the nature of visionary experience. The title of this classic comes from William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern."©1954 Aldous Huxley (P)2009 BBC Audio Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Thought-Provoking

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This book was on my reading list for a long time. I enjoyed listening to it and found the account of his experience to be very interesting and well described. I particularly enjoyed the very last few minutes, where he describes his thoughts and views around this area of knowledge and competency after he had finished the account of his experience. It is also a piece of history, as well as being interesting in itself.

Fascinating account and thoughts on the subject

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Anyone who struggles with the answer to the meaning of life should read/listen to this book. Short but packs tremendous punch.

I will definitely read/listen to it again. I had to order a hard copy for my shelf.

A Classic

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Very interesting & informative. Unfortunately the droning way in which it is narrated makes it difficult to stay concentrated.

Stands the test of time

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It was like being trapped into listening to a really intelligent and well-read but simultaneously boring old guy in a pub. If someone told me you’d have to listen to this for all eternity in hell, I’d never sin again.

Maybe I’m missing the point. But I can live with that.

Fairly drab exercise in intellectualism

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This was an extremely good listen, a complete contrast to the psychedelic genre of books we get today, pre governmental input

Thought inspiring

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A stunning short book about the possibilities that exist to expand your knowledge and your mind. We should never stop learning or trying to understand ourselves and our reason for being. A fabulous listen.

Mind opening

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I enjoyed this audiobook and I was happy with the narration.

I first read this book in my late teens and I decided to visit it again in my mid 60's... It's curious how a book can be so different when you read it again with a more mature head on your shoulders.

Whilst the subject matter was clearly not mainstream when it was written, it still remains quite valid to this day.

I do have my reservations about Huxley though... He suggests that what is experienced during an altered state of consciousness should be reserved for 'intellectuals'... Inferring that those with a lesser intellect would not grasp the significance of the experience. This is unnecessarily elitist and a little naive in my opinion. It is almost certainly the case that every experience will be tailored to the individual and delivered in such a way that the person will understand.

* SPOILER ALERT*... As far as altered states of consciousness go, the one that Huxley described was rather mundane. Only an intelectual could write an entire book (essentially) about a chair and the folds in his grey flannel trousers... A reductionist might have just said, "Everything is significant", and left it at that...

I'm quite surprised that Huxley wasn't shown something more profound... Modesty would have been good... a realisation that, despite one's station in this life, it is irrelevent to the 'Grand Design'... an insignificant piece in an infinite jigsaw...

I also read 'Brave New World' in my late teens... I think I should probably revisit that book too.

A Classic... But...

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A poetic description of the usually ineffable and mystical journey of the psychedelic experience. Huxley’s encounter with Mescaline is a joy to listen to and is a must read for any fellow travellers of the mind. If you know, you know…

A door in the wall

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I am always interested to understand what motivates great writers, and The Doors of Perception provides some useful insights into the gifted mind of Aldous Huxley.

Undoubtedly TDoP is a seminal work and provides a rich and purposeful critique of one man's experience of a hallucinogen currently prohibited under prevailing law. The text is very well written with Huxley expertly marshalling his facts to effectively communicate his ideas.

With that said, Huxley injects his academic style into what is ostensibly a personal journey of enlightenment, and his use of language does not always illustrate his passion. Part of this might be due to the era in which he is writing with its stricter publishing guidelines. This is made worse by the narration which is competent, though often feels a too safe and uninvested.

But definitely a classic with many takeaways to reflect upon.

A well crafted essay

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Thank you for the opportunity to have such an interesting addition to my virtual LIBRARY.
Something almost impossible to think of, say - a quarter of a century ago. Definitely puts me in the position of declaring I 💙 how times have changed in my favor.

À BBC AMERICA PRODUCTION

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