A new book titled 'Sharper than Light: The Saudi and Chinese Characters through Their Proverbs' by Dr. Abdullah Al-Buraidi has been recently published by Samawi Library.

The book examines the 'proverb' as a window to understanding people, culture, and society, through three overlapping levels: the universal human, the comparative national between Arab and Chinese, and the comparative national between Saudi and Chinese. It studies the structure of proverbs, how they are formed, why they become widespread and influential, and the functions they serve. The author describes the proverb as 'music for a universal pulse'.

Al-Buraidi presents his work according to the concept of 'text as a promenade', that is, a text that is not only read but also strolled through and with, via reading, interaction, interpretation, and enrichment, according to the author.

The book seeks to trace the features of the Saudi and Chinese characters through their proverbs, highlighting the unifying positive frameworks, thereby enhancing mutual cultural understanding in light of the growing relations between the two countries on various levels.

The book raises pivotal questions about the function of the proverb, its presence in modern life, and factors of its decline, including: Can contemporary people create new proverbs?

Al-Buraidi had previously won the Literature Award at the National Cultural Awards in its fifth edition, organized by the Ministry of Culture, where the award was dedicated to philosophical authorship, in recognition of his foundational philosophical works and contributions to the Saudi cultural scene.