{"product_id":"surrounded-by-psychopaths-thomas-erikson-9781785043321","title":"Surrounded by Psychopaths: Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others | Thomas Erikson","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: inherit; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003e“Charming, charismatic, and delightful or manipulative, self-serving, and cunning? Psychopaths are both and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous.” — \u003cem\u003eThomas Erikson\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003eBook Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003ePart of the bestselling \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Idiots\u003c\/em\u003e series, international bestselling author Thomas Erikson reveals how to identify the everyday psychopaths in your life and combat their efforts to control and exploit. Using the same simple four-color system of behavior classification that made his previous work a global phenomenon, \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Psychopaths\u003c\/em\u003e teaches readers how to deal with manipulative individuals by becoming aware of their own behavior and inherent vulnerabilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eVivid example stories illustrate ways that toxic personalities take advantage of various behavior types, helping readers build proactive personal boundaries. Outlining common forms of manipulation — such as guilt trips, strategic flattery, and isolation loops — the book provides practical methods and techniques to help you confront controlling people, recognize red flags in real time, and rehabilitate negative relationships into mutually respectful ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThomas Erikson\u003c\/strong\u003e is a behavioral expert, lecturer, and human relations specialist. He is the international bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Idiots\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Psychopaths\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Bad Bosses\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Setbacks\u003c\/em\u003e. Through his books and corporate consulting, Erikson has spent decades helping individuals and organizations decode interpersonal dynamics and navigate complex workplace and social environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eCore Audience \u0026amp; Intended Use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-Help \u0026amp; Personal Growth Readers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Individuals seeking practical psychological tools to establish firm boundaries and protect themselves from emotional manipulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProfessionals \u0026amp; Corporate Teams:\u003c\/strong\u003e Managers and employees navigating high-stress office dynamics, difficult coworkers, and covert workplace exploitation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFans of the DISC Framework:\u003c\/strong\u003e Readers familiar with Erikson's four-color behavioral model looking to apply it defensively in challenging relational contexts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n      \u003ctbody\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left; width: 35%;\"\u003eFull Title\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eSurrounded by Psychopaths: Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eThomas Erikson\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublisher \u0026amp; Imprint\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eVermilion (An imprint of Ebury Publishing \/ Penguin Books UK)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eOctober 6, 2020\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eBinding Format\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eB-Format Trade Paperback (PB)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrint Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e272 Pages\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eLanguage\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eEnglish (Translated from Swedish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eISBN-13 \/ ISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e9781785043321 \/ 1785043322\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrimary Genre (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003ePSY014000 \/ PSYCHOLOGY \/ Personality\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eSub-Genres (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eSEL031000 \/ SELF-HELP \/ Self-Management; PSY041000 \/ PSYCHOLOGY \/ Social Psychology; BUS007000 \/ BUSINESS \u0026amp; ECONOMICS \/ Business Communication\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eItem Condition\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003ePre-Owned \/ Very Good\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e5.08 x 0.70 x 7.80 inches (12.9 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm) | 7.2 oz (approx. 204g)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 30px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Surrounded by Psychopaths\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat is the main narrative hook and core behavioral warning driving the book?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe book serves as a practical, defensive manual designed to help everyday individuals spot and neutralize predatory psychological manipulation. Thomas Erikson warns that a small, highly dangerous percentage of the population operates completely without empathy or remorse, systematically using hidden weaknesses to exploit others in relationships, workplaces, and daily life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat specific structural layout does the author use to categorize human behavior?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe narrative relies heavily on the DISC behavioral model, which Erikson popularizes through a simple four-color framework: Reds (dominant, driven, and direct), Yellows (inspiring, optimistic, and social), Greens (stable, patient, and caring), and Blues (analytical, scrupulous, and systematic). The text is structurally organized to show exactly how a manipulator maps these specific color traits to identify a target's unique psychological vulnerabilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat primary psychological and interpersonal themes are explored in the text?