Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Surrounded by Idiots summary
The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life)
23 mins
Brief summary
"Surrounded by Idiots" by Thomas Erikson is a guide to understanding the four major personality types and learning how to communicate effectively with them. It provides practical insights and real-life examples to help improve relationships and reduce misunderstandings.
Topics
Table of Contents
Surrounded by Idiots
Summary of 8 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 8
Knowing the four personality types can help you deliver your message; the first two are Red and Yellow.
If you were to give a sales presentation to an audience of two people, you might assume that those two people would take away the same message. But here’s the catch: Whenever you say something, your message will be filtered through the listener’s experiences, biases and attitudes. So it’s quite common for your message to be received in a different way than you intended.
The good news is, you can always change how you deliver your message in order to suit the listener better. And you can become skilled at doing this by understanding how listeners’ attitudes contribute to their personality types. In other words, once you know how to spot a person’s personality type, you’ll have a good idea of the kind of filters to expect and how to adjust your delivery in order for your message to be received effectively.
Essentially, there are four personality types, which were recognized as far back as the fifth century BC by the Greek physician Hippocrates.
The first personality is known as the Red personality, and it’s the type Hippocrates referred to as choleric. This type of person is characterized by ambition, dominance, decisiveness, competitiveness and an often hot temper.
Reds have no problem speaking their mind and often revolt against the traditional way of doing things. Famous Reds include Steve Jobs, Barack Obama and Margaret Thatcher.
Next is the Yellow personality type, which Hippocrates called sanguine, a word that means optimistic, cheerful and confident – all of which describe Yellows to a T. When others are despairing, Yellows will continue to see the possibilities and find ways to enjoy themselves.
You can also spot Yellows by their gift for gab, as they can talk a mile a minute and are known to provide answers to unasked questions. Some might find the chattiness of Yellows annoying, but since their positivity can be downright contagious, they’re more often seen as entertaining and charming.
Want to see all full key ideas from Surrounded by Idiots?
Key ideas in Surrounded by Idiots
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Surrounded by Idiots about?
Surrounded by Idiots (2014) offers insight into the four main personality types and provides methods and tips for how to use this insight in order to be more effective in getting your message across to each of them. Different people require different considerations when you’re trying to work alongside them or sell them on an idea. The more you know about each person’s personality type, the more effectively you’ll be able to communicate in your work life and private life.
Surrounded by Idiots Review
Surrounded by Idiots explores the fascinating world of human behavior, helping readers understand and interact with different personality types. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With its practical tools and methods, it equips readers with the skills to effectively communicate and influence individuals with different personalities.
- This book provides real-life examples and scenarios that readers can easily relate to, making it relatable and applicable in various personal and professional contexts.
- Through its insightful explanations on behavior patterns and communication styles, the book sheds light on why people act the way they do, making it a captivating and eye-opening read.
Who should read Surrounded by Idiots?
- Executives, managers and human resource workers
- Anyone with an annoying coworker
- People who’d like to improve their relationships
Categories with Surrounded by Idiots
Book summaries like Surrounded by Idiots
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
34 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Surrounded by Idiots FAQs
What is the main message of Surrounded by Idiots?
The main message of Surrounded by Idiots is that understanding different communication styles is key to better relationships.
How long does it take to read Surrounded by Idiots?
The reading time for Surrounded by Idiots varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Surrounded by Idiots a good book? Is it worth reading?
Surrounded by Idiots is worth reading as it provides valuable insights into human behavior and helps improve communication skills.
Who is the author of Surrounded by Idiots?
Thomas Erikson is the author of Surrounded by Idiots.
What to read after Surrounded by Idiots?
If you're wondering what to read next after Surrounded by Idiots, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Surrounded by Narcissists by Thomas Erikson
- Surrounded by Setbacks by Thomas Erikson
- Think Again by Adam Grant
- The Silent Language of Leaders by Carol Kinsey Goman
- What Every BODY is Saying by Joe Navarro
- Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
- The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
- Get Smart! by Brian Tracy
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Featured Titles
- On Death and Dying
- On Human Nature
- Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids
- Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come
- Spirit-Controlled Temperament
- The Celestine Prophecy
- The Comprehensive Clinician's Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- The Psychology Book
- The Secret of the Golden Flower
- Unleash the Power of Storytelling