Huxley in one of his most sincere investigations
594292
I've always felt that Aldous Huxley was the most versatile thinker of England the last century, Without forget obviously the presence of Bertrand Russell. His huge culture allowed him to explore all the known items. I must recognize that with the astonishing exception of a "Brave new world", as novelist, he doesn't have much to offer. I'd rather prefer his meticulous 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 fervent 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 commentary 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 a "New visit to a brave new world", The island (the other side of the coin respect a New brave world), Huxley added it 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, just to name 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 you may climb in order to follow you bliss in this sense. The links you can do have 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.
2615970
I used to carry the title of this book in a hip-holster ready to draw on any quasi-intellectual inquiry into my literary pallette as the "most important book I'd ever read". It occured to me recently that although I seemed to feel somewhere in my bones that this statement was true, I hadn't read the book for over six years and couldn't even remember the name of the main character. That being said, having recently devoured Aldous Huxley's landmark novel "Brave New World", I must most empahtically again declare that this is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS I'VE EVER READ!
What makes a book important? I think it has something to do with how well its themes and sentiments resonate with the world you experience from day to day. A quantity measured only by how many more truths you can see in unexpected places like the news, the grocery store, or a conversation around the water bubbler. "A Brave New World", though written at the beginning of the century, seems to have been written with a vision and a penetrating lesson for today.
The world described in Huxley's account is streamlined by science and technology, driven by open-ended corporate goals, and carried on the backs of a populace socially-trained from birth to continue an existence without question or meaning. It's a world shackled by a facism with no face or name. Contrary to Orwell's visions of a future entrapped by the ever-present 'Big Brother', Huxley's version of slavery is one enforced by ignorance and pleasure. A theme that seems well-suited to the comfortably worked, television-encased, numbed to violence and tradgedy, pill-popping, bacteria petri-dish America that exists today. It's impossible to read this book without seeing even some of his most outrageous symbolism come alive in the reality of today. To say it is a book that resonates is an understatement. To say that it is an important read is necessary.
1392516
There are many approaches to this subject.  It is reassuring that a man of science has such insight. A leap beyond to one of the great mysteries of what there is after this life.
4833171
With this review I want to express my opinion on the quality of the hardcover and print itself - not the content of the story. I'll leave the other reviews to state the author's intent of this book. Everyman's Library has produced a book with quality binding and easy to read print on better than average quality paper. I hope this comment will help those who question the craftsmanship of the book itself knowing quite well from the other reviews the fascinating story told by Aldous Huxley
2355367
This book is a journey of the inner conscience. Don Mario Mazzoleni's sincere quest for the Divine is revealed in a thoroughly sincere account of his discovery of Baba, his life and his  teachings.  It's a journey from faith to faith, albeit colored by a different path and a different context, yet in the end revealing the 'sameness' in the teachings of both Jesus and Baba.  The attitudes of the Church and the painful consequences of ex-communication just for believing in the presence of a Divine Being becomes irrelevant when the reader gets absorbed in the author's quest for God.  In sum, Don Mario's quest is everyman's quest for the Divine.
1608560
This is a thoughtful book, in which Huxley has used his great knowledge of human relations to bring an eerie reality to this story. This is ones of those books that cannot be ignored. This book was written before the mark  of the Nazi totalitarian state of World War II and used the tool of  conditioning and drugs instead of military terror and might, that was the  basis of George Orwell's "1984" that was written after the war.  It was  an exciting look into Huxley's view of society in the future and the social  problems linked with it. Well worth the read.
2000008
In Phantoms of the Brain V.S. Ramachandran paints a picture of the duality of neuropathology that arises between the troubling or inspiring stories of people who have had their lives decimated by damage to their brain or senses and the fascinating inferences one can draw when you carefully study just how the brain both succeeds and fails at its job. In its time of publication 10 years ago these stories must have been nearly unbelievable, and even today -- where many of these anecdotes have filtered their way into the public consciousness via explosions in pop psychology -- the sense of both compassion and indomitable curiosity that Ramachandran's writing exudes can inspire someone to look further.

Phantoms of the Brain is divided into twelve chapters each diving into the plight of a particular subject (or group) and the peculiar facet of our mind's operation that underlies the situation. Notable examples are the numerous cases of phantom limbs (the titular concern) treated using mirror trickery, the oddly specific and vivid hallucinations people with visual scotomas sometimes accrue, the crushing completeness of mental neglect, and the incredible link between mind and body. Throughout this all Ramachandran both provides clear lay explanations and ample contextualization to the larger, drier, but more precise world of academic papers (referenced in 35 pages of footnotes).

