First published 2018
Jonathan Abrams conducts extensive interviews with everyone who brought HBO's The Wire to life. He speaks with actors like Idris Elba, Dominic West, and Michael B. Jordan, along with creators David Simon and Richard Price. The book traces how this acclaimed crime drama came together from initial concept through its 2008 finale. Abrams explores the show's treatment of drug policy failures, criminal justice problems, and institutional bias in law enforcement. He examines how The Wire gained influence in academic settings, where professors now use it to teach film studies, criminology, and sociology. The book reveals how politicians and activists invoke the series when debating policy reforms. Abrams documents the show's rise to critical acclaim, noting its frequent placement atop greatest television lists. Through unprecedented access to key participants, he provides the complete behind-the-scenes story of how this influential series was conceived, produced, and came to shape national discussions about urban America and systemic problems.
Genres: american-fiction, crime, non-fiction, biography-memoir, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, oral-history
Setting: HBO
Period: 2008
340 pages · Hardcover · Crown Archetype