If you loved
Madness
Antonia Hylton · Book
If Madness pulled you in with its exposure of institutional rot, these stories similarly unearth the buried, systemic failures hidden beneath the facade of American history.
Films on the same thread
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
Like the claustrophobic confinement explored in Madness, this thriller uses a domestic setting to mirror larger power imbalances, revealing how secrets fester within structures designed to keep people trapped.
American Fiction
Cord Jefferson · Film · 2023
Explores: Authenticity, Identity, Hypocrisy.
Just as Madness interrogates the narratives imposed on marginalized bodies, this satire dismantles the industry-wide hypocrisy surrounding Black identity, demanding the same critical eye toward systemic exploitation and performative history.
The Professor and the Madman
Farhad Safinia · Film · 2019
Explores: Obsession, Sanity vs. Madness, Redemption.
While Madness focuses on the tragic reality of asylums, this narrative explores the porous boundary between genius and insanity, echoing the historical obsession with defining sanity within restricted institutional environments.
Hidden Figures
Film · 2016
Explores: Racial segregation, Women in STEM, Gender equality.
If you appreciated the way Madness restores agency to those suppressed by history, you will value this account of the brilliant women whose essential contributions were long erased by systemic prejudice.
Series on the same thread
Them
Little Marvin · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Madness: Systemic Racism.
This series mirrors the haunting investigation found in Madness by dramatizing the visceral reality of racial trauma, forcing a confrontation with the dark, often ignored foundations of the American dream.
Sharp Objects
Marti Noxon · Series · 2018
Explores: Trauma, Small Town Secrets, Dysfunctional Family.
Much like the investigative rigor of Madness, this story peels back layers of small-town history to expose the deep-seated psychological scars and generational abuse that thrive in silence and isolation.
The Pitt
R. Scott Gemmill · Series · 2025
Explores: Underfunded Healthcare, Emergency Medicine, Trauma.
This drama captures the same systemic neglect documented in Madness, highlighting how underfunded institutions fail their most vulnerable populations through the relentless, exhausting grind of those tasked with providing care.
The Underground Railroad
Barry Jenkins · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Madness: Systemic racism.
This narrative utilizes speculative fiction to confront the same historical horrors documented in Madness, translating the crushing reality of institutionalized oppression into a powerful, necessary journey toward reclaiming human dignity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
Explores: corruption, political scandal, accountability.
Similar to the investigative pursuit of truth in Madness, this podcast exposes how power structures enable corruption and systemic failure, proving that history is often shaped by what we forget.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Shares 2 threads with Madness: systemic racism, social justice.
This series serves as the essential companion to Madness, providing a broad, unflinching look at the systemic racism that defines our national identity and the hidden histories we must finally acknowledge.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Madness a work of investigative journalism?
Yes, Madness is written by a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist. The book represents an investigation into the history of a segregated asylum in Maryland that operated for 93 years, documenting the untold stories and systemic realities of the institution.
What is the historical focus of Madness?
Madness focuses on the 93-year history of a specific segregated asylum located in Maryland. The book explores the legacy and experiences associated with this institution, drawing on the investigative research conducted by author Antonia Hylton.
How long of a history does Madness cover?
Madness covers a 93-year period of history regarding a segregated asylum in Maryland. The book details the long-standing operations and the historical impact of the facility as uncovered by the investigative work of author Antonia Hylton.
Who is the author of Madness?
The author of Madness is Antonia Hylton. She is a journalist recognized with Peabody and Emmy awards for her work, which includes unearthing the history of the segregated asylum in Maryland featured in this book.