I'm always skeptical about assessments, however recently I learned they are a great starting point to helping me understand me.

Erikson’s premise is that people behave in patterns that can be grouped into colors: Red (assertive and competitive), Yellow (enthusiastic and talkative), Green (cooperative and conflict-averse), and Blue (analytical and structured).
The author says that identifying each person’s dominant traits according to the DISC model will make it easier to anticipate their specific triggers.
In chapter 16 the author explores how different types experience anger, and what their triggers may be. He claims that Reds lose their temper most often and most easily, but that their episodes usually don't last very long.

Meanwhile, it is more obvious and gradual when a Yellow becomes angry, as this expressive type tends to show their emotions and their gestures in their tone of voice.

I love how the author ends this book one of his last sentences is " People will remember how you made them feel, in the end that's what really counts"

I enjoyed this book and learned quite a lot on how to connect these color to actions.

I picked this up because of the world we live in right now (and let’s be honest, that title is kind of irresistible). I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people tick, and this book promises to break it all down with a simple color coded system: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue personalities. Super easy to follow and actually kind of fun to think about which one you (and everyone around you) might be.

It’s a quick, no frills read. I definitely caught myself nodding along during the parts about work dynamics and how different personalities clash or totally miss each other’s signals. That part was super relatable.

That said, the book stays pretty surface level. Like, yeah, this is a cool intro to personality types, but if you’re already into psychology or behavioral theory, it might feel a little basic. People are more complex than four colors, obviously. Still, I think it’s great if you want a light, digestible breakdown of why some people drive you nuts and how to maybe handle them better.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, if you’re just getting into personality stuff or want a fresh perspective on how to not lose your mind around coworkers (or family, let’s be real). Just don’t expect a deep dive because it’s more like a personality theory appetizer.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Erikson, and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Essentials for the eARC of this book.

I picked this up out of pure curiosity & because I’m always interested in learning more about why people act the way they do. This book breaks people down into four color coded personality types & it’s all about understanding how different people think, act, & communicate.

It’s a super quick & easy read. I did find myself nodding along at certain parts, especially when it came to how we clash with certain personalities at work or in everyday life. I can definitely see why this book is popular. However, I feel it could have gone deeper. The color system is interesting, but pretty surface level imo. People are obviously way more complex than four boxes. So if you’re into more research-based or nuanced personality theory, this might feel a little basic. Still, I think this book works if you’re looking for a fun intro to personality types or just want to understand your coworkers (or anybody, really) a little better.

Very useful and insightful read, I laughed when I saw the title but it’s actually a helpful book to have

It's a good book to read, even if you have read the previous version; it adds to the material and addresses the criticism the book faced. IG you really want to get a lot out of this book, it's not one you can skim; you need to critically read it, 3.5 stars.

Interesting book on the DISC personality categories, how to identify yourself and others and how to manage those characteristics. Most of us are a blend of these traits but have one dominant personality. He also explains how to best manage these personalities both in business and personal life. It makes you think about how people are different and you shouldn’t judge them so harshly. You also need to think about how best to communicate with them to be effective.

This guy is constantly surrounded by idiots that I think it’s a him problem at this point. Work on yourself bro. It’s you not them.

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.