What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedShrinking
Brett Goldstein · Series · 2023
If you loved Shrinking, start with 50/50 (Jonathan Levine, 2011) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Shrinking across media.
You loved Shrinking because it balances the weight of profound grief with the messy, hilarious reality of human connection.
Books on the same thread
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Lori Gottlieb · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with Shrinking: Therapy.
Just like the professional struggles seen in Shrinking, this memoir offers a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the therapist's chair, proving that even those who heal others need healing too.
How to Sell a Haunted House
Grady Hendrix · Book
Shares a thread with Shrinking: Dark comedy.
If the family dynamics in Shrinking resonated with you, this dark comedy explores how grief manifests in dysfunctional households, blending emotional baggage with a sharp, irreverent sense of humor.
Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy
Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with Shrinking: Grief.
This book mirrors the journey of emotional honesty found in Shrinking, providing a practical roadmap for finding resilience and joy after life delivers an unexpected, devastating personal blow.
Invincible Compendium One
Robert Kirkman · Book
Explores: legacy, moral ambiguity, heroism.
The moral ambiguity and complex family secrets that drive the characters in Shrinking are center stage here, as this story deconstructs the weight of legacy and personal responsibility.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Much like the found family at the heart of Shrinking, this story illustrates how unlikely bonds formed during difficult times can provide the necessary support to move past grief.
50/50
Jonathan Levine · Film · 2011
Explores: Mortality, Friendship, Facing Adversity.
This film captures the same tonal blend of mortality and humor that defines Shrinking, showing how deep friendship acts as a vital anchor during a major life crisis.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Shrinking: Dark Comedy.
If you enjoyed the messy interpersonal conflicts in Shrinking, you will appreciate how this film examines the sudden, jarring breakdown of a long-term friendship through a dark comedic lens.
Nonnas
Stephen Chbosky · Film · 2025
Explores: Grief and Healing, Community, Generational Connection.
Like the grieving protagonist in Shrinking, the lead character here finds a sense of community and healing through an unconventional project that helps him process his deep loss.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
These cinematic stories echo the experimental and honest human reflections seen in Shrinking, diving into the complexities of the human condition with both humor and sharp, poignant awareness.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
The self-deprecating humor and focus on professional intimacy found here will appeal to you, mirroring the way characters in Shrinking navigate their blurred personal and professional social boundaries.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Shrinking a show about a therapist?
Yes, Shrinking follows Jimmy, a therapist who is struggling to grieve the loss of his wife while balancing his roles as a father, friend, and professional. The series explores his decision to adopt a new, unfiltered approach to therapy with everyone he encounters.
What is the premise of Shrinking?
Shrinking centers on Jimmy, who begins practicing brutal honesty with his patients and the people in his life following the death of his wife. This shift in his approach creates a series of events that test whether his new method leads to improvement or chaos.
Does Shrinking feature a therapist as the main character?
Yes, the main character of Shrinking is Jimmy, a therapist who is navigating his personal grief while attempting to change his clinical approach. He applies this new method of unfiltered honesty to his interactions with patients, friends, and his family.
Is Shrinking about a man grieving his wife?
Yes, Shrinking focuses on Jimmy, a man struggling to manage his life as a father and therapist while grieving the loss of his wife. His journey involves testing a new, brutally honest approach with the people around him to see if it helps or causes chaos.