An informative read offering insights into human behavior and communication styles. Erikson's color-coded personality system helps readers understand themselves and others better. A valuable resource for personal and professional relationships.

Overall I felt this was a good read. As a communication scholar with a specialization in media sociology and communication management, I felt alot of this was rewashed comm and management theory. However I feel it does a good job of explaining them to a general audience in a way that’s easy to understand and apply. I enjoyed the new edition addressing many of the criticisms of other reviews (too simple for complex humans, claiming to invent something new that’s been around for awhile etc) because it reminds us as readers that nonfiction books aren’t often read in full. For those who do, I think you can definitely find takeaways and applications. However this book is better suited for someone who doesn’t have existing knowledge of these areas.
Note: I’m thankful for the publisher St Martin’s Essentials providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson offers a simplified framework for understanding human behavior, categorizing personalities into four color-coded types: Red (dominant), Yellow (inspiring), Green (stable), and Blue (analytical). This model is based on the DISC system developed in the 1920s.
Erikson provides practical advice on how to communicate effectively with each personality type, using real-world examples to illustrate his points. This is helpful for improving workplace dynamics and personal relationships.
While i usually don't read self-help books, this helped me develop myself in the new leadership position that I received and how to manage my team better.