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

Brought to you by Penguin.

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!

‘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 invaluable.’ Booklist

© Thomas Erikson 2015 (P) Penguin Audio 2025