If you loved
Trick Mirror
Jia Tolentino · Book · 2019
What hooked you in Trick Mirror was the way it exposes the performative lies and systemic rot hiding behind our modern cultural institutions.
Films on the same thread
All About Eve
Film · 1950
Like the essays in Trick Mirror, this film dissects the dark, performative nature of ambition and the calculated deceits required to survive within a competitive, image-obsessed industry.
Bombshell
Jay Roach · Film · 2019
This film mirrors the sharp cultural critique found in Trick Mirror by pulling back the curtain on a toxic corporate empire and the women navigating its systemic corruption.
She Said
Maria Schrader · Film · 2022
Just as Trick Mirror interrogates the power structures of our time, this narrative examines how investigative journalism can dismantle the silence protecting pervasive, long-standing institutional abuses of power.
Spotlight
Tom McCarthy · Film · 2015
This story of moral courage and truth-seeking resonates with the investigative spirit of Trick Mirror, highlighting how institutional corruption thrives until it is forcibly brought into the light.
Series on the same thread
Tokyo Vice
J.T. Rogers · Series · 2022
Much like the cultural commentary in Trick Mirror, this series explores the gritty reality of corruption and the personal cost of embedding yourself within a broken, alien system.
Dirty Scams
Series · 2025
If the scammer culture themes in Trick Mirror fascinated you, this series offers a direct look at the art of the grift and the moral ambiguity of clever manipulation.
ZeroZeroZero
Leonardo Fasoli · Series · 2020
This exploration of the global cocaine trade expands on the systemic analysis found in Trick Mirror, revealing how far-reaching conspiracies operate through betrayal and cold, calculated power dynamics.
POSE
Brad Falchuk · Series · 2018
This musical drama provides a historical counterpoint to the contemporary observations in Trick Mirror, examining how social class and identity are performed within the pressure of New York.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
This podcast shares the investigative rigor of Trick Mirror, focusing on the people caught in the middle of moral dilemmas and the complex truths behind human behavior and law.
Making Sense with Sam Harris
Sam Harris · Podcast · 2026
This show appeals to the same intellectual curiosity present in Trick Mirror, challenging your cognitive biases and pushing you to think critically about the ethical dilemmas shaping our society.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Trick Mirror a collection of essays?
Yes, Trick Mirror is a collection of essays written by Jia Tolentino. The book explores various aspects of modern culture, including the prevalence of scammer culture and the impact of reality television, through the lens of self-deception.
What themes are explored in Trick Mirror?
Trick Mirror examines themes related to self-deception and contemporary cultural phenomena. The essays analyze topics such as reality television and the rise of scammer culture, providing a critical look at how these elements shape the modern experience according to the author.
Who is the author of Trick Mirror?
The author of Trick Mirror is Jia Tolentino. She is a cultural critic for The New Yorker whose writing has been described as whip-smart and challenging, leading some to compare her work to that of Joan Didion.
Is Trick Mirror considered a notable publication?
Trick Mirror is a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the ten best books of the year by the New York Public Library. The collection has received critical acclaim for its bold and unflinching examination of cultural issues.