A strange but faithful reprint of Aldous Huxley’s classic psychedelic essays, issued by Important Books in 2013.

The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell document Huxley’s mescaline experiments and his wider theory of perception: that consciousness normally filters reality, and altered states momentarily lift the veil.

This edition reproduces the original text in a raw, almost facsimile style — visibly scanned, minimally “cleaned up,” closer to an archival document than a polished modern paperback. The effect is intentional. It treats the work less as lifestyle philosophy and more as a historical artefact from the mid-century moment when mysticism, science, and pharmacology briefly overlapped.

Still sharp, still readable, still unsettling in how calmly Huxley describes experiences that later became countercultural clichés. Love him. 

Please note: this edition is a facsimile-style reprint with a visibly scanned appearance; this is part of the original production, not a defect.