Surrounded by Energy Vampires: How To Slay the Time, Joy, and Soul Suckers in Your Life

Energy vampires are everywhere, writes Swedish behavioral expert Erikson (Surrounded by Idiots; Surrounded by Narcissists). He describes them as “uninvited mental squatters” who rob people of their enthusiasm with little effort. His book presents various types of energy vampires, including particular personality types (perfectionists, drama queens, bullies, narcissists, martyrs) with checklists explaining how to recognize and cope with such individuals. Erikson suggests that particular situations and one’s own attitudes can also be energy vampires. He discusses energy vampires in terms of Marston’s DISC theory with its four areas of behavior—Dominance, Inducement, Steadiness, or Compliance—that align with the colors red, yellow, green, and blue. He demonstrates through anecdotes how individuals with these DISC behavioral traits react to particular energy vampire personalities. To combat bad habits that might also drain positive energy, the book offers tips for avoiding procrastination, cutting back on news consumption, and reducing time spent on social media. The penultimate chapter provides a detailed overview of the DISC theory and its various personality types, which would have been more helpful if placed at the beginning of the book.