What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSwing Time
Zadie Smith · Book · 2017
If you loved Swing Time, start with Dancing on the Edge (Stephen Poliakoff, 2013) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Swing Time across media.
If Swing Time captivated you, you will appreciate these stories that examine the intricate intersections of cultural identity, ambition, and community.
Films on the same thread
Good Time
Benny Safdie · Film · 2017
Explores: Brotherhood, Desperation, Moral Ambiguity.
Just as Swing Time maps the volatile dynamics between childhood friends, this film explores the desperate, high-stakes bond between brothers forced to navigate a harsh and unforgiving urban landscape.
PlayTime
Jacques Tati · Film · 1967
Explores: Modernity vs. Tradition, Alienation, The Absurdity of Modern Life.
Like the rhythmic, observational prose of Swing Time, this film uses a meticulous visual language to capture the alienation and absurdity inherent in modern life and changing social environments.
We Live in Time
John Crowley · Film · 2024
Explores: Chance Encounters, Divorce Recovery, Life-Changing Romance.
This romance mirrors the decade-spanning focus of Swing Time, centering on how the passage of time and chance encounters fundamentally reshape the identities of its two lead characters.
West Side Story
Jerome Robbins · Film · 1961
Explores: forbidden love, intergroup conflict, cultural clash.
Much like the cultural friction found in Swing Time, this story examines the tensions of urban life and the way neighborhood loyalties collide with individual desires for a different future.
Series on the same thread
The Good Fight
Michelle King · Series · 2017
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Redemption, Power Dynamics.
The professional and personal unraveling seen here echoes the power dynamics and moral ambiguity that complicate the long-term relationships of the protagonists in Zadie Smith's Swing Time.
Small Axe
Steve McQueen · Series · 2020
Shares a thread with Swing Time: Cultural Identity.
This series offers a deeper look into the West Indian community in London, providing the same rich, sociopolitical context that grounds the personal journey of the narrator in Swing Time.
Dancing on the Edge
Stephen Poliakoff · Series · 2013
Explores: Race relations, Class conflict, Artistic ambition.
The focus on artistic ambition and the shifting class structures of London makes this period drama a natural successor to the themes of movement and social mobility in Swing Time.
30 Rock
Tina Fey · Series · 2006
Explores: Corporate Culture, Absurd Humor, New York City.
If you enjoyed the sharp, observational wit Smith applies to show business and ambition in Swing Time, you will find this satirical take on the industry equally biting and insightful.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
For readers who appreciated how Swing Time contextualizes contemporary life through the lens of history and race, this podcast provides an essential, rigorous investigation into those very foundational forces.
The Daily
The New York Times · Podcast · 2026
Explores: geopolitics, social justice, global events.
Swing Time demonstrates how global events influence our personal narratives, and this daily analysis offers the same commitment to understanding the complex, interconnected world we currently inhabit.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Swing Time a standalone novel by Zadie Smith?
Yes, Swing Time is a standalone novel published in 2017. It is an ambitious work from the author of White Teeth and On Beauty, focusing on the lives of two girls who dream of becoming dancers as they transition from northwest London to West Africa.
What is the primary focus of the plot in Swing Time?
Swing Time follows two brown girls who dream of being dancers. While one girl, Tracey, possesses natural talent, the narrator focuses on her own ideas regarding rhythm and time. The narrative explores their evolving relationship as they move from northwest London to West Africa.
Has Swing Time received any literary recognition?
Swing Time is a New York Times bestseller. The novel was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction, reflecting its critical acclaim as a work of contemporary literature.
Who is the author of Swing Time?
The novel Swing Time was written by Zadie Smith. She is a multi-award-winning author known for other acclaimed works such as White Teeth and On Beauty. This particular book explores themes of dance, ambition, and identity across different geographic locations.