The Topeka School

Just finished reading Ben Lerner's novel THE TOPEKA SCHOOL last night, and the more it sits with me, the more I like it. The book uses the experience of the nuclear Gordon family to dive into the framework of American masculinity, psychosexual insecurity, and ultimately physical violence that has come to frame our current political climate. That said, there are no straight, causal lines drawn between individual behaviors in this 1990's microcosm and today's national dilemma, but instead, the book ferments in the impact that male role playing, and all of its subconscious (and conscious) damage, has had on our ability to be good to one another, male and female and non-binary and beyond.

But, as importantly (and in parallel and again, dominated by male “need” and perceptions of “competition”), the book lays out the strategies of performative intellectual dishonesty as the fundament of anti-intellectual American discourse. Using High School debate competition strategy as the scaffolding, the book compellingly defines the idea of “the spread”- the tactic of splattering as much bullshit against your opponent's wall that, should they even dare to take any of it seriously and at face value, they will never be able to address all of it. And that's how you win, by spreading out your opponent's concern across so many fields of response, that a comprehensive response becomes impossible.

And just look at our country, where the politics of “the spread” mean that if you care about immigration and LGBTQIA+ rights and the environment and racism and gender inequality and income inequality and housing insecurity and corruption andandand, you, like me, may constantly battle the feeling of being completely helpless against the ongoing tsunami of bullshit– real life, actionable, obvious, transparent, strategic bullshit, taken seriously, reported with a wink as if it were the truth– that stands in the way of human progress. THE TOPEKA SCHOOL is the first novel I've read that captures this condition (albeit in the context of High School debate) and gives it meaningful articulation. I will say, I'll always see “the spread” now for what it is, and that is very empowering, to finally have words for the thing you see everywhere.

A very good book, won't be everyone's cup of tea, but what of personal value is? I think “not everyone's cup of tea” is my identity at this point! ha ... Anyway, if you're looking for thoughtful, contemporary fiction, give this one a look.