Surrounded by Idiots
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  • Published: 2 September 2025
  • ISBN: 9781785046209
  • Imprint: Vermilion
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $24.99

Surrounded by Idiots

The Four Types of Human Behaviour (or, How to Understand Those Who Cannot Be Understood)

Formats & editions
Paperback
2 Sep 2025
Paperback
6 Aug 2019
EBook
30 Jul 2019
Audiobook
30 Jul 2019
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The bestselling global phenomenon, now updated for the 10th anniversary

The runaway international bestseller– now fully revised and updated

  • Do you ever think you're the only one making any sense?
  • Have you ever tried to reason with your partner with disastrous results?
  • Does your colleague's manner of communication always get your back up?

You are not alone. In Surrounded by Idiots, communication expert and bestselling author Thomas Erikson has dedicated himself to understanding how people function and why we struggle to connect with certain types of people. Now a global bestseller, this book uses four core personality types – Red, Yellow, Green and Blue – to explain other people’s baffling behaviour and help you understand yourself better. You will learn to hone communication and social skills based on who you’re dealing with, handle conflict with confidence and get the best out of everyone you interact with and manage.

Now offering you the wisdom of the four personality types with even more verve and insight, this fully revised and expanded edition brings you a completely new and up-to-date translation, and marks a global moment for fans of Thomas Erikson’s books. This updated and enhanced edition has used questions and feedback from Thomas’s more than 10 million global readers to bring you 30% more material than before, honing this classic, comprehensive toolkit to new heights.

Packed with 'aha!' and 'oh no!' moments, Surrounded by Idiots will help you understand and influence those around you, even people you currently think are beyond all comprehension. And with a bit of luck, you can also be confident that the idiot out there isn't you!


The no.1 Sunday Times bestseller, November 2023
  • Published: 2 September 2025
  • ISBN: 9781785046209
  • Imprint: Vermilion
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $24.99
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About the author

Thomas Erikson

Thomas Erikson is a Swedish behavioral expert, active lecturer and bestselling author. For the last 18 years he has been travelling all over Europe delivering lectures and seminars in Swedish and English to executives and managers at a wide range of companies, including IKEA, Coca Cola, Microsoft, Volvo and KIA Motors. Surrounded by Idiots (Omgiven Av Idioter) has been a Swedish runaway bestseller in since it was first published in 2014. It has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide, of which over 750,000 copies have been sold in Sweden alone, and it has been translated into 36 languages. For more information about the author visit thomaserikson.com.

portrait photo of Thomas Erikson

Also by Thomas Erikson

Surrounded by Narcissists
Surrounded by Liars
Surrounded by Psychopaths
Surrounded by Bad Bosses and Lazy Employees
Surrounded by Setbacks
Surrounded by Vampires
Penguin Readers Level 7: Surrounded by Idiots (ELT Graded Reader)
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Praise for Surrounded by Idiots

'Anyone who does not read this book is actually an idiot.'

Kvalitets Magasinet

'A useful guide to communicating with the uncommunicable . . . clearly, dynamically presented and easy to grasp.'

Publishers Weekly

'Readers will be delighted. Most everyone can benefit from this book, especially those in the workplace. In addition, parents, educators, and students will find these insights valuable.'

Booklist

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QUIZ: Which colour are you from Surrounded by Idiots?

Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson uses a colour-based system to outline different personality types. Take this quiz to find out which colour you relate to most.

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