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/lit/ - Literature

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4719602 No.4719602[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

Aldous Huxley. There is little doubt he was amongst the most influential writers and intellectuals of the 20th century. But what is /lit/'s take on him? Overrated and pretentious, or deeply insightful?

Three of his books honestly changed my outlook on life for the better (The Perennial Philosophy, The Doors of Perception and Brave New World).

What do you think of him and his work?

>> No.4719604

>>4719602
more like arduous huxley owned

>> No.4719608

>Perennial Philosophy
Did it really OP? Please talk about it, I've got this book lying around here somewhere but always thought it was shit.

>> No.4719610

dat Brave New World some World Controller shit rite thur ya hurd

Epsilon Minus niggaz tryna get in on dis

>> No.4719614

>LSD, 100 µg, intramuscular

>> No.4719618

>>4719602
I got a first edition of Eyeless in Gaza.

His earlier novels are often under-looked, but very amusing.

>> No.4719623

Boy, OP, he must have had quite an effect on you now that you're asking big boy questions like "what do you think?" and "is he overrated or insightful?"

You've truly learned the art of critical thinking. Thank goodness you've stumbled upon this man and his writing; the relationship between his work and your thought...it is a thingy of beauty.

>> No.4719636

>>4719608
Dude, read that shit NOW. I put it off for so long because it deals with religion and spirituality (topics I tend to avoid), but of all his books, this truly changed me from an admittedly selfish person into someone... well, less selfish, and I saw the improvement in not only my life, but everyone else.

It boils down virtually EVERY religion and finds that, at their core, they all have a philosophy (not a religion as we have come to think about it). This is the "Perennial Philosophy"). Even if you despise reading about religion, read this book. I believe if every person read (and digested) the contents of this book, the world would be so much better for it.

>> No.4719643

>>4719623
You are very right (OP here btw). For this reason, I actually feel indebted to this man.

>> No.4719667

>>4719610

>ironic ebonics

fuck off to /mu/

>> No.4720459

Island should be taught in all high schools, not to force everyone to agree with it but at least to show them a new perspective

>> No.4721085

I'm currently struggling to piece together an essay on Point Counter Point and Eyeless in Gaza. I struggled through both (Antic Hay was a much "lighter" read), but after reading them, I feel even dumber than before.
That being said, I did enjoy some of the 10-page monologues, but it was still a tough read.

Now reading DH Lawrence, and damn, he loves the lengthy monologues as well. Jesus Christ.

>> No.4722056

>>4721085
Those Barren Leaves is somewhere between Antic Hay and PCP's levels and themes. Much closer to Antic Hay's length, but not as open farce. Genius and the Goddess is also a good quick read in terms of his fiction with a smaller set of relationships.
>>4720459
Try to find The Human Condition by him. It's a lecture series given in California just before the 60s, and it outlines the practicalities and reasoning for most of the social structures in Island, along with touching on real world events.
>>4719618
Good taste. I prefer his society novels and real world non-fiction to the stuff that most Huxley fans enjoy (BNW/DoP/H&H).

>> No.4722853

The Perrenial Philosophy is worth reading, even if it's a chore to get through.

>> No.4722893

I've read Chrome Yellow, Brave New World, Doors of Perception, and Perennial Philosophy.

I enjoyed Brave New World the most, simply because Chrome Yellow had no semblance of a plot. Doors of Perception made me want to do mescaline quite badly.

>> No.4722900

Hipster, but I still like his works and it's because of him I do drugs

>> No.4725157

>>4719602
>tfw people actually think that BNW is a dystopian novel
top kek

>> No.4725170

>>4719602
BNW is still roughly the closest thing possible to realistic utopia.

>> No.4725172
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4725172

>>4722900
What drugs do you drop Sister?

>> No.4725184

>>4722900
BNW got you into oxies or Doors of Perception got you into psychedelics?

>> No.4725193

>>4725172
Crack cocaine and PCP. You know, those that Huxley wrote about. You've read The Doors of Perception, I hope?

>> No.4725923

>>4725172
I'll do almost any except heroin, which I've only tried once via smoking. I most often use acid, occasionally I'll snort meth or do ecstasy.

>>4725184
Psychedelics.

>>4725193
He wrote about sniffing glue, Anon.

>> No.4725931

>>4725193
I love Jim Morrison! His lyrics are so fucking beautiful.

>> No.4727878
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4727878

>>4725157
>>4725170

>> No.4727909
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4727909

>>4722900
>>4725923

>> No.4728014

I hope whenever someone mentions Doors of Perception they are including Heaven and Hell.

I've got Time Must Have a Stop, BNW, BNW Revisited, Eyeless in Gaza and Island on my shelf.

Personally I disagree on the drugs but believe all his other philosophies are top-tier

>tfw when using his Island methods
>tfw when control over my emotions
>tfw when stop using them because I'm young and want to be dumb for a bit