© 2026 NPR Illinois
For your right to be curious.
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Build a transformational philanthropy program for this trusted NPR affiliate.
Seeking a 100% major gift fundraiser passionate about public media to develop relationships with people who support an informed and civil central Illinois.
Hire will have community visibility, many prospects, and professional resources.
Interviews in progress, open until filled. Apply now.

In podcast and book 'Snafu,' Ed Helms explores history's greatest blunders

WBUR | By Here & Now Newsroom
Published May 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM CDT
The cover of "Snafu" and author Ed Helms. (Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing and Ed Helms)
/
The cover of "Snafu" and author Ed Helms. (Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing and Ed Helms)

Editor’s note: This segment was rebroadcast on Sept. 8, 2025. Click here for that audio.

Comedian, actor and musician Ed Helms‘ podcast “Snafu” takes deep dives into historical blunders. Now he’s published many more of them in the book “Snafu: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups.”

Helms joins host Scott Tong to talk about the podcast and the book.

Book excerpt: ‘Snafu’

By Ed Helms

Excerpted from “SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups” Copyright © 2025 Ed Helms. Published by Grand Central Publishing, a Hachette Book Group company. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Copyright 2025 WBUR
Here & Now Newsroom