All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of

"How did something this good actually get made?" That's the underlying question at the heart of this superb oral history, because The Wire still seems like a bit of a miracle: a slow-building series about poverty, crime, and institutional failure that survived its low ratings long enough to become a modern masterpiece. Abrams talked to everyone involved, and their voices, which all carry that still-surprised pride at what they accomplished, bring you through both the five seasons of the series and the behind-the-scenes collaboration and drama required to bring it to the screen. It's candy for any Wire fan.