You know that feeling when you're explaining something perfectly clearly—literally step-by-step—and the person across from you just stares like you’re speaking Ancient Greek? It’s infuriating. You walk away thinking, "I’m surrounded by idiots." That's the exact frustration Thomas Erikson tapped into with his massive bestseller. The Surrounded by Idiots book by Thomas Erikson didn't just become a hit because of the catchy title; it promised a secret decoder ring for human behavior.
Erikson, a Swedish behavioral expert and lecturer, took the complex world of personality profiling and boiled it down into four simple colors: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. It sounds a bit like a kindergarten classroom, doesn't it? But honestly, that’s why it stuck. People love labels. We love putting ourselves in boxes and, more importantly, putting our annoying coworkers in boxes too.
But here is the thing.
The book isn't actually about everyone else being stupid. It’s about how bad we are at adapting our communication. If you're a "Red" type screaming orders at a "Green" type who just wants peace and harmony, you’re the one failing, not them. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. Erikson argues that by understanding the DISA profile (Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Analytical ability), we can finally stop the shouting matches and actually get things done.
The Color Wheel: What Those Labels Really Mean
Let’s break down these colors without making it sound like a textbook. Erikson bases his work on the DISC model, which has been around since William Moulton Marston (the guy who, fun fact, also created Wonder Woman) wrote about it in the 1920s.
✨ Don't miss: Why Everyone Is Obsessed With Depression Era Pink Glassware Again
Reds are the steamrollers. Think of the boss who sends one-word emails and gets straight to the point. They want results yesterday. They don't care about your weekend or if your cat is sick. They are ambitious, driven, and—to everyone else—kinda terrifying. In the Surrounded by Idiots book by Thomas Erikson, Reds are described as the ones who take charge when everyone else is dithering. But their weakness? They have zero patience. If you’re talking to a Red, don’t ramble. Give them the "what" and the "when," then get out of their office.
Yellows are the sunbeams. These are the people who can talk to a brick wall and get a response. They’re creative, optimistic, and incredibly energetic. They’re also the ones who forget to finish their paperwork because they got distracted by a cool new idea or a conversation in the breakroom. To a Blue type, a Yellow is a nightmare of chaos. To a Red, they’re too talkative. But Yellows are the glue that keeps a team’s morale high. They need recognition and a stage.
Greens are the anchors. Erikson notes that the majority of people fall into this category. They are reliable, kind, and hate change. If you want to freak out a Green, announce a massive departmental restructure on a Friday afternoon. They’re the most "normal" of the bunch, but their passivity can drive Reds crazy. They won’t tell you they’re upset; they’ll just quietly resent you for three years.
Blues are the perfectionists. Everything must be verified. If a Red says "Let's just do it," a Blue says "Let's see the data from the last six quarters first." They are detail-oriented, cautious, and usually right about the facts. They aren't being difficult; they just value accuracy over speed.
The Controversy You Won't Find on the Back Cover
Wait.
Before you go labeling your entire family, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. In Sweden, where Erikson is from, this book caused a massive stir. In 2018, the Swedish Skeptics Association actually named Erikson the "Pseudoscience Misleader of the Year."
🔗 Read more: Why We Can't Stop Arguing About the Blue and Black Gold and White Dress
Ouch.
Critics point out that the DISA/DISC model isn’t a scientifically validated psychological tool in the same way the "Big Five" personality traits are. Human beings are messy. We are kaleidoscopic. You might be a Red at work when deadlines are looming but a total Green at home with your kids. Erikson’s book simplifies things—perhaps too much for some academics.
Does that mean the book is useless? Not necessarily. Even if the "four colors" are a bit reductive, the value lies in the realization that people process information differently. It’s a framework for empathy. If you treat a Blue like a Yellow, you're going to have a bad time. The book’s success proves that we are starving for a way to categorize the friction we feel in our daily lives.
How to Actually Use This Stuff Without Being a Jerk
If you’ve read the Surrounded by Idiots book by Thomas Erikson, you might be tempted to start pointing fingers. "Oh, you're such a Yellow," or "Stop being so Blue." Don't do that. It’s annoying.
Instead, use it as a silent strategy.
If you know your partner is a Green, don't spring big decisions on them. Give them time to process. If your boss is a Red, stop sending those long, flowery update emails. Keep it to three bullet points. That’s where the "human quality" of communication comes in—it’s about adjusting your frequency to match theirs. It’s like tuning a radio. If they’re on 95.5 FM and you’re broadcasting on 102.1, it doesn't matter how loud you shout; they’re just going to hear static.
Erikson gives a great example of a workplace meeting where a Red leader is frustrated by the "lack of initiative" from the Greens. The Greens, meanwhile, feel like they aren't being given the space to speak. It’s a classic stalemate. The solution isn’t for the Greens to suddenly become "Redder." It’s for the leader to shut up for five minutes and ask specific, non-threatening questions.
Real-World Conflict: A Case Study in Colors
Imagine a project goes off the rails. A software bug deletes a week's worth of work.
- The Red is already looking for someone to blame and demanding a fix by midnight.
- The Yellow is trying to crack jokes to lighten the mood, which just makes the Red angrier.
- The Blue is documenting exactly how the bug happened and why the backup failed.
- The Green is worried about how everyone is feeling and wants to make sure no one gets fired.
If you don't recognize these patterns, this room will explode. But if the Red recognizes the Blue’s need for data, they can ask, "How long to get the report?" If the Yellow realizes the Red is stressed, they can save the jokes for later. This isn't just "business talk." This is how you survive a Thanksgiving dinner with your in-laws.
📖 Related: Glycolic Acid 10 Percent: Why Your Skin Might Actually Hate This "Holy Grail"
Is It Worth the Read?
Honestly, yeah.
Even with the "pseudoscience" labels thrown at it, the Surrounded by Idiots book by Thomas Erikson is a fast, engaging read that makes you look at your own behavior. We all think we’re the "normal" ones. We all think our way of working is the "right" way. Erikson’s biggest contribution is forcing us to realize that we are probably the "idiot" in someone else’s story.
The prose is accessible. It’s not dense. You can finish it on a cross-country flight and walk off the plane feeling like you have a superpower. Just remember to take the labels with a grain of salt. People are more than just a single color. We are blends. We have moods. We have histories that a color-coded chart can't explain.
Actionable Steps for Better Communication
If you want to apply these insights immediately, try these three things:
- Audit your last three "failed" conversations. Look back at a time you felt misunderstood. Was the other person moving too fast (Red)? Too slow (Blue)? Too emotional (Yellow)? Too quiet (Green)? Identify their likely "color" and think about how you could have mirrored their style.
- Slow down the "Red" response. If you tend to be dominant and direct, try asking one open-ended question before giving an order. This allows the Greens and Blues in the room to feel included, which actually increases their productivity in the long run.
- Prepare for the "Blue" pushback. Next time you pitch an idea, have at least three hard facts or data points ready. Even if you’re a high-energy Yellow, "trusting your gut" isn't enough for everyone. Speaking the language of data earns you respect from the analytical types.
The goal isn't to change who you are. It's to broaden your range. The most successful people aren't just one color; they are chameleons who know exactly which shade to turn to get the job done. That is the real lesson of Erikson's work. It’s not about them. It’s about you.