What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWilson
A. Scott Berg · Book · 2013
If you loved Wilson, start with The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (Ken Burns, 2014) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Wilson across media.
If you were drawn to Wilson by the intersection of personal idealism and the crushing weight of executive power, these selections resonate.
Films on the same thread
Lincoln
Steven Spielberg · Film · 2012
Explores: American Civil War, Presidential Leadership, Abolitionism.
Like the subject of Wilson, Lincoln captures the moral courage required to lead a nation through its most tumultuous period, focusing on the heavy burdens of the presidential office.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
Oppenheimer mirrors the complex legacy found in Wilson, illustrating how the immense responsibility of scientific and political power creates deep-seated personal conflict and a lasting, ambiguous historical impact.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Film · 2013
Explores: Greed, Excess, Corruption.
While Wilson explores the high-minded idealism of politics, this film provides a stark, cynical counterpoint by examining the rampant greed and corruption that can fester within powerful institutions.
Patton
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1970
Explores: Leadership, Insubordination, The Cost of War.
This portrait of a military leader shares the intense focus on ego and ambition that defined the public life of Wilson, highlighting the personal cost of high-stakes wartime command.
Series on the same thread
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
Ken Burns · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Wilson: 20th Century History.
If you appreciated the biographical depth of Wilson, this series offers a broader look at the American presidency through the lens of a family dynasty and their social reforms.
John Adams
Kirk Ellis · Series · 2008
Explores: American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Early American History.
This miniseries mirrors the scholarly, character-focused approach of Wilson, grounding the grand scale of early American political history in the intimate life and struggles of a founding father.
The West Wing
Aaron Sorkin · Series · 1999
Explores: Presidential Administration, Moral Dilemmas, Idealism vs. Realism.
The West Wing explores the same idealism versus realism tension present in Wilson, translating the high-pressure environment of executive decision-making into a compelling, fast-paced narrative of political life.
Borgen
Adam Price · Series · 2010
Explores: Political Intrigue, Moral Dilemmas, Power and Corruption.
Borgen echoes the central struggle of Wilson, examining how a political leader maintains their idealism while navigating the moral dilemmas and corruption inherent in the exercise of power.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
For those captivated by the historical curiosity found in Wilson, this podcast offers a similar commitment to uncovering the obscure but meaningful anecdotes that shape our collective cultural history.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
This podcast shares the analytical rigor of Wilson, applying a deep, unconventional lens to the consequences of power and the moral ambiguity that defines the lives of historical figures.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Wilson a recent biography of the president?
Wilson was published in 2013, marking one hundred years since the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson. Author A. Scott Berg spent more than a decade researching and writing this biography to provide a comprehensive look at one of the most influential and enigmatic figures of the twentieth century.
Who is the author of Wilson?
The biography Wilson was written by A. Scott Berg. Berg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who dedicated over ten years to researching the life of Woodrow Wilson to complete this detailed account of his presidency and personal legacy.
How much research went into writing Wilson?
A. Scott Berg completed Wilson after more than a decade of dedicated research and writing. This extensive effort was aimed at capturing the complex nature of Woodrow Wilson, who remains an influential and enigmatic figure a century after taking office.
Does Wilson cover the entire twentieth century?
Wilson focuses on the life and legacy of Woodrow Wilson, who is described as one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century. The book examines his impact and enigmatic character starting from his inauguration, which occurred one hundred years prior to the book's 2013 publication.