The funny and practical bestseller and global phenomenon that teaches you how to improve your communication skills in relation to four distinct personality types - now fully revised and updated.

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Do you ever think you're the only one making any sense?
Have you ever tried to reason with your partner, and nothing went as planned?
Have you ever left a work meeting with the feeling that nobody understood your point?

You are not alone.

Communication expert Thomas Erikson has dedicated himself to understanding how people behave and why we often struggle to connect with certain types of people.

In his global bestseller, Erikson introduces four types of human personalities – red, yellow, green, and blue – using them to offer a simple but powerful way to understand people’s behavior, communication style, and motivation.
By learning to recognise and work with these personality types, you’ll be able to:

• Build stronger relationships at work and home
• Improve teamwork and leadership skills
• Boost empathy and self-awareness
• Finally understand why people behave the way they do

This fully revised and expanded edition, shaped by questions and feedback from millions of readers worldwide, includes 30% more content, delivering even deeper insight than before.

Packed with humour and practical strategies, Surrounded by Idiots will help you understand and better communicate with those around you (even people you currently think are beyond all comprehension!).

Praise for Surrounded by Idiots and Thomas Erikson:

'Accessible and entertaining' Publishers Weekly

‘A good resource for understanding how different personalities communicate and deal with feedback…Everyone should read [it]' Business Insider

‘Equal parts logical, emotionally astute, and gut-wrenchingly funny…Buy it!' Jim McPartlin, author of The Enneagram at Work

‘Everyone can benefit from this book’ Booklist

© Thomas Erikson 2015 (P) Penguin Audio 2025