If you loved
What Happened
Hillary Rodham Clinton · Book · 2017
What hooked you in What Happened was the raw intersection of public duty, gendered scrutiny, and the personal resilience required to navigate high-stakes power.
Films on the same thread
Simone: Woman of the Century
Olivier Dahan · Film · 2022
Like the experiences detailed in What Happened, this film explores the immense political battles and personal resilience of a woman transforming her era through tireless public service and conviction.
The Post
Film · 2017
This film mirrors the institutional challenges featured in What Happened by highlighting the specific obstacles a woman in power faces when confronting systemic corruption and intense media scrutiny.
I'm Still Here
Walter Salles · Film · 2024
You will recognize the theme of forced reinvention after a political upheaval found in What Happened, as this story examines how one woman navigates personal tragedy during a turbulent era.
Pieces of a Woman
Film · 2020
This film echoes the profound sense of loss described in What Happened, focusing on the intimate, often painful process of mourning while the rest of the world watches your life.
Series on the same thread
Madam Secretary
Barbara Hall · Series · 2014
If you appreciated the behind-the-scenes look at diplomacy in What Happened, this series provides a compelling look at the daily moral dilemmas and power dynamics of a female Secretary of State.
Veep
Armando Iannucci · Series · 2012
This satire offers a sharper, comedic lens on the same political ambition and power dynamics that you explored while reading the more somber, analytical memoir What Happened.
The Diplomat
Debora Cahn · Series · 2023
This drama captures the same high-stakes international pressure and complex marriage dynamics that are central to the personal and professional narrative presented throughout What Happened.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Matt Fraction · Series · 2023
Just as What Happened analyzes the impact of legacy and hidden institutional forces, this series follows a woman uncovering truth and generational trauma within a massive, secretive organization.
Podcasts on the same thread
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Esther Perel Global Media · Podcast · 2026
If you valued the introspective honesty in What Happened, this series offers a similar focus on the raw, unscripted reality of navigating complex human relationships and profound personal conflict.
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
This podcast explores the same themes of political corruption and institutional secrecy that provided the backdrop for the events and analysis detailed in What Happened.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is What Happened a memoir about the 2016 presidential election?
Yes. In What Happened, Hillary Rodham Clinton reflects on her experiences as the first woman nominated for president by a major party. The book details the sexism and criticism she faced during the campaign and her process of coping with the outcome of the election.
What topics does Hillary Rodham Clinton cover in What Happened?
What Happened focuses on the challenges Clinton encountered as a presidential candidate, specifically addressing the double standards and intense criticism directed toward her. It also provides a personal perspective on how she navigated the aftermath of her loss in the 2016 race.
Does What Happened discuss the sexism faced during the campaign?
Yes. A central theme of What Happened is the sexism and systemic double standards that Clinton confronted as a female candidate. She analyzes these experiences to explain the obstacles she faced while running for the presidency as the nominee of a major party.
How does What Happened describe the experience of losing the election?
What Happened documents the personal journey of Hillary Rodham Clinton following her defeat. The book describes the difficulties of the loss and explains the methods she used to cope with the devastating outcome after her historic campaign as a major party nominee.