THOMAS ERIKSON

 
 

Thomas Erikson is Sweden’s most translated living author. Since it was first published in 2014, Surrounded by Idiots has sold close to 1.5 million copies in Sweden alone and has been published in nearly 60 languages. The ‘Surrounded by’-series as a whole has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.

His humorous tone and accessible narrative style has made Thomas into a highly-sought after public speaker. He delivers 120 keynotes yearly on topics such as human behaviours, self-awareness, narcissism, and leadership. He is a mentor to top-level executives and entrepreneurs around the world, and his books are regularly used in schools and workplaces.

Alongside his bestselling non-fiction works, Thomas is also the author of several acclaimed crime novels, including The Billionaire (2023).

Photo: Maria Östlin

Agent Martina Österling

 
 

WORKS

SURROUNDED BY LIARS

 
 

Published april 2024
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 318

rIGHTS SOLD
arabic – Jarir Bookstore
Bulgaria – Hermes
Croatia- Poetika
ESTONIA – VARRAK
Finland – Atena
Grekland – Dioptra
Israel – Kinneret
Italien – Tea Libre
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Polen – Wielka Litera
Portugal – Leya
Romania- Litera
Slovakia – Motyk
Sweden – Bookmark
UK – Ebury/ Vermilion
USA – St Martins Essentials

From the bestselling author of the international phenomenon Surrounded by Idiots.

Studies suggest two people who have never met before will tell three lies within the first five minutes. Astounding. But why?

Why do we choose to lie even when we know it's wrong? To protect the people we love? To paint ourselves in a better light? To win short-lived praise? Or, are there simply far more obscure reasons behind why we lie?

In Surrounded by Liars, international bestselling author and behavioural expert Thomas Erikson unpacks the psychological reasons behind why we lie, and reveals the impact lying has on our relationships.

Filled with sophisticated wisdom and Erikson’s trademark humor, Surrounded by Liars arms readers with the practical knowledge needed to feel confident in their ability to discern the truth and live a calmer, more reliable life.

 
 

SURROUNDED BY ENERGY VAMPIRES

 
 

Published 2022
Genre POPULAR SCIENCE / SELF-HELP
Pages 282

rIGHTS SOLD

Arabic – Jarir Bookstore
Bulgaria – Hermes
Croatia – Poetika
Estonia – Varrak
Finland – AtenA
France – Hachette Livre, Marabout
Greece – Dioptra
Hungary – Central Mediacsoport
Lithuania – Obuolys
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielka litera
ROMANIA – Grup media litera
Slovakia – Motyk
Slovenia – Ucila
Sweden – Bookmark
thailand – Amarin Printing & Publishing
Turkey – Koridor
UK – Ebury/ Vermilion
Ukraine – Folio
USa – St Martins Essentials

Vanquish the energy thieves in your life and at work.

Are there people in your life that leave you feeling drained, depleted, and just exhausted? Twenty minutes with these people and you feel as if you’ve just run a marathon. They demand limitless time, emotional support, attention, or affirmation; you dread interacting with them but don’t know how to change the dynamic.

You’ve just encountered a real-life vampire. Dracula has nothing on these ubiquitous social villains who take—time, energy, attention, emotional capacity—without reciprocating, and leave you too exhausted to protest. Energy vampires can be people, situations, or even your own mindset, but in Surrounded by Energy Vampires, internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson identifies the different types of energy vampires and offers practical tools, fun self-assessments, and relatable stories to help you combat them.

Using the same simple, four-color behavior that made Surrounded by Idiots a runaway bestseller, Surrounded by Energy Vampires will help you slay the energy sucking interactions in your life whether they’re lurking at the office, amongst your friends, or in your own home.

 
 

SURROUNDED BY NARCISSISTS

 

Published 2021
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 304

RIGHTS SOLD
Arabic – Jarir Bookstore
Croatia – Poetika
Estonia – Varrak
Finland – Atena
Germany – MVG
Hungary – Central Mediacsoport
Italy – Tre 60
Latvia – Zvaigzne ABC
Lithuania – Obuolys
Netherlands – HarperCollins holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielka Litera
Russia – Eksmo Bombora
Slovakia – Motyl
Slovenia – Ucila
Spain – Planeta
Sweden – bonnier Forum
Thailand – Amarin Printing & Publishing
Turkey – Koridor
UK – Ebury /Vermilion
Ukraine – Folio Publishers Ltd
USA – St Martins Essentials
VIETNAM – Omega+

Internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson shares the secrets of dealing with everyday narcissists.