More personally, Ramachandran uses neuroscience as a vehicle to explore the physical foundation of human moral or philosophical concerns. He makes these expeditions under welcoming auspices of patient, scientific curiosity but manages to eventually end up adding extra dimensions to these questions, leaving the reader no longer just able to question what self is, but what parts of our brain support it; no longer able to just question the existence or meaning of god but whether these very questions are somehow a quintessential, biological part of human existence. Ramachandran's treatment is gentle but designed to inspire further questioning as he simultaneously expresses his own views on the softer side of these questions which becomes a respectful and peaceful mix of Eastern philosophy and appreciation of the beautiful complexity of our reality.

In the end, Phantoms is a fantastic combination of harder scientific observation and softer scientific thought. Ramachandran's writing exemplifies the curiosity that drives our investigation and delivers the musings, beliefs, and infant hypotheses that live inside a scientific mind though rarely are shown outside of the very most daring of conclusions of academic papers. This serves as a wonderful lay foundation to the neuroscientific experiences Ramachandran has had a part in and thus leaves the reader with a curiosity toward the unknown ignited and appreciation of that 3lb blob of grey renewed. One only wishes it were written in light of today's knowledge.
1700337
It is both as philosopher and experimental psychologist that William James approached the study of religious phenomena.  Conversion, repentence, mysticism, hopes of reward and fears of punishment in the hereafter are studied with boldness, sympathy and the unbiased common sense of science.  The result is a book that has stood the test of time and continues to stimulate readers more than a century after it was conceived.  It represents a living force in religious/spiritual literature, for believer and non-believer alike.
4504209
Since there are already so many excellent reviews of this book, I will just add my two cents.
First, Huxley's writing is exquisite. Like James, Conrad, among others, and, yes, Shakespeare, he is able to craft language so adeptly to show his characters' beautiful and profoundly complex internal worlds and those separate worlds' couplings and collisions, and, in this case, setting those characters within an enthralling story. I can't give specifics, but many times as I read this book I thought to myself how I will need to reread it fully appreciate Huxley's better passages, of which there are many, many, many.
Second, Huxley's satire is brutal, reminding me a lot of Zola. All the characters are flawed to loathsome in their own special ways, and the main good, noble character, of course, dies. And, of course, he is flawed too. (Okay, Anthony's father and step-mother are cute in their late in life love.) This book also reminds me of a film like "La Notte," in which bored wealthy people lead empty, pointless lives and try in vain to fill that emptiness with art, philosophy, politics, making more money, adultery, substance abuse, etc. (I'm afraid that is a paltry synopsis.) The story is disturbing, scandalous, and engrossing.
I'll stop there. This book is great - please read it, and enjoy!
3075633
"Cosmos and Psyche" by Richard Tarnas may be one of the most profound and insightful books I have ever read.  And I have read a lot!  One of the most important works of our time, without a doubt.  Any skeptic who honestly reads this and does their own research cannot remain skeptic for long.  There is definitely something significant here, and the implications are beyond epic.  Tarnas would agree that astrology does not determine our fate - it merely corresponds to the "cosmological climate" of any given time.  As above, so below, and while at present we may lack the scientific understanding necessary to quantifiably measure such phenomena, any objective-oriented person cannot remain so without investigating this body of knowledge further.  Anyone who finds themselves interested in the area has an obligation to advance the knowledge further in any way possible, for this could lead to startling and wonderful new advancements for humankind.  One day, the world will look back on Tarnas as an intellectual revolutionary, like Kepler, Galileo, Copernicus, and so many other of the leading cultural figures he writes about.
4812260
Although in 1992 Huxley does not understand that the over population worry is similar to the CO2 Global warming hoax, he does lay out some of the control philosophy used by today's political class. He restates how they use drugs, sex and welfare. It is amazing how he and Orwell saw our world today. It is short by interesting read.
3871785
