BTB165: Over 12 Million Copies Sold: The Self-Publishing Story Behind Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded by Idiots

In today’s episode, we welcome back Thomas Erikson, the behaviorist and international bestselling author behind the global phenomenon Surrounded by Idiots. What began as a single book has grown into the bestselling Surrounded by series, with more than twelve million copies sold and translations in nearly 70 languages. Thomas speaks to audiences around the world, delivering more than a hundred keynotes each year to TEDx stages, Fortune 500 companies, and government organizations.

In this conversation, Thomas looks back on the twenty years he wrote without ever being published, the rejection letters he kept in binders, and the moment he realized he couldn’t stop creating even when no one was reading. He shares why he ultimately chose to self-publish Surrounded by Idiots after countless rejections, how those early copies found their way into readers’ hands, and the unexpected momentum that followed. Thomas also reflects on how his background shaped the way he explains behavior, why he writes for everyday people instead of academics, and what the polarizing title revealed about how people respond to ideas. He gives us a glimpse into the new concepts he’s exploring for his next book and why even people with the same personality “color” can feel so different from one another.

Tune in for a conversation that takes you behind the scenes of one of the most remarkable self-publishing journeys today. 

Learn more about Thomas Erikson on his website here: www.surroundedbyidiots.com

Check out the book, Surrounded By Idiots, here: https://a.co/d/4CCxMMQ

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