Are the narcissists in your life making you miserable? Are you worn out by their constant demands for attention, their absolute conviction they are right (even when they’re clearly not), their determination to do whatever they want (regardless of the impact), and their baffling need to control everyone and everything around them?

In this thought-provoking, sanity-saving book, Thomas Erikson helps you understand what makes narcissists tick and, crucially, how to handle them without wearing yourself out in the process. With the help of the simple, four-color behavioral model made famous in Surrounded by Idiots, Erikson provides all the tools you need to manage not just the narcissists around you but everyday narcissistic behaviors as well–something that is becoming more widespread in the age of social media.

Engaging and practical, Surrounded by Narcissists will help you free yourself from others' toxic agendas so you can pursue a happier, more fulfilling and successful life.

 
 
 

SURROUNDED BY SETBACKS

Published 2020
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 328

RIGHTS SOLD
ArabIC – Jarir Bookstore
Estonia – Varrak
Finland – Atena
Greece – Dioptra
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielka Litera
Slovakia – Motyl
Slovenia – Ucila
Sweden – bonnier Forum
Thailand – Amarin Printing & Publishing
UK – Ebury /Vermilion
Ukraine – Folio
USA – St Martins Essentials

In Surrounded by Setbacks, internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson turns his attention to a universal problem: what to do when things go wrong.

Too often it seems like our dreams and ambitions—whether it’s finally getting that corner office, lacing up your running shoes again, or building a flourishing relationship with your partner—are derailed by one roadblock or another. So how do we learn to take setbacks in stride and still achieve our goals?

In Surrounded by Setbacks, Erikson answers that question. Using simple, actionable steps, Erikson helps readers identify the “why” behind their goal, create a concrete plan towards achieving it, and—most importantly—avoid many of the most common pitfalls that derail us when we attempt something new.

The simple 4-color behaviour system that made Surrounded by Idiots revolutionary now helps readers reflect on how they respond to adversity, giving them the self-awareness to negotiate the inevitable obstacles of life with confidence.

 
 

SURROUNDED BY BAD BOSSES (AND LAZY EMPLOYEES)

 

Published 2018
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 335

RIGHTS SOLD
Arabic – Jarir Bookstore
Azerbaijan – Qanan
Brazil – Intrinseca
Croatia – Poetika
Czech Rep – Albatros
Denmark – Politiken
Finland – Atena
France – Editiones Leduc
Germany – MVG
Georgia – Tsigni+eri
Hungary – Central Mediacsoport
Italy – TRE 60
Israel – Kinneret
Latvia – Zvaigzne ABC
Lithuania – Obuolys
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielke Litera
Romania – grup media Litera 
Russia – Eksmo Bombora
Serbia – Vulkan
Slovakia – Motyl
Slovenia – Ucila
Sweden – bonnier Forum
Thailand – Amarin Printing & Publishing
UK – Ebury/ Vermilion
Ukraine – Folio
USA – St Martins Essentials

Internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson has helped changed how the world thinks about behaviour using a simple 4-color behaviour analysis system. In Surrounded by Bad Bosses he applies that same system to revolutionize the workplace.

Everyone has had a bad boss. You might have one right now. You might even be one. Bad bosses are a fact of the workplace, whether they’re short-tempered, unclear about expectations, or too disorganized to manage so much as a stapler. But how do you not only survive a difficult boss, but help your career thrive despite them?

By identifying your boss’s behaviour profile you’ll be better able to interact with them no matter what the situation. Erikson offers example stories and concrete steps to help you thrive in any work situation.

Of course, much as we love to blame our bosses, sometimes management isn’t the problem at all. For every bad boss there is also a lazy employee, so Erikson also looks at the issue from a completely different perspective—employees themselves— and explores why some colleagues frequently underachieve, and what you can do to change this if you're the boss.

Written with Erikson's signature humor and warmth, Surrounded by Bad Bosses (And Lazy Employees) will help you deal with the most hopeless managers and employees you can imagine—and keep you entertained along the way.

 
 

SURROUNDED BY PSYCHOPATHS

 

Published 2017
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 265

RIGHTS SOLD
Arabic – Aser El-Kotob
Azerbaijan – Qanan
Brazil – Intrinseca
China – Bejing Zito Books
Croatia – Poetika
Denmark – Politiken
Estonia – Varrak
Finland – Atena
Germany – Droemer Knaur
Hungary – Central Mediacsoport
Israel – Kinneret
Lithuania – Obuolys
Macedonia – Toper Dooel
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielke Litera
Portugal – Lua de Papel
Romania – Litera
Russia – Eksmo
Serbia – Vulkan
Slovakia – Motyl
Slovenia – Ucila
Spain – Planeta
Sweden – Bonnier Forum
Taiwan – China Today
Thailand – Amarin
Turkey – Koridor
UK – Ebury/Vermilion
Ukraine – Folio Publishers Ltd
US – St Martins Essentials
Vietnam – Nha Nam Publishing

#1 internationally bestselling author Thomas Erikson shows readers how to identify and avoid the psychopaths around them.

