the doors of perception

the aldous huxley writing. it seldom happens to me that i would go recommend something, be it music, movie or book. i do now. go read it. i'll save you the trouble, even. you can find it here. it's only 23 pages and it's not the kind of reading that would cause an indigestion.

it's well worth the trouble, i'd say. i am not a fan of reading social or philosophical theories and i am well aware that i've had lousy teachers in the field. a wooden language will never ever entice anyone to read, study or devote time to those kind of writings. i wish they understood that. i wish they didn't try to awake awe of their petty greatness by hiding behind words. you use grand words to clad your idea only when it's not worth the consideration as such. and here i go thinking it was all about the what that should strike you, and not the swallowing of the dictionary that should impress. ah, well.

back to the doors then. it details huxley's experiment with mescaline, with excursions into philosophical, theological, psychological, sociological, philological and other -logical (perfectly conscious and intended word play here) backgrounds to help (himself and the reader) understand the nature and the impact of the altered states of consciousness that mescaline triggered. however those logicals remain perfectly understandable even if you are not the proud owner of three oxford degrees, which i find is a merit of an essay of this nature.

it's the kind of thing that makes you want to say "damn, this guy is right" and not feeling a complete moron saying it.