Shantung Compound: The Story of Men and Women Under Pressure

Rating:
Summary: A view of human weakness and the way of redemption
Review: Gilkey shows his readers the weak and pathetic aspects of the often heralded human self. In trying circumstances we often forsake that which should be most dear, furthermore our fragile egos cannot often own up to its actions. We are hypocrite to the bone. Fortunately there is an answer to the human problem, Gilkey demonstrates this also. A challenging but worth while read.

Rating:
Summary: Survival under stress
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Survival under stress
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: a fascinating look at how humans behave under pressure
Review: In 1941, the young Langdon Gilkey was teaching English and Philosophy at a university in Peking. China was at that time controlled by Japan, and after Pearl Harbor, all enemy nationals were placed under house arrest. In February, 1943, they were rounded up and moved to internment camps. Gilkey was sent to a compound in Shantung Province. He was there until November, 1945. Always the philosopher, Gilkey kept an extensive diary, analyzing the events in the camp in terms of what they revealed about human nature. What was revealed about human nature was that it was baaad. Gilkey quotes the Threepenny Opera: "For even saintly folk will act like sinners / Unless they have their customary dinners." For example, seemingly respectable and moral internees, caught stealing food from the camp kitchens, would often make impassioned speeches, about how their actions amounted to patriotic commando raids against the enemy. They clearly believed this, though it was of course ridiculous: the theft hurt the Japanese not at all, but was a very serious problem for the other underfed internees. In the last ten pages, suddenly, ignoring his own evidence from the camp, Gilkey concludes that humans need faith in the Providence of God to give them the willpower to resist temptation, and to give their lives Purpose. This last section consists of jarringly ill-conceived gibberish; but the rest of the book is fascinating, well-written, and thought-provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Best sociology lesson ever written
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A candid look at human nature
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most insightful books on the human condition.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Probe to Your Faith
Review: This book left me speechless and introspectively questioning the Christian faith I espouse. In Shantung Compound Gilkey, through his experience in the internment camp, stops the "program" of our spiritual doings and forces us to examine the conscience of our spirituality. His book has molded together spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and sociology--all of this together into a powerful delivery that demands a reconstitution of true religion in the hearts of seekers and believers alike. Even now I grapple for words to describe the book because it's just that powerful. Every Christian thinker must have this book as well as those who question Christianity. If anything it should restore faith in faith.

Rating:
Summary: Best sociology lesson ever written
Review: This book should be required reading for every college student to better understand human nature and how people function when building a functional micro society from scratch.