Five books Mark Zuckerberg thinks everyone should read

Gulf Today Report

Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has a single mission: to connect people around the world.

He works up to 60 hours a week and has a squad of 12 employees to help him with social media.

The birth of his daughter, Max, kept him from hitting his goal of a book every two weeks, he has made a list of books he thinks everyone should read.

We've put together a list of his picks and why he thinks everyone should read them:

The Muqaddimah by Khaldun

Translated meaning, “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 world view when it's all considered together," Zuckerberg writes.

Mark Zuckerberg with his wife Priscilla Chan.

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

First published in 2014, Sapiens is a critically acclaimed international best seller by Hebrew University of Jerusalem historian Harari. He uses his book to track the evolution of Homo sapiens from hunter-gatherers into self-empowered "Gods" of the future.

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

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.

Bill Gates also considers this one of the most important books he's ever read.

Mark Zukerberg spending time with his family.

On Immunity by Eula Biss

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

"The science is completely clear: Vaccinations work and are important for the health of everyone in our community," Zuckerberg writes, adding that this book was highly recommended to him by scientists and public-health workers.

"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 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.