Aldous Huxley's Brave New World challenges the current image of future success and details consequences of following status quo.  Set in London in A.F. 632 (After Ford), this novel portrays the danger of the idealism of a future utopian society.  At first readers are met with the extremes of this world: mass reproductive breeding occurs on an assembly line instead of natural human reproduction, the idealism of open sex without the present security of monogamous relationship even so that children are having sex, discrimination through brainwashing of young minds.  Huxley successful describes each of these characteristics as he takes readers into the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center.
 Huxley's writing style remains descriptive throughout the book and it is easy for readers to imagine what life is like in this futuristic world.  Although sometimes disturbing, these descriptions are necessary for readers to grasp the significance of actions in this particular setting.  Without details of the setting, readers will not understand the danger of going against the norm.
 Even so, Huxley challenges the effectiveness of the norm he presents through a character known as John the Savage.  John came to London after living in New Mexico with the traditional ways of today.  Upon arriving, he notices that citizens aren't genuinely happy; they have just believed what they've been told.  He sees the injustice of drugging individuals with "soma" a drug providing euphoria and suppressing reality.
 Although a bit extreme at times, Huxley's presentation challenges society's desire for instant gratification, unending happiness and superficiality.  The novel is certainly worth a read.  Beyond its literary merit it provides a window into the fate of the population of these desires don't curb and allows for some soul searching on the reader's part.
1901692
With the advent of cloning, the Human Genome Project, and people working at making "designer babies" this book is (unfortunately) very relavant today.  And even if science does not allow us to do quite what Huxley suggests, there is more to what he is saying.
It is useful to consider the two types of dytopias that Huxley and George Orwell predicts.  The latter is one of totalitarianism, like a Soviet state, or a dictatorship.  Huxley predicts a society where everyone is lulled into believing they are ahppy, that they do not realize that they are being manipulated, directed, guided and herded like sheep.  All the while they are happy, accepting it.
Many argue that technology like television, the Internet, and many others are doing this today.  WE live under a subtle form of totalitarianism than Orwell predicted in 1984.  This is worth thinking about, reflecting on as we read this timeless book.
3067025
Desmonds biography of Thomas Huxley is thorough  over 600 pages of detailed text. The book is a treasure house for information relating to Huxley and the state of 19th century natural science in England. I read the book after reading Janet Brownes two volume biography of Darwin which outdoes Desmond in detail with both volumes combined being over 1000 pages. But there is a huge difference in writing styles. Browne is straightforward without ever being dull. She works hard at getting her own authorship out of the way and succeeds admirably in getting the reader inside the mind of Charles Darwin. Unfortunately, Desmond is less successful at doing that. The details are there and parts of the book are fascinating. But the drama that comes through in certain sections is in spite of the writing style, not because of it. Desmonds writing style draws much more attention to the author. As other reviewers have noted, he uses allusions and literary devices constantly. Almost every paragraph has at least one, some are filled with them. Many of the allusions are comparisons to cultural or historical events. For example, Desmond refers to Huxley many times as Schamyl, an Islamic leader in the Caucasian War. Huxley had done research on him for the government and identified with his cause against the repressive tyranny of Russia. Desmond sees a similarity of goals in that Huxley thought of himself as fighting the tyranny of an encrusted and repressive Christianity and bringing intellectual freedom to the people - thus the allusion. Understandable, but Desmond uses this analogy and others far too much and many of the meanings are not transparent to contemporary readers. A very common device Desmond uses is a one or two word metaphor to describe a person or event and the reader is expected to fill in the rest. Huxleys friends are the cloth caps; Huxley is both Darwins bulldog pup and tearaway because of his differences from Darwin. Typical sentences, the first concerning one of Huxley's depressive moods and the second his early relationship to Darwin: His nerves created waves in the nihilistic void and the lecture somehow shook itself together and It was time to invite the tearaway to Downe for a pumping session. One reason Desmond uses these techniques is because Huxley himself frequently used them in his own writings and speeches. Some readers may enjoy this style for over 600 pages. But, in the context of a biography, I found the constant use of these literary techniques drew too much attention to the language and the author and made understanding the subject more difficult rather than enlightening.

