SNAFU The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups

A New York Times Bestseller 

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*cked Up. In other words, “things are pretty screwed up, but aren’t they always?”  

Spanning from the 1950’s to the present day, SNAFU features Ed Helms as unofficial history teacher with a loving tribute to humanity's finest face-plants, diving into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, this book unpacks the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps.

Filled with sharp humor and lively illustrations, SNAFU is a wild ride through time that covers the head-scratching and occasionally inspiring blunders that have shaped our world and made historians spit-take. They're the kinds of stories that not only entertain but offers fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again.

Ed Helms is an American actor, writer, producer, and comedian. He first gained national attention as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 2002 to 2006. Helms is perhaps best known for his roles as Andy Bernard, the quirky paper salesman on NBC’s hit sitcom The Office (2006–2013), and as Stu Price in The Hangover film trilogy. He also co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed Peacock comedy series Rutherford Falls alongside Mike Schur and Sierra Teller Ornelas. Helms has been recognized with six Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, winning in 2008. Additionally, he received a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Writing for a Comedy or Variety Special for The Fake News with Ted Nelms. Helms also hosts SNAFU, an award-winning podcast about history’s greatest screw-ups, which is currently in its second season.