Rating: 
Summary: INFORMATION first hand
Review: Although this book is kind of... well, slow... it is relatively short and VERY INFORMATIVE. It gave me a whole new perspective on drugs from a scientific, philosophical, spiritual, and beautiful point of view. A must read for artists and writers.
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Summary: The start of the psychedelic experience.
Review: Before Timothy Leary, Rama Dass, William S. Burroughs and the 60's; there was Aldous Huxley. He wrote these two essays on expanding one's mind and experiencing a new world by means of other substances(i.e. mescaline.) Although this book is a bit dated now, it still has a value of wisdom in it and well worth reading. Even if you are not into doing psychedelic drugs, the book is more about looking at things differently and entering a new realm of conscieness. In fact, "Heaven And Hell" talks about experiencing this by means of light, costumes, fireworks and other non-drug things. However, this book will show the reader that psychedelics, if taken responsibly and in the right frame of mind can enlighten one and liberate them. I personally believe this to be true and that "The Doors of Perception" is good evidence backing this claim up. No matter who you are or what you believe in, this book is well worth reading and will open your own doors of perception.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as expected
Review: For a book that is famous as a turningpoint in the study of man's perceptions, the book somewhat misses the mark. It is written in a fragmented style with too many offbeat references. Some of the points are good but they are portrayed in a terse manner which makes the book an overall dissapointment.
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Summary: Interesting and Provocative
Review: Huxley's experiments with mescalin induced him to write these books about his experiences with that drug. The most fascinating thing about the book was his theory of the eliminative function of the brain and the idea of the "Mind At Large". The experiments were obviously a very spiritual experience for Huxley, who encourages the use of mescalin and LSD-25 as a method of attaining transcendental experiences. Not all of his notions were 100% convincing, but Huxley conveys all of them with a clarity and an honesty that very few authors ever reach. A must for anyone interested in the topic.
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Summary: An Interesting Book on Observations
Review: Huxley's now classic book which gave inspiration to the rock group, is curious in that you are reading the explorations of one mans mind on mescaline. However, I cant say I found it the most exciting book I have ever read. This book certainly has its place in ones philosophy library, perhaps psychology as well. Popular with those who like to experiement with mind drugs as well.
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Summary: Good reading, but too spculative at the end.
Review: I liked this book right from the start, maybe because it supports my views upon life, but at the same time it challenges my view upon drugs through my views upon life.Aldous Huxley describes a state of Suchness as a state where everything just exists, there is no real value in this state of mind except that there is beauty in everything, it's a kind of objective state distanced from the beholders self. To Aldous Huxley this is a state he reaches with mescalin, and the attainment of this state is the argument for drugs, because as he says, this is the way that people ought to see things. Huxley believes that we would be better human beeings if we reach into to this Other World, this state of distance from our own egos, and I believe he is right. We would probably be more peaceful, more open minded, more accepting and more forgiving, but as he points out, this is also a state of inactivity. This mind at large is a very observative and percieving state, and the beholder might even forget or ignore even his/her own basic needs like food. We aren't productive enough to sustain our own living in this condition. I think that I know this state of mind well, with all it's blessings and pittfalls, even though I don't take any drugs (except from beer). Anyway I have started to wonder if I could extend this state of mind with mescalin, and wether it would be any good? My principal standing is that no drugs are needed in order to extend the experience of life, that's why I almost never have taken any kind of medication, even though I might suffer from pain. Also freedom is very valuable to me, so addiction scares me away form drugs. But if we had a perfect drug with no addiction, why not have this expereience? Why not once in a while? And why not all the time? I think that Huxley himself answers this question very well in his book Brave New World, although its a long tim ago that I read it (6-7 years). I definitly need a brush-up on it. I read this as a critique of the ignorant state of mind of all the inhabitants in the Bave New World. I loved this book by all my heart and would recommend that you read it after reading Doors of Perception. Another book that I will recommend highly is "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman. This book is about another kind, but omnipresent drug, called television. This book might give you an idea of why drugs/television are no good solution. Drugs are just a too simple push-a-button-and-be-happy solution, the good has no proportions without the harsh to put it into perspective. Personally many of my great Mind at Large experiences have come to me after climbing a volcano, after walking 80 km in 14 hours or just by experiencing an extremely beautiful landscape while travelling. Some of us might be more prdisposed to this Mind at Large than others, but I believe in David Keirseys theory that each of us are in fact satisfied with beeing the kind of person we are. Maybe we envy traits of others, but if the trade-off is our own abilities, we would rather like to be ourselves. "Please Understand Me II" by David Keirsey is a phenomenal book. The reason for only giving this book 4 stars is that it get's a little too speculative towards the end.
