What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Secret of My Success
Herbert Ross · Film · 1987
If you loved The Secret of My Success, start with Suits (Aaron Korsh, 2011) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Secret of My Success across media.
If the corporate maneuvering and underdog ambition of The Secret of My Success captivated you, these selections mirror that climb.
Books on the same thread
Think and Grow Rich
Napoleon Hill · Book · 1937
Explores: Wealth Creation, Positive Thinking, Goal Setting.
Just as Brantley Foster relies on grit to navigate his career in The Secret of My Success, this classic text provides the foundational principles for achieving similar professional heights.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
Much like the fish-out-of-water energy of The Secret of My Success, this story follows a man pivoting into a new industry, highlighting the absurdity of navigating unfamiliar corporate environments.
Microsoft Secrets
Michael A. Cusumano, Richard W. Selby · Book · 1998
Explores: Corporate Culture, Competitive Advantage, Technological Development.
The Secret of My Success portrays the inner workings of a massive enterprise, and this case study offers a real-world look at the competitive strategies behind such corporate growth.
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Tom Wolfe · Book · 1987
Explores: Class Struggle, Institutional Corruption, Systemic Injustice.
While The Secret of My Success plays corporate ladder-climbing for laughs, this novel presents a darker, more satirical look at the high-stakes world of Manhattan business and social status.
Series on the same thread
Suits
Aaron Korsh · Series · 2011
Explores: Underdog, Mentor-Mentee Relationship, Moral Ambiguity.
Like the protagonist of The Secret of My Success, Mike Ross uses deception and quick thinking to thrive in a high-pressure office environment where he clearly does not belong.
The Office
Greg Daniels · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with The Secret of My Success: Workplace Comedy.
The Secret of My Success captures the nuances of office life, and this series perfects that workplace comedy dynamic by highlighting the eccentricities found within everyday corporate office culture.
Moonlighting
Glenn Gordon Caron · Series · 1985
Explores: Will They/Won't They, Sexual Tension, Quirky Characters.
The rapid-fire dialogue and romantic tension that fueled the partnership in The Secret of My Success are perfectly mirrored in this classic series about an unlikely professional duo.
Succession
Jesse Armstrong · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with The Secret of My Success: Corporate Intrigue.
The Secret of My Success explores the complexities of working within a family empire, a theme this drama elevates through intense power struggles and high-stakes corporate intrigue.
Podcasts on the same thread
Working Hard, Hardly Working
Podcast
Explores: entrepreneurship, career advice, personal growth.
If you enjoyed the career-focused journey of Brantley Foster in The Secret of My Success, this podcast offers practical advice and stories from people navigating their own professional paths.
My Brother, My Brother And Me
The McElroys · Podcast
Explores: sibling relationships, humorous advice, absurdist humor.
The Secret of My Success relies on the charm of a protagonist improvising his way through life, a chaotic spirit that the McElroy brothers capture perfectly in their humorous advice.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary premise of The Secret of My Success?
The Secret of My Success follows Brantley Foster, a recent graduate from Kansas who moves to New York City to pursue his career dreams. After struggling to find work, he secures an entry-level position in the mail room of a multi-million-dollar company managed by his uncle, Howard Prescott.
Who directed The Secret of My Success?
The Secret of My Success was directed by Herbert Ross. The 1987 film focuses on the professional and personal challenges faced by Brantley Foster as he attempts to navigate the competitive corporate environment of New York City while working under his uncle.
Is The Secret of My Success set in New York City?
Yes, The Secret of My Success is set in New York City. The film depicts the journey of Brantley Foster, a well-educated individual from Kansas who relocates to the city with hopes of making it big, only to discover that both employment and romance are difficult to secure.
How does Brantley Foster get his start in The Secret of My Success?
In The Secret of My Success, Brantley Foster secures his initial employment by visiting his uncle, Howard Prescott. Howard Prescott runs a multi-million-dollar company, and he provides Brantley with a job working in the mail room of the firm.