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe text delivers a deep-level investigation into covert manipulation, psychological gaslighting, and boundary defense. Rather than dealing with Hollywood's sensationalized serial-killer tropes, Erikson analyzes the “everyday psychopaths” occupying corporate offices or social circles, breaking down their tactical use of guilt trips, strategic flattery, and sudden isolation loops to gain absolute leverage over their targets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eDoes the guide offer specific tools to handle and escape toxic relationships?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eYes, explicitly. The second half of the book acts as an actionable self-defense toolkit. It outlines clear behavioral frameworks on how to forcefully reset personal boundaries, how to identify hidden manipulation tactics in real time, and how to safely execute a clean psychological break from a toxic individual without falling into their conversational trap loops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhy is this book uniquely significant to the author's broader professional journey and core framework?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThis work serves as the critical, defensive counterweight to Erikson's multi-million-copy international bestseller, \u003cem\u003eSurrounded by Idiots\u003c\/em\u003e. As a corporate behavioral expert and consultant, Erikson realized that teaching people how to successfully communicate with normal personality types was only half the battle. This text marks a vital turning point in his career where he pivots from improving general corporate teamwork to actively engineering personal survival strategies, revealing that the open, trusting qualities that make people excellent team players are the exact same entry points a master manipulator will exploit if an individual does not know how to shut them down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003c!-- Condition Disclaimer Bust-Down --\u003e\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f4f6f8; border-left: 3px solid #2c3e50;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eCondition Notice: Pre-Owned \/ Second-Hand Product\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll books, box sets, and multi-volume collections\u003c\/strong\u003e offered by Bust-Down Books are sold in pre-owned, used, and second-hand condition, unless explicitly designated as new in the individual product listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Details \u0026amp; Grading:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrevious Ownership:\u003c\/strong\u003e These items have been previously owned, handled, and read. As such, copies may exhibit typical signs of shelf wear, including but not limited to minor creasing, scuffing, edge wear, bent page corners, remainder marks, or spine softening. Hardcover editions with dust jackets may show minor shelf rubbing, edge chipping, or laminate wear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarkings \u0026amp; Personalization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplemental Materials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Secondary and digital components—such as publisher access codes, CD-ROMs, bonus inserts, registration keys, or workbook activity pages—are not guaranteed to be included, active, or unredeemed unless specifically stated in the product description.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Sale Doctrine \u0026amp; Non-Affiliation Statement:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAll items sold on this platform are original, lawfully acquired copies being resold under the protection of the First Sale Doctrine (codified under U.S. copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 109, and applicable international equivalents permitting the secondary resale of lawfully manufactured goods).\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eBust-Down Books, LTD. is an independent, secondary-market bookseller. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or sponsored by the original authors, copyright holders, publishers, or trademark owners of the titles offered for sale. All registered trademarks, author names, book titles, and publisher imprints remain the sole property of their respective owners and are used strictly for nominative identification and descriptive purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": [\"Product\", \"Book\"],\n      \"name\": \"Surrounded by Psychopaths: Or, How to Stop Being Exploited by Others\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Thomas Erikson\"\n      },\n      \"isbn\": \"9781785043321\",\n      \"sameAs\": \"1785043322\",\n      \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Paperback\",\n      \"numberOfPages\": 272,\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Vermilion\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2020-10-06\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9781785043321.png?v=1789641382\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/surrounded-by-psychopaths-thomas-erikson-9781785043321\",\n      \"offers\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n        \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n        \"price\": \"13.99\",\n        \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n        \"itemCondition\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/UsedCondition\"\n      },\n      \"about\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"PSY014000 \/ PSYCHOLOGY \/ Personality\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"SEL031000 \/ SELF-HELP \/ Self-Management \/ General\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"PSY041000 \/ PSYCHOLOGY \/ Social Psychology\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"BUS007000 \/ BUSINESS \u0026 ECONOMICS \/ Business Communication \/ General\"\n        }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is the main narrative hook and core behavioral warning driving the book?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"The book serves as a practical, defensive manual designed to help everyday individuals spot and neutralize predatory psychological manipulation. 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