Name: SNAFU: Actor and comedian Ed Helms on history’s greatest screwups
Start: 2025-05-04T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-05-04T20:00:00-04:00
Location: WBUR CitySpace

$SNAFU: Actor and comedian Ed Helms on history\u2019s greatest screwups$

Actor and comedian Ed Helms has penned a new book inspired by his hit podcast exploring the biggest blunders in history. In “SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups,” Helms takes a deep dive into half a century of screwups from planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies.
Helms, who gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Andy Bernard in the hit NBC sitcom “The Office” and starred as Stuart Price in “The Hangover” trilogy, will sit down with WBUR Podcasts senior producer and host Amory Sivertson to discuss his favorite stories from the book and podcast and answer your questions.
Copies of “SNAFU” will be available to purchase from our bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith and Helms will sign following the conversation.
CitySpace Tickets:
Book Bundle: $52.00 (includes general seating and signed copy of the book)
General: $20.00
BU Faculty/Staff: $15.00 (must present a valid BU ID upon arrival)
Student: $10.00 (must present a valid student ID upon arrival)
Ways To Save:
WBUR’s Legacy Circle, Murrow Society, Sustainers and Members save $5.00 on tickets to this event. To apply the discount to your ticket purchase online, you’ll need to enter a promo code. You can get your code by emailing [email protected].
About “SNAFU”
From actor, comedian, writer and host of the hit history podcast “SNAFU,” Ed Helms brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history’s biggest blunders, complete with lively illustrations.
History contains a plethora of insane screwups — otherwise known as SNAFUs. Coined during World War I, SNAFU is an acronym that stands for Situation Normal: All F---ed Up. In other words, things are pretty screwed up, but aren’t they always?
Spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher for a deep dive into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book will unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps. Filled with sharp humor, “SNAFU” is a wild ride through time that not only entertains but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again.