Charming, charismatic, and delightful or manipulative, self-serving, and cunning? Psychopaths are both and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. Bestselling author of the international phenomenon Surrounded by Idiots, Thomas Erikson reveals how to identify the psychopaths in your life and combat their efforts to control and manipulate.

Using the same simple four-color system of behavior classification that made Surrounded by Idiots so popular, Surrounded by Psychopaths teaches readers how to deal with psychopaths in their lives by becoming aware of their own behavior and their weaknesses. Vivid example stories illustrate ways that psychopaths can take advantage of various behavior types, helping readers identify their own weaknesses and be proactive about protecting themselves. Erikson outlines some of the most common forms of manipulation used by psychopaths—and others—to influence those around them. Since manipulation can often be a feature of ordinary, non-psychopathic relationships, the book also includes practical methods and techniques to help readers confront controlling people and rehabilitate negative relationships into mutually respectful ones.

By understanding your behavior as well as the tendencies and strategies of psychopaths, Surrounded by Psychopaths will teach you to protect yourself from manipulative influence in your workplace, social life, and family.

 
 

SURROUNDED BY IDIOTS

 

Published 2014
Genre popular science / self-help
Pages 304

RIGHTS SOLD
Albania – Pema publishing
aRABIC – JARIR BOOKSTORE (EARLIER – Sefsafa)
Azerbaijan – Qanan
Brazil – Editura Letramento (License to Intrinseca)
Bosnia – Ilum
Bulgaria – Hermes
Chile – Planeta
China (simplified chinese) – Post and Communication Press
Colombia – Planeta
Croatia – Poetika
Czech Republic – Albatros
Denmark – HOI Denmark
Estonia – Varrak
Finland – Atena
France – Editions First
Germany – Droemer Knaur
Georgia – Tsigni+eri
Greece – Dioptra
Hungary – Central Mediacsoport
Iceland – Sogur Utgafa
India (Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam & Gujrati) - Sanage Publishing
India (Marathi) – Goel Prakashan Publishing
Indonesia – PT. Betang Pustaka
ISRAEL – Kinneret
Italy – TRE60
Japan – Forest Publishing Co Ltd
Korea – Booklog Company
Latvia – Zvaigzne ABC
Lithuania – Obyolus
Macedonia – Toper Dooel
Malaysia – Ace Premier
Myanmar – Sarpaylawka
Netherlands – HarperCollins Holland
Norway – Gyldendal
Poland – Wielka Literature
Portugal – Lua de Papel
Romania – grup media Litera
Russia – Eksmo Bombora
Serbia – Vulkan
Slovakia – Motyl
Slovenia – Ucila
Spain – Planeta (earlier – Grijalbo)
Sweden – Bonnier Forum (earlier – HOI)
Taiwan (Complex Chinese) – Business Weekly
Thailand – Amarin
Turkey – Koridor
UK – Ebury / Vermilion
UKRAINE – FOLIO PUBLISHERS
USA – St Martin’s Essentials
Uzbekistan – Yangi Asr Avlodi
Vietnam – 1980 Books

Do you ever think you’re the only one making any sense? Or tried to reason with your partner with disastrous results? Do long, rambling answers drive you crazy? Or does your colleague’s abrasive manner rub you the wrong way?

You are not alone. After a disastrous meeting with a highly successful entrepreneur, who was genuinely convinced he was ‘surrounded by idiots’, communication expert and bestselling author, Thomas Erikson dedicated himself to understanding how people function and why we often struggle to connect with certain types of people.

Surrounded by Idiots is an international phenomenon, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. It offers a simple, yet ground-breaking method for assessing the personalities of people we communicate with – in and out of the office – based on four personality types (Red, Blue, Green and Yellow), and provides insights into how we can adjust the way we speak and share information.

Erikson will help you understand yourself better, hone communication and social skills, handle conflict with confidence, improve dynamics with your boss and team, and get the best out of the people you deal with and manage. He also shares simple tricks on body language, improving written communication, advice on when to back away or when to push on, and when to speak up or shut up. Packed with ‘aha!’ and ‘oh no!’ moments, Surrounded by Idiots will help you understand and communicate with those around you, even people you currently think are beyond all comprehension.

And with a bit of luck you can also be confident that the idiot out there isn’t you!