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juanmasaurus56's review
3.0
Not a book for everyone
This book was recommended to me by a good friend, and I was excited to read it... But it just never clicked with me.
I gave a 3 because I enjoyed the themes that were discussed, but the way it is written was weird to say the least. I don't know if it was this version or if it's just Aldous Huxley's writing style that was oddly structured but it kept taking me out of the flow and I had a hard time getting through it.
This book was recommended to me by a good friend, and I was excited to read it... But it just never clicked with me.
I gave a 3 because I enjoyed the themes that were discussed, but the way it is written was weird to say the least. I don't know if it was this version or if it's just Aldous Huxley's writing style that was oddly structured but it kept taking me out of the flow and I had a hard time getting through it.
tajoile's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
zeibeat's review
4.0
Short & sweet bold essay accounting Huxley's own experience tripping with Mescaline way before psychedelics were a thing.
Now that we live in a psychedelic R&D renaissance, there are many thoughts about this medicine power that sound as contemporary in Huxley's words than in today's science and literature.
If you are interested in the topic, this book is a must-read
Now that we live in a psychedelic R&D renaissance, there are many thoughts about this medicine power that sound as contemporary in Huxley's words than in today's science and literature.
If you are interested in the topic, this book is a must-read
simonmartin's review
3.0
this is regarded as a classic, but i'm not too sure how well it holds up to modern scrutiny. i found the prose challenging and quite poor at points, none more so than in huxley's tedious digressions into art interpretation. to paraphrase the old saying, writing about art is like dancing about architecture, and huxley by his own admission is not particularly adept at using language to craft a detailed image in his reader's head, which poses significant problems if you are trying to describe, say, a painting.
the rest of this - that is, the stream-of-consciousness, mostly chronological reporting of a mescalin trip - is mesmerising and overwhelming in its discussion of different ideas, concepts and potential applications of psychedelics. the last few pages are particularly enlightening and begin to approach a call to arms of sorts; the prose mirrors the effects of the mescalin, becoming more urgent and focused as huxley engages with the politicisation of substance use, the role of intoxication in human society, and religion. the comparisions made between the use of psychedelics and religious practice are bold, and i'm fascinated (if not always convinced) by philosophical approaches such as huxley's to schizophrenia. a valuable, if not always engrossing read.
the rest of this - that is, the stream-of-consciousness, mostly chronological reporting of a mescalin trip - is mesmerising and overwhelming in its discussion of different ideas, concepts and potential applications of psychedelics. the last few pages are particularly enlightening and begin to approach a call to arms of sorts; the prose mirrors the effects of the mescalin, becoming more urgent and focused as huxley engages with the politicisation of substance use, the role of intoxication in human society, and religion. the comparisions made between the use of psychedelics and religious practice are bold, and i'm fascinated (if not always convinced) by philosophical approaches such as huxley's to schizophrenia. a valuable, if not always engrossing read.
annieharhar's review against another edition
This was not my jam. Maybe someone else talking about their drug trip would be more entertaining or informative. This was so much self satisfied rambling.