Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)

Coexist
It was better than what I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed the different ppl skills. Made me look at myself and others in a different way. Good read when wanting to know the type of ppl you work work

“Surrounded by Idiots” – A Guide to Understanding and Appreciating Our Differences
“Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson is a refreshing take on personality types and communication. Far from labeling people as difficult or ‘idiots,’ the book presents a fascinating framework using four colors (Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue) to describe a range of personality traits. This color-coded system is more than just a tool for categorization—it’s a bridge to better understanding the diverse ways people perceive and interact with the world.Erikson’s approach encourages us to see beyond superficial misunderstandings and recognize that each personality type has its unique strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, we learn to appreciate that differences in behavior and communication are not signs of incompetence or foolishness but are reflections of diverse perspectives and experiences.What makes “Surrounded by Idiots” particularly valuable is its practical application. The book offers clear, actionable advice on how to adapt our communication strategies according to different personality types. This not only enhances personal relationships but also improves workplace dynamics. Understanding that no one is an ‘idiot,’ but rather that we all experience the world differently, is pivotal in fostering a more inclusive and productive environment.Erikson’s writing is accessible and engaging, making complex psychological concepts easy to grasp. He empowers readers to transform their interpersonal challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their communication skills, enhance their emotional intelligence, and better navigate the colorful spectrum of human personalities.

Game changer
Best book ever, if you have difficulty identifying patterns with a narcissist or a psychopath, this books clarifies it without placing a label.

Terrible Title Okay Book
Reading the profile for this book made me curious, so I had to read the entire book. The author has lumped the entire human race into four basic personality categories, Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. For the record, no one believes they are surrounded by idiots, unless of course it might be a Red or the type-A and very dominant personality category.I confess to being able to think of someone who fit into the Red and Blue category almost perfectly, but anyone with the Green and Yellow categories have mixed color personality traits.Yellows are outgoing and cheerful talkers who never listen to anyone else, but they communicate well. Greens are agreeable and easygoing and make excellent listeners, do not change well.The Blue personality is the perfectionist who does everything well, always knows the answers to everything, is always on time, and will be upset if you aren’t.I found this interesting if a little like a horoscope and you can fit anyone into them if you try hard enough. It did say that people could be a little of multiple categories, so maybe even all of them at one time or another. There was a section where the author discussed a party where alcohol was served and people who were absolutely one color when sober was a completely different color when drinking.My conclusion is that you should read this for yourself, but I took it with a grain of salt. It was interesting enough to rate 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I’m not a pro reader, but I can binge read books that are really good – Simple, fun, and teach you something you can immediately apply. Surrounded by idiots caught my attention from the first few pages. It is one of those books that make you wonder how different society would be if everyone read it once.After I finished this book, I made a list of all the closest people I interact with (family, friends, coworkers, lovers) and tried to identify their “colors”. My perception of these people went from being “aggressive” or a “pushover” to “Red” and “Green”. It subconsciously became second nature to me to quickly identify what colors someone I am talking to falls under and so naturally you start understanding why people are the way they are and how YOU can adapt to them better to make the most out of that interaction/relationship.One area in which I found this information to be quite amusing and helpful to analyze is in the context of romantic relationships. I started seeing the “true colors” of my past partners and inherently saw why the relationships were either great, or not, and where they went wrong and how knowing this information now and applying the knowledge in the next relationship will be drastically life changing. I realized why as a Yellow, Red with hints of Blue I was having problems with someone that was Red and Blue – My “yellow side” clashed with their “blue side” while actually complementing their “red side”. Our common “redness” led us to fall for each other as we both like someone with the same qualities, but also played a role in weakness as it brought some subconscious competitiveness that is not good in a romantic partnership, especially if one or both partners aren’t emotionally mature enough to see things for what they are instead of falling prey to the supposed societal norms and perceptions that are unfortunately being reinforced in everyday social media content. It’s truly remarkable once you realize how humans self sabotage and this book definitely helps you realize that.I can also now see the downfall of my past relationship with a mostly Green person. My Red side could not only not tolerate being with a Green person, but it made my redness go into overdrive and into survival model (instinctual human behavior) which ultimately caused the imbalance that led to a breakup.In my personal view, It’s important to not see this as a lesson of « I can’t entertain a prospect with a color that challenges mine » as 1) though challenging, it is actually *goals* to be with someone that has some opposing qualities so both partners can adopt traits that can help them become a more upgraded and newer version of themselves that will open new doors in life. Remember, a partner should ultimately make you grow, not just make you feel comfortable. As a yellow, you want and need to become more blue, and as a blue you would most definitely benefit from being more yellow; in fact, it’s exactly those lack of yellow traits that have you somewhat stuck in your life and same goes for the yellow person – they both represent the characteristics that are needed to take their lives to the next level! and 2) because you come to understand that unless yo are both 100% one color, everyone (~85% of the population) will have a mix of colors and that you will have to learn to adapt to each other. I think couples needs to read this book more than anybody!In summary this book is a 9.5/10. Fun, simple, and impactful. Must read!

You can pick up that the writter is trying to sell his business concept.The paragraphs don’t link with the ideas he is trying to express. There is no flow. The book doesn’t draw you in. James Clear or Robert Green are better writers.