In "A Wild Sheep Chase" by Haruki Murakami, the protagonist describes his unique approach to meetings. He prefers to listen to people talk about themselves for a while before forming his own opinion. This strategy allows him to analyze their words from a contrasting viewpoint, giving him deeper insight into their true character.
The narrator finds this method intriguing rather than irrational, suggesting it may be effective in understanding others. By flipping the perspective, he implies that one can discover hidden truths that may not be readily apparent in initial conversations.