Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure (Paperback)

by Langdon Gilkey (Author) "The letter arrived in late February, 1943, at the door of the house I shared with five bachelor teachers in Peking..." (more)
Key Phrases: cooking shift, club porch, comfort money, Discipline Committee, North China, Quarters Committee (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A fascinating memoir... a vivid diary of prison life." -- "time"

Product Description
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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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (May 28, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060631120
• ISBN-13: 978-0060631123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,645 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #46 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Japanese
  #87 in	Books > History > Military > World War II > Asia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A candid look at human nature, March 17, 1998

By	David Graham (Shell, Ecuador) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Survival under stress, December 1, 2001

By	Jerry Bruemmer (Walnut Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most insightful books on the human condition., September 11, 1998

By A Customer

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.