I will get straight to the point: Surrounded by Setbacks, one of the latest entries in Thomas Erikson’s Surrounded By…Series, is not a self-help book, a reference book, or a guide book. This book is a callous and condescending insult to mankind which disregards the effects of emotional trauma which impact people whom genuinely strive and struggle to better themselves and their lives. Chapters 2, 3, and 26 are, in particular, the most unsympathetic chapters towards readers, all of which mock daily struggles and setbacks, disregarding them as “excuses”. Worst of all, the author wrote in Chapter 26: “you can think whatever you want. It makes no difference to me.” What is this if not the author bluntly admitting that he has no regard whatsoever for the setbacks and struggles of his readers? So, all in all, Thomas Erikson is an arrogant, uncaring swindler whom clearly does not care about whether or not his readers succeed in life. Therefore, please DO NOT let him tempt you into wasting your money on his fraudulent trash!