Surrounded by Narcissists: How to Effectively Recognize, Avoid, and Defend Yourself Against Toxic People (and Not Lose Your Mind) [The Surrounded by Idiots Series]

by Thomas Erikson

Overview

Part of the bestselling Surrounded by Idiots series!

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 the thrall of others' toxic agendas so you can pursue a happier, more fulfilling and successful life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250789563
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	06/21/2022
Series:	The Surrounded by Idiots Series
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	122,436
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

THOMAS ERIKSON is a Swedish behavioral expert, active lecturer, and bestselling author. For more than fifteen years he has been traveling all over Europe, delivering lectures and seminars in Swedish and English to executives and managers at a wide range of companies, including IKEA, Coca Cola, Microsoft, Volvo, and KIA Motors.

Surrounded by Idiots (Omgiven Av Idioter) has been a Swedish runaway bestseller since it was first published in 2014. It has sold over 5 million copies worldwide, of which nearly 1 million copies have been sold in Sweden alone, and it has been translated into 42 languages.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part 1 Narcissism: A Brief Introduction

1 What Is Narcissism? 3

2 Being a Cut Above the Rest 14

3 The Rest of the Dark Triad 19

4 Is It Normal to Think About Yourself All the Time? 27

5 A First Encounter with Linda 39

Part II Narcissism: An In-Depth Look

6 Surveying the Depths of Complex Souls 45

7 Do I Love Myself? It's Complicated 50

8 Emotions and Narcissists-Like Oil and Water? 61

9 The Secret Language of Narcissists 69

10 When Did a Little Narcissism Ever Hurt Anyone? 74

11 Manipulation 81

12 Who Is in Danger of Falling Victim to a Narcissist? 104

13 How Are Narcissists Made? 120

14 The Challenges of Narcissism 127

Part III How to Handle Narcissists

15 The Challenges of Being Close to a Narcissist 139

16 Breaking Free from a Narcissist 145

17 A Complete System for Breaking Free Once and for All 155

18 Is Missing Your Abuser a Thing? 170

19 Linda Revisited-An Analysis of Her Behavior 177

Part IV A Narcissistic Culture

20 When the Problem Affects More than Just a Few Individuals 183

21 Expressions of a Narcissistic Culture 189

22 A Literal Look in the Rearview Mirror 201

23 Aggression and Collective Narcissism 206

24 How Did We End Up Here? 221

25 Self-Esteem: More Trouble Than You're Worth 229

26 Normalizing Narcissism 237

27 Test Yourself: Are You a Narcissist? 255

28 Being the Change 271

In Closing Linda, Part 3: How Can We Help Her? 283

Bibliography and Sources 287

Index 289

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/18/2022

Motivational speaker Erikson (Surrounded by Psychopaths) takes on narcissists in the outstanding latest entry to his Surrounded by Idiots series. “Thinking a little less about ourselves and a little more about one another is the road to true success and happiness,” Erikson contends, and to that end he explores the psychology of narcissism and outlines a more caring alternative based in “greater truth and freedom.” The author suggests that while everyone thinks about themselves, narcissists focus on themselves “at the expense of everyone else” and feel entitled and as if they are above the rules. He also asserts that social media provides “fertile ground” for a “cultural narcissism” that sees society reward such narcissistic behavior as posting pictures of one’s lunch. To protect against the narcissists in one’s life, Erikson recommends breaking off all contact, and to insulate oneself from cultural narcissism, he advises taking a 30-day digital detox. Erickson impresses with his trademark facility for making research-based discussions accessible and entertaining, and readers will appreciate the insightful guidance. This is another home run from Erikson. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Outstanding...Erickson impresses with his trademark facility for making research-based discussions accessible and entertaining, and readers will appreciate the insightful guidance. This is another home run from Erikson."— Publishers Weekly Starred Review

From the Publisher