“Surrounded by Idiots” by Thomas Erikson — explained
The global bestseller that put a four-colour version of DISC on airport bookshelves. Here is what the book actually says, how its colours map to DiSC®, and what the scientific criticism is about.
On this page
The basics
What the book is about
“Surrounded by Idiots” is a communication book by Swedish author and behavioural expert Thomas Erikson. It was first published in Swedish as Omgiven av idioter in 2014 and appeared in English in 2019. It has sold several million copies worldwide.
Its core idea is a simple four-type model of communication styles, labelled by colour — Red, Yellow, Green and Blue. Erikson’s argument is that most workplace friction (“why is everyone around me an idiot?”) comes from not recognising that other people are simply wired to communicate differently.
The colour model is a popularised version of DISC — the same four-quadrant framework that goes back to William Moulton Marston.
The mapping
The four colours and how they map to DiSC®
| Erikson’s colour | Closest DiSC style | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Red | D — Dominance | Direct, competitive, fast, results-driven |
| Yellow | i — Influence | Outgoing, optimistic, sociable, persuasive |
| Green | S — Steadiness | Calm, patient, supportive, dislikes sudden change |
| Blue | C — Conscientiousness | Analytical, precise, cautious, detail-focused |
The mapping is close but not official. Note that the colours differ from the licensed Everything DiSC® palette, where D is green, i is red, S is blue and C is gold. Various “four-colour” books and courses use their own colour codes.
Why it took off
Why it’s so popular
Three reasons: the model is easy to remember (four colours, one page); the writing is anecdotal and entertaining rather than academic; and the provocative title travels well. For a lot of readers it is their first exposure to the idea that behavioural style is a thing you can work with.
The other side
The scientific criticism
The book has been criticised by researchers. In 2018, a group of Swedish psychology researchers publicly argued that the colour model is not a validated instrument, that the book presents no peer-reviewed evidence for its claims, and that it overstates how neatly people fit four boxes. Erikson’s background is as a lecturer and consultant rather than an academic researcher.
More broadly, four-quadrant behavioural models have mixed evidence: they can be useful as a shared language and a self-reflection prompt, but a pop-science book is not the same as a psychometrically validated assessment. Treat “Surrounded by Idiots” as an accessible introduction, not a measurement tool.
Book vs. tool
The book vs. a validated DiSC® assessment
If the book sparked your interest, a licensed Everything DiSC® profile is the next step. It adds what a book cannot: an adaptive questionnaire, ongoing validation and norming by Wiley, your precise position on the DiSC circle (not just one of four colours), your eight priorities, and concrete guidance for working with each style. See what DiSC is and Everything DiSC® Workplace.
FAQ
Questions about “Surrounded by Idiots”
Is “Surrounded by Idiots” based on DISC?
Yes. Its Red / Yellow / Green / Blue model is a popularised version of the DISC four-quadrant framework, which originates with William Moulton Marston’s 1928 work.
Is the colour model scientifically valid?
The book itself is a popular-science title, not a validated instrument, and it has been criticised by researchers for lacking peer-reviewed evidence. Four-quadrant models can be a helpful shared language, but for measurement you need a validated assessment such as Everything DiSC®.
What do the four colours mean?
Red is direct and results-driven (like DiSC D), Yellow is outgoing and sociable (i), Green is calm and supportive (S), and Blue is analytical and precise (C).
Are the colours the same as official Everything DiSC® colours?
No. In Everything DiSC®, D is green, i is red, S is blue and C is gold. Erikson’s book uses a different colour code.
Should I use it at work?
It is a good, accessible introduction for a team. For anything you will make decisions on — hiring, development, coaching — use a licensed, validated Everything DiSC® assessment instead of the book model.
Sources
Thomas Erikson, Surrounded by Idiots (original: Omgiven av idioter, 2014; English edition 2019). For an overview and the criticism, see the Wikipedia entry on the book and on Thomas Erikson. This page is an independent explainer and is not affiliated with the author or publisher.
Go from the book to a real profile
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