Huxley was obviously best known for writing A Brave New World, but his life was much more complex than that. When Huxley was 16 he underwent keratitis punctata, which left him entirely blind. [1]. He recovered to a certain degree, gaining sight in one of his eyes. However, his condition restricted his life in more ways than he could have imagined, and was part of the reasons he turned to writing. He was originally studying to go into the medical field. [2].
Later in his life Huxley shifted his focus from science fiction to psychedelics. His first noted experience was his mescaline trip in Southern California. [3]. His interest in psychedelics rested in the realm of expanding one's consciousness, rather than experimenting with the medical aspect of them. His non-fiction book The Doors of Perception, which details the trip and discusses the effects, benefits, and potential of the drug upon one's consciousness. [4]. He later tried LSD, which became his choice psychedelic, preferring it to mescaline.
Sources:
1. http://www.online-literature.com/aldous_huxley/
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldous_Huxley
3. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/06/aldous-huxley-psychdelic-los-angeles.html
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doors_of_Perception
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