Dead and Alive

Capricious, mischievous, curious . . . she is a vivid and rigorous thinker, her best pieces here radiant with curiosity, and a serious but not self-serious grappling with the terror and anxiety of modern life

Megan Nolan, Observer

Dead and Alive showcases a writer whose curiosity remained undimmed. She effortlessly transitions from art critique to musings on politics, grief and pop culture

The Mirror, 'Five of the Best New Books'

Acute and entertaining . . . Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction is a nuanced take on the thorny issue of representation in fiction . . . These essays sketch out the ideas and critiques that inform Smith’s novels. They are a delicious peek behind the scenes of a great writer at work – or at play

Laura Hackett, The Times

Smith is as fine an essayist as she is a novelist. Her latest collection on culture, art and public life proves that few writers can frame the present moment with such clarity – and few can so carefully balance intellectual acuity with playfulness

i Paper, 'The 14 best non-fiction books of 2025'

It’s not often that I find myself getting genuinely excited for the release of an essay collection, but I make an exception for Zadie Smith. Much as I love her novels, her criticism and non-fiction have always had the edge for me. I always come away from reading her essays feeling as though she’s managed to articulate something I’ve been mulling in the back of my mind for a while. Simultaneously, she manages to turn all my assumptions upside down – and isn’t that exactly what reading should do? Dead and Alive is a real dazzler, jumping effortlessly between subjects as disparate as the Cate Blanchett movie Tar, the work of Hilary Mantel, Stormzy’s Glastonbury set, and Smith’s beloved hometown of Kilburn. Buy it for that friend who’s intimidatingly culturally literate, and await their nod of approval

i Paper, 'The best books to give as presents this Christmas'

Zadie Smith – a great novelist, but real heads know it’s non-fiction where she shines best. Her essays, with their piercing analyses and omnivorous subject matter (one throws Justin Bieber together with the philosopher Martin Buber), are some of the finest modern examples of the form. Smith’s latest collection, Dead and Alive, has a great premise, combining eulogies to the dead (Joan Didion, Martin Amis, Hilary Mantel, etc) with odes to everyone and everything that’s full of life

GQ, 'The best books of 2025'

The Queen of Brit Lit returns with a collection of essays . . . always thought-provoking and brilliant, this is your go-to book for gifting

Stylist

With essays ranging from artist Toyin Ojih Odutola to Stormzy at Glastonbury, this chocolate box of a book is ideal for dipping into when you need a cultural treat

Good Housekeeping, 'Brilliant Christmas gift books'

[Zadie Smith’s] latest, Dead and Alive, shows how adept she is, an essay collection ranging from criticism (her take on Tár is a highlight) to obituary (Roth, Morrison, Amis) to the personal. She’s never less than interesting and her capacity to rise above the noise of online discourse makes this collection enduring and surprising

Australian Book Review, '2025 Books of the Year'