This vivid diary of life in a Japanese internment camp during World War II examines the moral challenges encountered in conditions of confinement and deprivation.
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This vivid diary of life in a Japanese internment camp during World War II examines the moral challenges encountered in conditions of confinement and deprivation.
About the Author
Langdon Gilkey was a young American teacher at Yenching University near Peking, China, when the Japanese military under wartime pressure rounded up all foreigners into an internment camp. Two and a half years later they were released. Shantung Compound is based on a journal Dr. Gilkey kept during his imprisonment.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A candid look at human nature,
By
This review is from: Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure (Paperback)
Langdon Gilkey's account of his internment at the Shantung Compound in China during WW II paints a vivid picture of what humans are like: and it is not pretty. Selfish, base, mean spirited, quarrelsome - it didn't seem to matter what anyone's ideology consisted of, for the most part people acted in whatever ways promoted their own self interest. (One notable exception was Eric "Ridley" (Eric Liddell), the Olympic gold medalist in track whose story was featured years later in the film Chariots of Fire. His unselfishness was notable for being so unique in this camp.) Gilkey makes insightful comments about law and human nature based on his observations, concluding that laws are not made to abstractly state what is right and what is wrong, but are implemented to restrain destructive self-interested behavior and turn socially impoverishing habits into socially constructive ones. I didn't agree with everything Gilkey said, but this book is an eye opener and definitely worth reading.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Survival under stress,
By Jerry Bruemmer (Walnut Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure (Paperback)
Gilkey's academic liberalism is tested by the reality of the stress he observes as a mid-20's, very involved leader under prison conditions. His insights in the complex areas of law, food distribution, justice, work (his insight into lazy workers is very good), equality, theology, among other topics makes this book required reading for all managers, supervisors, teachers, religious leaders and lawyers. His associations with gifted intellects as well as self serving persons during his incarceration allowed him to validate his presuppositions. This is one of the most insightful books I've read in a long time. I now know why he is such an highly respected, revered teacher, mentor and theologian. His insight into the original sin of mankind is worth the price of the book! This book is truly a blessing.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most insightful books on the human condition.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure (Paperback)
Sociologists and psychologists have case studies that enable them to draw various conclusions about human nature and the human condition. Often these studies are severely biased by the various presuppositions of the discipline. In this magnificent book by Langdon Gilkey, the reader gets a first hand account of a mini "civilization". The entire book is insightful. The most rewarding part is the last section. Gilkey's reflections about the human longing for God and trust in providence is brilliant. Gilkey writes from experience, not from the comfort zone of unattached research.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The letter arrived in late February, 1943, at the door of the house I shared with five bachelor teachers in Peking. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cooking shift, club porch, comfort money, camp committee, small meanings Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Discipline Committee, North China, Quarters Committee, Yenching University, Housing Committee, Father Darby, Labor Committee, Far East, United States, General Affairs Committee, Kailon Mining Company, Reinhold Niebuhr, Salvation Army, Providence of God, Sas Sloan, White Russian, Eric Ridley, Roman Catholic, World War New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The letter arrived in late February, 1943, at the door of the house I shared with five bachelor teachers in Peking. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
cooking shift, club porch, comfort money, camp committee, small meanings Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Discipline Committee, North China, Quarters Committee, Yenching University, Housing Committee, Father Darby, Labor Committee, Far East, United States, General Affairs Committee, Kailon Mining Company, Reinhold Niebuhr, Salvation Army, Providence of God, Sas Sloan, White Russian, Eric Ridley, Roman Catholic, World War New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
47
books
cite this book:
See all 47 books citing this book
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- Integrity is a Growth Market: Character Based Leadership by Alan Kolp and Peter Rea on page 14, page 82, and page 89
- Psychology Through the Eyes of Faith by David G. Myers on page 206, page 207, and Back Matter
See all 47 books citing this book
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