15 Books to Read Now That 'Succession' Is Over

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In its four seasons on air, Succession cemented its place as one of the TV greats. The HBO series, which follows aging billionaire media titan Logan Roy and his four children as they vie for a place in their hard-to-please father’s Waystar Royco empire, became a powerful meditation on family dynasties. Although ostensibly a drama about control and money, the show also built a reputation for its comedic elements. The series feeds easily into the current trend of “eat the rich” programming while still providing alluring characters that draw viewers in, week after week.

But all good things must come to an end. Succession has officially concluded its final season, leaving viewers bereft of their weekly corporate drama fix. Fortunately, to help soothe the loss of TV’s most complicated family, there are a variety of books that grapple with similar themes of affluence and its generational impact. Whether you’re looking for a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of wealth or you’re interested in learning about the inner works of real family dynasties, this list has something for everyone.

We That Are Young, by Preji Taneja

Succession is fundamentally Shakespearean in both its tragic and comedic beats, and is most often likened to King Lear—the tale of an elderly king trying to divide his realm among his three daughters. In We That Are Young, author Preti Taneja offers a modern retelling of Lear set in present-day India. When an aging hotel tycoon attempts to split his company shares among his three daughters, his youngest refuses to play into his wishes, and a family-wide power struggle begins. The book reflects the most essential generational dynamics found in both Succession and King Lear while still packing its own unique punch.

The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch, by Michael Wolff

What would a Succession reading list be without mention of the Murdochs, the billionaire media magnates that allegedly inspired the Roy family? In The Man Who Owns the News, Wolff tracks the rise of Rupert Murdoch, from his early days acquiring Australian news brands to his launch of Fox News to his controversial acquisition of The Wall Street Journal. For those interested in the ATN side of Waystar Royco’s dealings, The Man Who Owns the News offers an access-driven inside look into the business of buying and selling news organizations.

The Darlings, by Cristina Alger

After marrying the daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, Paul Ross finds himself surrounded by all the trappings of New York luxury. When he loses his job, he gratefully accepts a new role working as a lawyer for his father-in-law’s hedge fund. Things take a quick, catastrophic turn after it’s discovered that a member of the firm was running a Ponzi scheme, thrusting Paul into the thick of SEC investigations that force him to determine where his true loyalties lie. Thanks to author Cristina Alger, a former Goldman Sachs financial analyst, this novel offers an exclusive peek into the Manhattan elite with whom Succession characters might rub elbows.

Growing Up Getty: The Story of America's Most Unconventional Dynasty, by James Reginato

While most people have seen the Getty Images watermark splashed across a photo or have heard tales of family patriarch Jean Paul Getty’s notorious frugality, few know about the Getty family’s wide pool of fascinating descendants. Growing Up Getty offers a comprehensive look into the family, from J. Paul Getty’s beginnings as an oil tycoon to his great-grandchildren’s contemporary work in fashion design and LGBTQ activism. The book offers all of the dramatic flare of a season of Succession while painting a compassionate portrait of an American dynasty.

The Heirs, by Susan Rieger

Inheritance and grief have become key themes in this season of Succession, as the Roy children grapple with the loss of their father and the company-wide repercussions of his death. In The Heirs, the fictional Falkes family deals with similar issues after the family patriarch, Rupert, dies. Rupert’s widow and five sons are forced to put their grieving on hold after a stranger sues the estate with claims that Rupert fathered her two sons. The damning allegations throw the children into a tailspin as they grapple with matters of inheritance and questioning what kind of people their parents really were.

The House of Gucci, by Sara Gay Forden

Before it was a flashy Lady Gaga and Adam Driver-helmed movie, The House of Gucci was a meticulously reported book. This title fleshes out the multi-generational rise of the Gucci dynasty and the family’s troubles, which eventually led to their separation from the brand. The story hinges on Gucci heir Maurizio Gucci’s assassination, which his ex-wife was eventually convicted for arranging, and the events that led up to his tragic end. The book examines how an empire can crumble at the hands of questionable leadership, with a climactic, Roy-worthy finale.

Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan

When Rachel goes to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time, she’s shocked to learn that he comes from one of the richest families in Asia. Although her boyfriend, Nick, initially believed that his family would accept his middle-class girlfriend after raising him to be humble and frugal, things take a turn for the worse when Nick’s mother makes it her mission to drive the young couple apart. Like we’ve seen with Succession’s Tom Wambsgans, Crazy Rich Asians largely deals with the complicated internal politics of joining an ultra-wealthy family.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, by Patrick Radden Keefe

While the Sackler family’s involvement with pharmaceuticals has previously been documented, it wasn’t until the release of Empire of Pain that their true reach and impact was fully examined. In this book, investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe details the family’s connection to the drug industry, mainly in the form of Purdue Pharma, the company behind the painkiller OxyContin. Through in-depth reporting, Radden Keefe reveals the ways that the development, approval, and marketing of OxyContin influenced the ongoing opioid crisis. Like Succession, the book offers a look into a family dynasty driven to make money at any cost—with devastating consequences.

The Nest, by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

When the Plumb family patriarch originally created “The Nest,” a joint trust fund for his four children, he intended for it to be a reasonable sum of money that they could fall back on. By the time the siblings are finally old enough to receive the money, the trust has grown exponentially, thanks to the stock market—and so has the children’s need for it. Each desperate in their own way, the siblings meet up after the eldest brother’s drunk driving accident threatens their much-anticipated financial lifeboat. Much like Succession, The Nest examines the way that money can shape sibling relationships.

Sweet and Low: A Family Story, by Rich Cohen

How, exactly, does a mega-corporation like Waystar Royco come to be? While Succession offers glimpses into Logan’s humble beginnings, books like Sweet and Low are the best bet for understanding how someone builds an empire from the ground up. Rich Cohen offers an intimate insider’s look into the family behind artificial sweetener Sweet’N Low and the Cumberland Packing Corporation. A disinherited grandson of Sweet’N Low inventor Ben Eisenstadt, Cohen chronicles his grandfather’s post-World War II invention and attempts to get to the bottom of why his mother (and, consequently, himself) was cut out of the family fortune.

A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley

Another King Lear reimagining (this one took home a Pulitzer in 1992), A Thousand Acres puts a rural spin on the classic tale. When a successful Iowa farmer tries to divide up his expansive land holdings among his three daughters, his youngest rebukes him and gets cut out of the will altogether. Where Succession occasionally grapples with gender roles and resistance through Shiv’s involvement with the family business, A Thousand Acres thoroughly explores the subject.

Crazy Rich: Power, Scandal, and Tragedy Inside the Johnson & Johnson Dynasty, by Jerry Oppenheimer

Johnson & Johnson is a near-universally known brand (you’ll be hard-pressed to find a home without some sort of J&J branding), but the dynasty is also characterized by scandal and tragedy. In Crazy Rich, the Johnson family’s legacy of dysfunction is put under the microscope, from the many marriages (and subsequent divorces) to the multitude of lawsuits. Much like Succession, the book highlights that no amount of money can buy happiness.

Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

From Daisy Jones and the Six author Taylor Jenkins Reid comes a glamorous exploration of fame and wealth, set against the backdrop of 1980s Malibu. When the four Riva children gather for the eldest sister’s annual end-of-summer party, they’re forced to grapple with the after-effects of their upbringing and their parents’ tumultuous marriage. When their famous singer father shares his hope to rejoin in their lives, the Rivas must decide what grace fully-grown children are obligated to extend to their parents, much like the youngest Roys after they pull away from their dad.

The Windfall, by Diksha Basu

When entrepreneur Mr. Jha’s latest internet venture pays off, to the tune of $20 million, his first order of business is uprooting his family from their cramped housing complex and into a notoriously wealthy part of New Delhi. The Jhas quickly discover a brand new set of rules for their newfound way of life, which just might make them question who they are at their very core. The Windfall plays everything with a comedic slant, calling on Succession’s satirical side, and adding some levity to the conundrums of new money.

Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy, by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams

The most recent addition on this list is also the one most reflective of the Roys (even the cover art looks like the Succession season two poster). Unscripted details the recent power play for what is now Paramount Global after Sumner Redstone resigned from his role as executive chairman following concerns about his competency. The book details the family’s fight to maintain control of the corporation, with Redstone’s daughter Shari shouldering the bulk of the responsibility. Like Succession, Unscripted offers a less-than-glamorous look into a media giant and his dysfunctional relationship with his children.

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