Zuckerberg, whose previous annual challenges have included learning Mandarin, meeting a new person outside of Facebook everyday and only eating meat that he has slaughtered, has vowed to read a new book every other week for the next 12 months.

In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg wrote: "My challenge for 2015 is to read a new book every other week - with an emphasis on learning about different cultures, beliefs, histories and technologies.

"I'm excited for my reading challenge. I've found reading books very intellectually fulfilling. Books allow you to fully explore a topic and immerse yourself in a deeper way than most media today. I'm looking forward to shifting more of my media diet towards reading books."

Given the size of his audience, Zuckerberg's book club has the potential to make a significant impact on book sales for his chosen titles.

Physical copies of the book club's first selection, The End of Power by Moisés Naím, sold out on Amazon within 24 hours, while the book club's Facebook page, A Year of Books, has attracted more than 200,000 members since its launch on 3 January.