I mention the problem with language the book has but I also want to mention one of its most positive points. In the Introduction Desmond says that he will be approaching Huxley in context, i.e., portraying him in the social context which formed him as a person and which permeated much of his scientific life. The book is an excellent example of a scientist working in his cultural milieu, in this case the stratified society of Victorian England. If the reader can work through the language, he or she will find this point very well done. Huxleys working class upbringing, including his many extremely successful talks to everyday workers, and his gradual emergence into the upper regions of British science is well-documented and helps a great deal in understanding the man. The books details and its ability to put the man in context are true strengths. But the reader frequently has to work through difficult verbiage to get there. Desmonds book is the best on the market about this brilliant, incisive, and fascinating man who made the understanding of science, and specifically of evolution, his life goal. Despite the writing style I recommend the book.
3733672
Julian Huxley (1887-1975) was a famous English evolutionary biologist and humanist.  (He wrote books like&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Evolution-The-Modern-Synthesis/dp/B0000CLY0A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Evolution: The Modern Synthesis</a>, as well as the forward to Teilhard de Chardin's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Phenomenon-Of-Man/dp/B0000CMPEX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Phenomenon Of Man</a>.) He wrote in the Preface to this 1957 book, "God is one among several hypotheses to account for the phenomena of human destiny, and... is now proving to be an inadequate hypothesis. To a great many people, including myself, this realisation is a great relief, both intellectually and morally. It frees us to explore the real phenomena for which the God hypothesis seeks to account, to define them more accurately, and to work for a more satisfying set of concepts and symbols to represent them in our mental organisation. What the world needs is an essentially religious idea-system... charged with the total dynamic of knowledge old and new... scientific and spiritual." (Pg. 9)

He says that religion is "a way of life which follows necessarily from a man's holding certain things in reverence, from his feeling and believing them to be sacred." (Pg. 20) He adds, "I believe, then, that religion arose as a feeling of the sacred." (Pg. 21) He proposes to "interpret the religious view of God"; once this is done, "All the vital facts of religous life remain; they but want re-defining in new terms. The living reality will need to change its clothes---that is all." (Pg. 24)

He suggests that worship "will be seen to be not a bowing down before a spiritual idol with supernatural powers, nor a placation of a jealous God... It is an opportunity for a communal proclaiming of belief in certain spiritual values; for refreshment of the spirit..." (Pg. 34) He admits, "although I experienced a certain feeling of awe towards the uncomprehended idea of God, I never thought of God as personal." (Pg. 69)

He states that "a developed religion should definitely be a relation of the personality as a whole to the rest of the universe, one into which reference enters, and one in which the search for the ultimate satisfactions of discovering and knowing truth, experiencing and expressing beauty, and ensuring the good in righteous action, all have the freest possible play." (Pg. 177)

He summarizes that religion "must clearly be one centered on the idea of fulfillment. Man's most sacred duty... is to promote the maximum fulfillment of the evolutionary process on this earth; and this includes the fullest realisation of his own inherent possibilities." (Pg. 194) He adds, "Man is that part of reality in which and through which the cosmic process has become conscious and has begun to comprehend itself. His supreme task is to increase that conscious comprehension and to apply it as fully as possible." (Pg. 209)

While Huxley's vision will certainly not persuade everyone, it is of great interest for anyone interested in liberal/progressive forms of religion---particularly those with a scientific orientation.
2307590
This is a superb book, and it provides the most insightful, compelling justification around for rejecting our consumer society.  Huxley doesn't cop out by making this Brave New World any less attractive than it could be, what with all the advanced technology, free sex, and designer drugs.  This honest acknowledgement of how the sacrifice of individual freedom might realistically be compensated in a carefully-engineered society makes Huxley's point all the more powerful.

Of course, the foresight Huxley shows is remarkable on many levels, but for me the most relevant prediction is the degeneration of society into materialism. In other writings Huxley has argued how individual spiritual experience can be hindered by organized religion, and the recent mega-church phenomenon hasn't so far produced a Thomas Aquinas.

But even if you accept the underlying critique of a society that perpetuates itself though highly sophisticated psychological manipulation (and who wouldn't - even Captain Kirk had to bust one of these up on a Star Trek episode as I recall), it doesn't mean 1) that you are then logically compelled to reject any society that resembles the one here, nor 2) that you wouldn't choose to live in the Brave New World if given a choice.

The real world doesn't present us with such black-and-white decisions, but most societies do reward conformity.  Some have to tempt us more than others, and those are the ones to be careful of.
4845094
This man encountered Moses and and Jesus. The scientific data they gave him, he has studied for 24 years.

His forth book "Aliens within Us" provides mankind with a total understanding of God and our existence both in philosphical, religious, and scientific equations.

He is not a businessman. He merely does the job he was assigned and hope others will care to listen to what God has to say today.

I rarely have orgasmic reactions to science books.