The Topeka School Summary
Ben Lerner

The Topeka School Overview

The Topeka School is a novel by Ben Lerner. The story follows Adam, a teenager growing up in Topeka, Kansas in the 1990s. Adam’s primary extracurricular activity is debate competitions, which often become mired in manipulative technical strategies rather than sincere debate. Adam’s parents, Jane and Jonathan, are psychotherapists and researchers at a local academic institution, referred to only as the Foundation. Throughout the novel, Adam and his parents attempt to navigate challenges related to communication and sociopolitical dysfunction. The novel explores themes of language, communication, relationships, sexism, and morality.