What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedLooking Back at LBJ
Mitchell B. Lerner · Book · 2005
If you loved Looking Back at LBJ, start with All the Way (Jay Roach, 2016) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Looking Back at LBJ across media.
What hooked you in Looking Back at LBJ was the way the tumultuous political landscape of the 1960s reshaped American history.
Films on the same thread
Selma
Film · 2014
Shares 2 threads with Looking Back at LBJ: Civil rights movement, Leadership.
Like the historical analysis found in Looking Back at LBJ, this film provides a visceral look at the civil rights struggles that defined the Johnson administration's most challenging era.
All the Way
Jay Roach · Film · 2016
Shares 3 threads with Looking Back at LBJ: Civil Rights Movement, Social Change, Leadership.
This dramatization mirrors the focus on political maneuvering in Looking Back at LBJ, offering an intimate perspective on the legislative battles that defined Lyndon B. Johnson's volatile presidency.
Nixon
Oliver Stone · Film · 1995
Explores: Abuse of Power, Paranoia, Political Intrigue.
If you appreciated the deep dive into presidential controversy in Looking Back at LBJ, you will find this exploration of Nixon's psyche and power struggles a compelling historical companion.
Malcolm X
Spike Lee · Film · 1992
Shares a thread with Looking Back at LBJ: Civil Rights Movement.
This film expands upon the social tensions covered in Looking Back at LBJ by highlighting the life of a pivotal figure who challenged the status quo during the sixties.
Series on the same thread
Bobby Kennedy for President
Series · 2018
Explores: 1960s America, American Politics, Social Justice.
This documentary captures the same decade of political upheaval explored in Looking Back at LBJ, focusing on the legacy of a man deeply involved in that transformative historical period.
The Looming Tower
Lawrence Wright · Series · 2018
Explores: Counterterrorism, Intelligence Failure, Bureaucratic Inefficiency.
Much like the scrutiny of foreign policy in Looking Back at LBJ, this series examines the complex bureaucratic failures and intelligence challenges that shaped global history and conflict.
John Adams
Kirk Ellis · Series · 2008
Explores: American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Early American History.
While set in an earlier era, this series shares the biographical rigor of Looking Back at LBJ, tracing the profound influence one leader has on the trajectory of nations.
American Experience
Series · 1988
Shares 2 threads with Looking Back at LBJ: American History, Social Change.
This series provides the same objective, investigative approach to American history that makes Looking Back at LBJ such an effective reexamination of our nation's most contentious political eras.
Podcasts on the same thread
BackStory
BackStory · Podcast · 2025
This podcast aligns with the historical mission of Looking Back at LBJ by challenging established narratives and providing context to the complex political events of the past.
You're Wrong About
Podcast
Explores: Misconceptions, Public Perception, Historical Analysis.
Just as Looking Back at LBJ reevaluates the controversies of the 1960s, this podcast interrogates the public record to uncover a more nuanced understanding of misunderstood historical figures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What time period is covered in Looking Back at LBJ?
Looking Back at LBJ examines the decade of Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidency. This period was defined by intense national division and violence, specifically focusing on the controversies surrounding the Vietnam War, civil rights, and foreign policy challenges that occurred during his time in office.
When was Looking Back at LBJ published?
Looking Back at LBJ was published in 2005. Written by Mitchell B. Lerner, the book was released nearly four decades after the events of Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidency, allowing for a retrospective analysis of the controversies that marked his administration.
Is Looking Back at LBJ a biography of the president?
Looking Back at LBJ is a historical analysis of the controversies during the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson. It focuses on how his administration navigated complex issues like civil rights and the Vietnam War rather than serving as a traditional chronological biography of his life.
Does Looking Back at LBJ cover specific policy issues?
Yes, Looking Back at LBJ covers several key policy issues from the 1960s. The text specifically explores the controversies surrounding civil rights legislation, the escalation of the Vietnam War, foreign policy decisions, and various law-and-order issues that defined the troubled presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson.