Surrounded By Idiots

Surrounded by Idiots is a 2014 book by Swedish author Thomas Erikson. Erikson initially self-published this work, which has since sold over three million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. A self-described “behavioral expert,” Erikson has delivered presentations to companies across Europe on personality and workplace behavior. In his work, Erikson argues that understanding the personalities of colleagues, friends, and family members helps to avoid miscommunication and conflict. According to Erikson, the best way to develop self-awareness and an accurate perception of others is to use the DISC method of personality assessments, which was first invented by American psychologist William Marston and expanded on by American consultant Bill Bonnstetter. This method categorizes people into four broad groups: Red or “Dominant,” Yellow or “Inspiring,” Green or “Stable,” and Blue or “Compliant.”

This study guide refers to the 2018 St. Martin’s Kindle edition of the book, which uses locations rather than page numbers.

Plot Summary

In his first chapter, Erikson explains that the way a speaker’s message is received depends on the listener’s frame of reference, understanding and biases. As such, learning about people’s personalities and becoming more aware of how others perceive you can help build effective communication skills and avoid misinterpretation.