What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWashington
Matthew Ginsburg · Series · 2020
If you loved Washington, start with Washington (James Thomas Flexner, 1990) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Washington across media.
What hooked you in Washington was the way the weight of history rests upon the shoulders of one singular, complex leader.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The American Revolution
Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns · Book
Explores: nation building, revolutionary warfare, constitutional origins.
If you appreciated the foundational struggle depicted in Washington, this companion volume offers the necessary historical context to understand the immense challenges involved in building a brand new nation.
His Excellency
Joseph J. Ellis · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with Washington: Presidential Biography.
This biography mirrors the intimate character study found in Washington, peeling back the layers of public persona to reveal the true man behind the legend of the first president.
Seventeen Seventy-six
David McCullough · Book · 2005
Explores: Leadership under pressure, The American Revolutionary War, Founding Fathers.
Like the intense military focus of Washington, this narrative captures the perilous, high-stakes decisions that defined the birth of the country during a single, pivotal year of conflict.
Bush
Jean Edward Smith · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with Washington: Presidential Biography.
Readers who enjoyed the deep dive into presidential decision-making in Washington will find this comprehensive account of George W. Bush equally focused on the burdens of executive power.
Films on the same thread
Patton
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1970
Explores: Leadership, Insubordination, The Cost of War.
This film explores the same themes of ambition and the burden of command seen in Washington, presenting a complex portrait of a legendary general navigating military and political life.
Lincoln
Steven Spielberg · Film · 2012
Explores: American Civil War, Presidential Leadership, Abolitionism.
Much like the leadership struggles portrayed in Washington, this drama highlights the moral courage required to steer a nation through its most tumultuous and defining historical moments.
Glory
Edward Zwick · Film · 1989
Explores: racial prejudice, leadership, courage.
This film echoes the exploration of sacrifice found in Washington, focusing on the heavy weight of leadership and the personal toll exacted by service during a time of war.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
Fans of the character transformation in Washington will appreciate this look at the moral ambiguity and personal guilt that follow a historical figure after they change the world.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This series expands on the themes of nation-building presented in Washington by examining the profound, systemic forces that have shaped the American identity since its earliest colonial origins.
HISTORY This Week
The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: historical turning points, untold stories, biographical deep-dives.
If the biographical deep-dives in Washington captivated you, this podcast provides similar insight into the specific, often overlooked decisions that fundamentally reshaped the course of human history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Washington based on a book?
Yes, the 2020 television production titled Washington draws from historical research and biographical works, including the 1990 and 2010 books also titled Washington. These texts provide the foundation for exploring his transition from a British subject to the leader of a new nation.
How long is the 2020 Washington series?
The television series Washington, produced by Matthew Ginsburg, explores the life of the general across several episodes. It details his journey from a fatherless soldier to a leader who voluntarily steps down from power, as described in the historical account of his liberty-or-death campaign.
Does the Washington series cover his time as a British subject?
The 2020 production of Washington covers his early life as a loyal British subject. It tracks his evolution into a revolutionary leader who battles the empire to forge a new nation before eventually relinquishing his military authority at the height of his power.
What is the primary focus of the 2020 Washington show?
The 2020 Washington series focuses on the personal transformation of a young soldier into a leader who sacrifices for the common cause. It emphasizes his rise against the British Empire and his significant decision to step down from power after securing victory for the nation.