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Summary: Everyone should read it!
Review: I think it is on of the best books I have ever read, I would recomend it to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Not that Great
Review: I was disappointed with "Doors of Perception." I was expecting something insightful. Instead, this book was all theoretical with comparisons to art. I had no idea what Huxley's point was.
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Summary: Huxley's Doors to Perception/Heaven and Hell is fabulous
Review: I was turned onto Doors/Heaven and Hell by myPhilosophy/English Professor. Due to my extended research intodreaming and perception, this was as insightful as they come. This book goes beyond the use of drugs; identifying with religion, art, philosophies, etc., it explains that humans tend to be one sided, and are unable to look or percieve normalcy except by looking at things...normally. It's sad that it takes drug use to be able to percieve objects beyond what they really are, yet, Huxley explains, compares and vividly depicts, not only his experience with mescalin and LCD, but how and why people are not able to visualize things in ways other than they already are,(Out-There, In-Here). Huxley writes about experiences and perception when these drugs are being used--rationally, making Huxley a writer, and a "visionary." And he does so with panache.
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Summary: Huxley in one of his most sincere investigations
Review: I've always felt that Aldous Huxley was the most versatile thinker of England the last century. His huge culture allows him to explore all the known items. I must recognize that with the astonishing exception of a brave new world, his novelist approach he doesn't have much to offer. I'd rather prefer his meticolous essays in multiple directions.
This book, in particular may be a good star for all who pretend to get into the Huxley's world.
I read that book in the middle of the seventies, and the first you acknowledge is the visible enchantment that gives to every note. In fact, Huxley was a fan of William Blake, and that explains the title "The doors of perception" (Jim Morrison was too a fervient reader of Blake).
The approach given for Huxley in the doors is like he and us were in an opened conference with no restrictions of any subject.
The explanations above the different ways you may reach of reducing the efficiency of the "third eye" is ravishing. You read page after with anxiety for absorbing every little comentary or observation. The links inmediatly leads you to Loudun's demons (which served to ken Russell for making a film entitled The demons, with Oliver Reed) (in my point of view his most complete work),
Heaven and hell is an autobiografical experience, in which he is under the effects of the mescaline, a plant used in Mexico. This mind journey is supported by recordings made in company with his wife and a friend of them. So this reading is just an overlapping of all the process.
In the seventies, too many things shocked the world. The end of Vietnam's war, The Watergate affair, the prizes of oil established by the OPEC in 1973. Those were the days in which Marcuse and Erich Fromm hold a wide audience all around the world.
And in this sense this book became a landmark , because the huge amount of items that troubled to Huxley , such he refers us in an new visit to a brave new world, The island (is the other side of the coin respect anew brave world), Huxley added to his no limits territories, a true example of what you may define like a reinassance man. In this category , you can include thinkers and writers like Bertrand Russell, Ortega and Gasset, Ernesto Sabato, Jorge Luis Borges, Joseph Campbell, Mircea Eliade, Paul Diel, Jean marie Domenach, to name just a few.
This book, if you're really are interested for knowing the essential facts that happens in your mind when you are disturbed by your own choice, will offer a crude but enriched analysis.Don't be afraid just thinking the information may be dated.
I'm talking about the first step ypou may climb in oreder to follow you bliss in this sense. The links you can do are no ending. All depends about your inner convictions and interest areas, like investigator, universitary student, common reader or mythology investigator . The sky is the limit.
You will be always rewarded.
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