What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLincoln
David Herbert Donald · Book · 1995
If you loved Lincoln, start with The Civil War (1990) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Lincoln across media.
If you loved Lincoln, you likely appreciate how the weight of history is carried by the complex individuals shaping it.
Films on the same thread
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming · Film · 1939
Explores: Survival, Reconstruction Era, Lost Cause.
Just as Lincoln explores the societal shifts of the 19th century, this epic drama provides a visceral look at the personal cost of the era's fractured national landscape.
Malcolm X
Spike Lee · Film · 1992
Explores: Racial Identity, Black Nationalism, Social Justice.
This biographical drama mirrors the character growth found in Lincoln, examining how a singular leader navigates personal evolution while spearheading a movement that defines the national conscience.
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg · Film · 1993
Explores: Survival, Moral Courage, Dehumanization.
Like Lincoln, this film focuses on the heavy moral burden of leadership, demonstrating how one person’s choices during a crisis can alter the course of human history and survival.
Glory
Edward Zwick · Film · 1989
Explores: racial prejudice, leadership, courage.
This film captures the same Civil War intensity found in Lincoln, highlighting the leadership challenges and personal sacrifices required to unite a country torn apart by deep-seated prejudices.
Series on the same thread
The Civil War
Series · 1990
Explores: Brother vs. Brother, Reconstruction Era, Abraham Lincoln.
This documentary series offers the broader historical context that complements the intimate biographical focus of Lincoln, detailing the political and social milestones of the era with immense depth.
John Adams
Kirk Ellis · Series · 2008
Explores: American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Early American History.
Much like Lincoln, this miniseries provides a rigorous character study of a Founding Father, illustrating the political intrigue and personal struggles involved in building an evolving American democracy.
Grant
Series · 2020
Explores: American Civil War, Reconstruction Era, Military Leadership.
This documentary examines the life of a key Civil War figure, offering a similar lens on military leadership and the political complexities of the challenging Reconstruction era in America.
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. · Series · 2019
Explores: Racial Justice, Democracy and Governance, Systemic Inequality.
Following the conclusion of Lincoln, this series expands on the theme of national unity by exploring the arduous struggle for social change during the transformative post-war recovery period.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
If the analytical depth of Lincoln appealed to you, this podcast provides an equally rigorous examination of power and human nature across the most pivotal turning points of history.
1865
Airship / Audible · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama picks up immediately after the events concluding Lincoln, focusing on the political turmoil and power struggles that emerged in the wake of the president's sudden assassination.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Lincoln written by a Pulitzer Prize winner?
Yes, Lincoln is a masterful work written by David Herbert Donald, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. This biography provides a detailed portrait of Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency.
What part of Abraham Lincoln's life does Lincoln cover?
Lincoln covers the entire arc of his life, beginning with his humble upbringing in rural Kentucky, moving through his developing political career in Illinois, and concluding with his time as president during the American Civil War.
When was the biography Lincoln published?
The biography Lincoln, written by David Herbert Donald, was published in 1995. It offers a comprehensive look at the life and political ascent of the sixteenth president of the United States.
Does Lincoln focus on his early life before the presidency?
Yes, Lincoln depicts his gradual ascent from his modest beginnings in rural Kentucky. The book follows his journey through the political circles of Illinois before detailing his eventual presidency during the period of the American Civil War.