Aldous Huxley “Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.”

Bio “I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself.”  Born in Surrey, England in 1894  Contracted a disease at 16 that left him blind for 2 years and permanently seriously impaired his vision  Ended his dream of becoming a doctor; however, his interest in science carried over into his writing  Started career as a professional writer in 1920; wrote poetry, essays, and fiction

Bio cont… “The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.”  Lived in Italy for a number of years & formed a close relationship with D.H. Lawrence  Moved to Southern California in 1937 with his wife and son  Died in 1963

Themes in Huxley’s Writing “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” Idea that spans all of his work:  Search to explain the meaning and possibilities of human life and perception Early years:  Satire of upper class  Man’s disillusionment with religion, art, politics, and sex  Pessimistic view of human nature

Brave New World “Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.”  Written in 1932  Satire  Dystopia  Totalitarian government  Caste system  Genetic predetermination  Free sex  Drugs to avoid pain/feeling  Lack of awareness & meaningful human connection

Transformation of Huxley’s Writing “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.”  1930s: Started exploring questions of philosophy, sociology, politics, and ethics; Allied himself with the pacifist movement  1940s-50s: Became fascinated with spiritual life & the ability to commune with the divine (mysticism)  Experimented with mescaline & LSD which he believed created a similar experience to the mystics’ fasting, prayer, & meditation  Wrote The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell about psychedelic drugs

Transformation cont… According to Huxley’s brother Julian, “One of Aldous’s major preoccupations was how to achieve self-transcendence while yet remaining a committed social being– how to escape from the prison bars of self and the pressures of here and now into realms of pure goodness and pure enjoyment.” “Aldous Huxley: A Life of the Mind.” Brave New World: P.S. Insights, Interviews & More… New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006.