This Simple Color System Changed the Way I See People

I’ll admit it: the title alone sold me. Surrounded by Idiots! It might sound a little indelicate at first, but it’s also incredibly intriguing. Who hasn’t walked away from a baffling conversation thinking, “Why are people like this?!” Well, in his book, Thomas Erikson promises to explain exactly that…

I’ve definitely had moments where I completely misread someone’s reaction — thinking I was clear, only to later realize we were on completely different wavelengths. So naturally, I had to see if Erikson could really deliver.

This book is all about why people act the way they do, and it’s made simple with four personality colors.

• Red people are bold, action-oriented, and love results.
• Yellow people are enthusiastic, chatty, and full of ideas.
• Green people are calm, steady, and hate conflict.
• And Blue people are precise, analytical, and perfectionists.

Erikson fills the pages with relatable examples that make you nod, laugh, and start noticing these colors everywhere — in your coworkers, your friends, and even in yourself. If you’ve ever done a DISC assessment, some of this might feel familiar, but Erikson makes it far more approachable and story-driven.

One of the best things about this book is how easy the framework is to remember. The color system just sticks in your brain, and before you know it, you’re spotting Reds and Blues everywhere you go. Erikson also makes the book really fun to read. It’s not a dry personality test — his stories are playful, relatable, and often hilarious.

Best Moments

Now, I should mention that I read the revised and expanded edition, translated from the original Swedish, and the final two chapters added in this edition are absolute gold.

The next-to-last chapter is full of real interviews with people representing each color, sharing their reactions to the book. It’s hilarious not just because of what they said, but how they said it — the Yellows were long-winded, the Blues dissected every single word, and so on.

Then, the final chapter tells the story of an experiment Erikson ran at a workshop. He grouped people by color and asked them to solve a problem. Reds clashed, Yellows never stopped talking, Greens stalled out, and Blues over-analyzed every little detail. It was a complete disaster — but in the best way. Erikson's tale perfectly shows why teams made up of different personalities are so much stronger than groups where everyone thinks the same way.

Further Reflections

As much as I loved this book, it’s not perfect. First, people are rarely just one color, so it can feel a little over-simplified at times. Some of the descriptions are a bit stereotypical or exaggerated — though usually that’s for humor, and it mostly works.

It’s also not super scientific. Think of it more as a practical guide for communicating with different personalities, not a peer-reviewed psychology text. That said, Erikson does include a list of further reading at the back. I’ve read a few of them and they were excellent, and the rest look amazing, so I'm looking forward to reading those too. 

Finally, there are a few grammatical errors here and there, but honestly, I’ll forgive them since this is a translation and not originally written in English.

New Languages?

One of the biggest takeaways for me is that adaptability is a superpower. And just to be clear — this doesn’t mean acting fake or changing who you are. Think of it like being multilingual: if someone speaks French or Swahili and doesn’t speak English, you’d switch to their language to communicate. It’s the same with personality colors. Once you understand someone’s “color,” you can meet them where they are, and it makes a huge difference in how people respond to you.

Here are a few quick tips:

• With Reds, get straight to the point and focus on results.
• Yellows love enthusiasm and stories, so let them share ideas and celebrate their energy.
• Greens value patience and reassurance, so take your time and avoid pushing them too hard.
• And Blues appreciate detail and accuracy, so be thorough and organized when presenting information.

Another big takeaway is that self-awareness leads to smoother relationships. Understanding my own mix of colors helped me make sense of my biggest pet peeves and why I sometimes get caught up in misunderstandings.

And lastly, diversity isn’t optional. The final chapter drove home that a team made up of only one type of personality is basically asking for disaster. But a team with a mix of colors? That’s where the magic really happens.

Is Surrounded By Idiots for you?

This book is great for anyone who works with people — on teams, in meetings, or even at home. It’s perfect if you often feel misunderstood — or sometimes think everyone around you is a little “different.” And honestly, it’s fun for families. My husband and I cracked up reading passages that perfectly captured our strengths and weaknesses.

If you’ve ever wished people came with an instruction manual, or if you just like personality tools like Enneagram or Myers-Briggs but want something fast, practical, and entertaining, this one’s for you.

You can grab your own copy of Surround By Idiots! here, if you’d like to read along. But before we go, I’d love for you to guess your color in the comments! That’s all for now. Take care, stay curious, and I’ll see you next time. 🌿