What is Busch's central idea about human nature?
My central observation is that human beings are prone to vanity, self-deception, and a certain inherent silliness. We often believe ourselves wiser or more virtuous than we are. My stories aim to reveal this underlying foolishness, not out of malice, but from a clear-eyed recognition of our shared imperfections. I find a peculiar kind of truth, and indeed humor, in the predictable ways people succumb to their baser instincts or stumble over their own pretensions.
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