What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedEither/Or
Søren Kierkegaard · Book · 2004
If you loved Either/Or, start with Ordet (Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1955) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Either/Or across media.
You were drawn to the way Either/Or forces you to confront the tension between aesthetic indulgence and the weight of ethical responsibility.
Films on the same thread
Ordet
Carl Theodor Dreyer · Film · 1955
Explores: Faith and Doubt, Religious Fanaticism, Family Conflict.
Like the philosophical dialogues in Either/Or, this film explores the agonizing divide between faith and doubt, grounding its existential inquiry in the intimate, often painful complexities of family life.
Ikiru
Film · 1952
Shares a thread with Either/Or: Existentialism.
If Either/Or hit, Ikiru shares the thread.
Yi Yi
Edward Yang · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with Either/Or: existentialism.
This film captures the quiet, everyday moral uncertainty explored in Either/Or, presenting a portrait of a family navigating the disconnect between their personal desires and their societal roles.
Se7en
David Fincher · Film · 1995
Explores: Moral Decay, Urban Decay, Good vs Evil.
While more visceral than the text of Either/Or, this narrative reflects the same dark obsession with moral decay and the consequences of a life lived without an ethical compass.
Series on the same thread
Borgen
Adam Price · Series · 2010
Explores: Political Intrigue, Moral Dilemmas, Power and Corruption.
Borgen dramatizes the conflict between personal idealism and the corruption of power, echoing the struggle between aesthetic ambition and ethical duty that Kierkegaard dissects in Either/Or.
The Good Place
Michael Schur · Series · 2016
Shares a thread with Either/Or: Existentialism.
If the philosophical weight of Either/Or intrigued you, this series offers a comedic yet rigorous examination of moral improvement and the search for a meaningful existence after death.
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Shares a thread with Either/Or: Existentialism.
This series mirrors the fractured identity and psychological isolation found in the aesthetic sections of Either/Or, pushing the search for self-definition into a surreal and terrifying digital landscape.
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Shares a thread with Either/Or: Existentialism.
These stories utilize the same existential curiosity as Either/Or, frequently placing characters in scenarios that force them to reconcile their internal values with sudden, often disturbing, external realities.
Podcasts on the same thread
Philosophize This!
Stephen West · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existential inquiry, Critical thinking, Evolution of ideas.
For those who appreciated the intellectual depth of Either/Or, this podcast provides an accessible survey of the very existential questions and philosophical traditions that Kierkegaard helped to define.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Either/Or: Existentialism.
This podcast continues the project of Either/Or by dissecting the dichotomy of human experience, focusing on how individual responsibility and values shape a life of purpose and character.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Either/Or written as a single narrative?
Either/Or is not a single narrative. It uses the voices of two distinct characters to explore the search for a meaningful existence. The first part presents the perspective of the aesthetic young man known as A, while the second part features the ethical Judge Vilhelm.
What topics does Either/Or cover?
Either/Or covers a diverse range of subjects including Mozart, drama, and the nature of boredom. The text also includes the Seducer's Diary, which details the cynical seduction and subsequent rejection of a young woman, serving as a reflection on different ways of living.
How is the structure of Either/Or organized?
The structure of Either/Or is divided into two primary sections. The first section is written from the viewpoint of the aesthetic young man identified as A, and the second section consists of the reflections of the ethical Judge Vilhelm, contrasting their differing worldviews.
Does Either/Or focus on specific characters?
Yes, Either/Or focuses on two specific characters who represent opposing viewpoints. Part one features an aesthetic young man referred to as A, while part two features the ethical Judge Vilhelm. These characters allow the book to contemplate the search for a meaningful existence through their different voices.