Yea, I think the author was spoiled with always being "listened to", in the way the author describes, and then the author was shocked, that the world doesn't revolve around him. That people don't care what he has to say. So now the author teaches us how we should get into this EXTREMELY passive state, where we mirror everything our interlocutor says, agree completely, never say anything about ourselves, and back away from any confrontation.
The guide is useful in a way, but it's useful for a particular situation: when you want to help someone emotionally. This is not a (good) general listening guide, however. Actually, it's a terrible, toxic guide.
The guide is useful in a way, but it's useful for a particular situation: when you want to help someone emotionally. This is not a (good) general listening guide, however. Actually, it's a terrible, toxic guide.