The Doors of Perception [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Aldous Huxley (Author), Rudolph Schirmer (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1998

This exploratory essay about Aldous Huxley's experience with mescaline, the active principal of peyote, sparked a generation of drug experimentation, and it continues to challenge beliefs about the drugs condoned and forbidden in our society. This classic work is complete and unabridged, with an insightful reading by Rudolf Schirmer, a long-time friend of Huxley. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This 'classic exploration of altered consciousness' now available complete and unabridged on audio cassette, allows a new generation to become acquainted with the remarkable Huxley, who died in 1963. In the first few paragraphs of this 1954 work, Huxley suggests that schizophrenia may have its origin as a chemical disorder, perhaps aggravated by distresses which affect body chemistry: it would be over 30 years before the medical establishment sanctioned such an idea. Through his experiments with mescaline, Huxley sought a "brief but timeless illumination" wherein the human possessing a normal range of intelligence could begin to comprehend the mind/experience of the insane or the genius...Doors is exceptionally well read by Schirmer, a longtime collaborator and friend." -- Napra ReView, Jan/Feb 1999

"Whether you agree that the experiment was worth trying or feel that the author is knocking on doors that 'should' be left untouched, you are likely to admit that a challenge is forcibly put, that ideas are freshly and prodigally presented, and that even to try to answer Mr. Huxley honestly might well be a valuable experience in itself." -- The San Francisco Chronicle

About the Author

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) was born in England but resided in California from 1937 on. His best known works include: Brave New World, Chrome Yellow, Point Counter Point, and The Doors of Perception.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audio Partners; Unabridged edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572700653
• ISBN-13: 978-1572700659
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,562,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) is the author of the classic novels Island, Eyeless in Gaza, and The Genius and the Goddess, as well as such critically acclaimed nonfiction works as The Devils of Loudun, The Doors of Perception, and The Perennial Philosophy. Born in Surrey, England, and educated at Oxford, he died in Los Angeles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! How did he do it?, December 4, 1998

By 

Jeffrey Andrews "Jeff Andrews" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Doors of Perception (Audio Cassette)

Aldous Huxley is a man so articulate and inciteful, that he has managed to succeed at a dream seeming impossible to most people who have used psychedelic drugs. His descriptions of the mescaline experience are so enchanting, illuminating, and realistic that experienced users will be amazed, while non-users will have their curiousity peaked.

His discussion of the inherent spirituality of the experience and comparisons to Zen Buddhism go to show that not all drugs are destructive. Used correctly, psychedelics may provide some of the deepest insights available into the structure and meaning of the universe. I strongly encourage anyone to read this short and unique book. Unfortunately, those who need to read it the most are the least likely to.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly great book, March 25, 2002

By 

Malli (Mumbai, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doors of Perception (Audio Cassette)

Before reading this book, I had read 'Brave New World' and a few other essays of Huxley.My image of him and the tone of his writing was that he was more concerned with issues that link man to the society(the immediate one he interacts with, which also exerts an influence on him like town, city, country etc). While Huxley in these pieces, is no doubt, extremely clear and has convincing arguments, the entire tone of his writing and philosophy was to look for solutions from 'The Without'. All his earlier works have the tone of objectivity or externality.

The 'Doors of Perception' on the other hand is completely different from anything that Huxley had written before. For the first time, possibly, Huxley looks for answers to the riddle of the human predicament from 'The Within'. The classical mechanics led tone of impartiality/ objectivity is not there. It has been replaced by the subtler quantum mechanics treatment of the observer being as much involved(if not more) in the process of self-realisation and understanding of experience.

The book is brilliant and takes one into what possibly lies in the realm of 'The Transcendental Country of the Mind' - but the reader should get into it..and to realise the full potential of the book one has to suspend existing precepts in our limited consciousness.

There is an oft quoted zen koan which might make my point clearer. A professor of a university once wanted to know what Zen was all about. So he went to this famous Zen teacher and asked him to teach Zen. The teacher invited this prof for a cup of tea. He placed a cup before the prof and continued pouring tea into his cup even though it was full. After sometime, the prof got completely agitated and told the Zen Monk, "Why are you still pouring into the cup? Don't you see it? Its already full".
The monk replied, "Exactly. How can I teach you Zen when you are so full of yourself in the same way as this tea cup".

The same koan applies to reading 'Doors of Perception'..

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, March 19, 2002

By 

Solis (Williamstown, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doors of Perception (Audio Cassette)

This book simultaneously sythesized everything in my life and changed everything. It is a guide for understanding man's place in the world. enjoy its beauty.