50 pages • 1 hour read
Surrounded By Idiots
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Book Brief
304
Book • Nonfiction
2010s
2014
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In Surrounded By Idiots, behavioral expert Thomas Erikson uses the DISC method to categorize personalities into four types—Red (Dominant), Yellow (Inspiring), Green (Stable), and Blue (Compliant). He explores how understanding these types helps improve communication, reduce conflicts, and achieve personal and professional goals by tailoring interactions based on personality insights.
Informative
Humorous
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
62,243 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Thomas Erikson's Surrounded By Idiots offers an accessible exploration of behavioral styles, providing helpful insights into communication and interaction. Positive reviews highlight its practical applications and engaging presentation. However, criticisms focus on oversimplification and stereotyping. Overall, it's valued for its practical advice but should be approached with a critical mindset.
Who Should Read Surrounded By Idiots?
Readers who relish self-improvement and interpersonal dynamics as seen in How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey will appreciate Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson. This book demystifies communication challenges and offers pragmatic strategies for understanding various personality types.
62,243 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Hippocrates
Hippocrates
An ancient Greek thinker who proposed the theory of the four humors, connecting physical and mental health with temperaments, offering historical context for Erikson's personality types.
William Moulton Marston
William Moulton Marston
An American psychologist who introduced the DISC system of personality categorization, focusing on everyday behavior, and whose work laid the groundwork for Erikson's analyses.
Bill Bonnstetter
Bill Bonnstetter
An American businessman who co-founded a company that modernized and popularized Marston’s DISC system through software, contributing to Erikson’s understanding of human behavior.
David Bonnstetter
David Bonnstetter
Son of Bill Bonnstetter, who authored the foreword to Erikson's book, endorsing the DISC method and encouraging readers to apply these principles in their lives.
304
Book • Nonfiction
2010s
2014
Adult
18+ years
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