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Huxley and His Critics

Aldous Huxley’s search for the divine ground, from The Perennial Philosophy to mescaline and Island, and the replies it provoked.

Intermediate. 6 steps

The perennial philosophy

  1. Text

    The Perennial Philosophy

    Aldous Huxley, 1945

    Huxley’s anthology and argument: one divine ground beneath the traditions.

Contemplation and power

  1. Text

    Grey Eminence

    Aldous Huxley, 1941

    A mystic in politics: what contemplation asks of action, through one life.

The experiment

  1. Text

    The Doors of Perception

    Aldous Huxley, 1954

    Mescaline, the reducing valve, and the question this list is built around.

  2. Text

    Heaven and Hell

    Aldous Huxley, 1956

    Visionary experience, its old methods, and its darker side.

The reply

  1. Text

    Mysticism Sacred and Profane

    R. C. Zaehner, 1957

    Zaehner argues that mystical experiences differ in kind, and drugs give only one.

The vision

  1. Text

    Island

    Aldous Huxley, 1962

    Huxley’s last word: a society built on attention, compassion and practice.

Cite this entry
Chicago (bibliography)

“Huxley and His Critics.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/huxley-and-his-critics.

Chicago (note)

“Huxley and His Critics,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/huxley-and-his-critics.

MLA

“Huxley and His Critics.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/huxley-and-his-critics.

BibTeX
@misc{reading-lists-huxley-and-his-critics,
  title = {{Huxley and His Critics}},
  howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society},
  note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/huxley-and-his-critics}
}

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