Zadie Smith on Politics, Turning Fifty, and Mind Control

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Since Zadie Smith published her début novel, “ White Teeth ,” twenty-five years ago, she has been a bold and original voice in literature. But those who aren’t familiar with Smith’s work outside of fiction are missing out. As an essayist, in The New Yorker and other publications, Smith writes with great nuance about culture, technology, gentrification, politics. “There’s really not a topic that wouldn’t benefit from her insight,” David Remnick says. He spoke with Smith about her new collection of essays, “ Dead and Alive .” “The one thing about talking about essays,” she notes, ruefully, “is you find yourself saying the sa