10 books Facebook CEO is reading and why you should read them

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made a tradition of dramatic New Year's resolutions, and this year he decided that he'd read a book every two weeks. He wanted his selections to focus on "different cultures, beliefs, histories, and technologies."

"Books allow you to fully explore a topic and immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today," Zuckerberg wrote on his personal Facebook page. "I'm looking forward to shifting more of my media diet towards reading books."

To achieve this, he started the A Year of Books book club, in which he discusses the books he's reading with members of the Facebook community.

Here is a list of his picks and why he thinks everyone should read them.

'The Muqaddimah' by Ibn Khaldun

"The Muqaddimah," which translates to "The Introduction," was written in 1377 by the Islamic historian Khaldun. It's an attempt to strip away biases of historical records and find universal elements in the progression of humanity.

Khaldun's revolutionary scientific approach to history established him as one of the fathers of modern sociology and historiography.

"While much of what was believed then is now disproven after 700 more years of progress, it's still very interesting to see what was understood at this time and the overall worldview when it's all considered together," Zuckerberg writes.

'Sapiens' by Yuval Noah Harari

First published in 2014, "Sapiens" is a critically acclaimed international best-seller by Hebrew University of Jerusalem historian Harari.

"Following the Muqadimmah, which was a history from the perspective of an intellectual in the 1300s, 'Sapiens' is a contemporary exploration of many similar questions," Zuckerberg writes.

'The New Jim Crow' by Michelle Alexander

Alexander is a law professor at Ohio State University and civil rights advocate who argues in her book that the "war on drugs" has fostered a culture in which non-violent black males are overrepresented in prison, and then are treated as second-class citizens once they are freed.

"I've been interested in learning about criminal justice reform for a while, and this book was highly recommended by several people I trust," Zuckerberg writes.

'The End of Power' by Moisés Naím

Zuckerberg launched his book club with this lofty title from Naím, former executive director of the World Bank and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

It's a historical investigation of the shift of power from authoritative governments, militaries, and major corporations to individuals. This is clearly seen in what's now become a Silicon Valley cliché, the disruptive startup.

"The trend towards giving people more power is one I believe in deeply," Zuckerberg writes.

'Creativity, Inc.' by Ed Catmull

"Creativity, Inc." is the story of Pixar, written by one of the computer animation giant's founders.

"I love reading first-hand accounts about how people build great companies like Pixar and nurture innovation and creativity," Zuckerberg writes.

'The Better Angels of Our Nature' by Steven Pinker

Zuckerberg admits that this 800-page, data-rich book from a Harvard psychologist can seem intimidating.

But the writing is actually easy to get through, and he thinks that Pinker's study of how violence has decreased over time despite being magnified by a 24-hour news cycle and social media is something that can offer a life-changing perspective.

It should be noted that Bill Gates also considers this one of the most important books he's ever read.

'On Immunity' by Eula Biss

Zuckerberg says that Biss' investigation into the benefits of vaccination is necessary to read, considering the anti-vaccination movement in the US and parts of Europe.

"This book explores the reasons why some people question vaccines, and then logically explains why the doubts are unfounded and vaccines are in fact effective and safe," he says.

'The Player of Games' by Iain M. Banks

"The Player of Games" was first published in 1988 and is the second in the "Culture" series. It explores what a civilization would look like if hyper-advanced technology were created to serve human needs and surpass human capabilities.

Zuckerberg writes that he went with a sci-fi pick as a "change of pace." The novel is also one of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's favorite books due to its entertaining way of exploring plausible advancements in technology.

'Gang Leader for a Day' by Sudhir Venkatesh

Venkatesh is a Columbia University sociology professor who, in a radical sociological experiment, embedded himself into a Chicago gang in the '90s.

Zuckerberg says that Venkatesh's story is an inspiring one of communication and understanding across economic and cultural barriers. "The more we all have a voice to share our perspectives, the more empathy we have for each other and the more we respect each other's rights," Zuckerberg writes.

'Orwell's Revenge' by Peter Huber

This is an unofficial sequel to George Orwell's "1984" in 1994, a time when internet and telecommunications technology was opening up new methods of communication. The novel imagines a world in which citizens use the technology that once enslaved them to liberate themselves.

"After seeing how history has actually played out, Huber's fiction describes how tools like the internet benefit people and change society for the better," Zuckerberg writes.

'Dealing with China' by Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

Zuckerberg has been intensely fascinated with Chinese culture over the past several years. He's been learning to speak in Mandarin Chinese and has stated that one of his long-term goals is convincing the Chinese government to let its people use Facebook.

"Dealing with China" by the former US Treasury Secretary explores China's recent rise in global influence and how it affects the entire world.

"Over the last 35 years, China has experienced one of the greatest economic and social transformations in human history," Zuckerberg writes. "Hundreds of millions of people have moved out of poverty. By many measures, China has done more to lift people out of poverty than the whole rest of the world combined."