Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword / by David Bonnstetter -- Introduction: The man who was surrounded by idiots -- Communication happens on the listener's terms -- Why are we the way we are? -- An introduction to the system -- Red behavior: how to recognize a real alpha and avoid getting in his way -- Yellow behavior: how to recognize someone whose head is in the clouds and get him back to reality again -- Green behavior: why change is so difficult and how to get around it -- Blue behavior: in pursuit of perfection -- No one is completely perfect: strengths and weaknesses -- Learning new things: how to use what you've learned -- Body language: why how you move matters: how do you really look? -- A real-life example: the company party - how to understand everyone you meet -- Adaptation: how to handle idiots (i.e., everyone who isn't like you) -- How to deliver really bad news: the challenge of speaking your mind -- Who gets along and why it works: group dynamics at their finest -- Written communication: how to evaluate someone when you can't meet in person -- What makes us as mad as hell?: temperament can reveal everything about a person -- Stress factors and energy thieves: what is stress? -- A short reflection through history: people have always been like this -- Voices from real life -- A quick little quiz to see what you've learned -- A final example from everyday life: perhaps the most enlightening team project in the history of the world.

An international bestseller that has sold more than a million copies worldwide, Surrounded by Idiots shares a simple, revolutionary method of understanding the people around you that will change how you interact with everyone from your coworkers to your spouse. Author Thomas Erikson explains that there are four key behavior types that define how we interact with and perceive the people around us. Understanding someone's pattern of behavior is the key to successful communication. The so-called "idiots" in our lives are most often simply people who have a different behavior profile and style of communication. Erikson breaks down the four kinds of behavior types - Reds, who are dominant and commanding; Yellows, who are social and optimistic; Greens, who are laid-back and friendly; and Blues, who are analystical and precise - and explains how to identify and interact with each type of person. Instead of being bogged down with overly technical categorizations, the simple four-color system allows you to speedily identify a friend or coworker and adjust how you speak and share with them. Surrounded by Idiots is full of practical information for interacting with people based on their color profiles, how to give positive and negative feedback to each, and the best way to word an email when writing to someone with a different profile. -- From dust jacket.

Translated from the Swedish.