Just a few days ago, Moises Naim's "The End of Power" was at No. 44,369 on Amazon's list of best-selling books. Now it has entered the top 10, peaking at No. 6 in the paperback section and at No. 29 in the Kindle Store, thanks to an endorsement by Mark Zuckerberg.
The Facebook chief himself chose the book as his first pick for his annual personal challenge, which is to read two books every month. Before the end of 2014, Zuckerberg asked his more than 31 million Facebook followers to suggest a self-improvement challenge for him. Several suggestions were made, including read a book suggested by someone else each month and read the Bible. Zuckerberg chose to read two books each month and invited his followers to do the same.
Naturally, the Facebook chief created a Facebook page titled A Year of Books, where he posts what books he chooses to read every two weeks so other people can read and discuss the book with one another. More than 208,000 people have already liked the page in what could possibly be the world's biggest online book club.
On Saturday, Zuckerberg announced that he will be reading "The End of Power" first, an ironic choice given how much power he as an individual wields. In an op-ed Naim wrote for the Huffington Post, he says the power wielded by traditional institutions and leaders, such as the Pope, the President of the United States, and big corporations, is being challenged by the rise of "insurgents, fringe political parties, upstart media outlets, leaderless young people in city squares, and charismatic individuals who seem to have 'come from nowhere'" to "shake up the old order."
"It's a book that explores how the world is shifting to give individual people more power that was traditionally only held by large governments, militaries and other organizations," Zuckerberg explains. "The trend towards giving people more power is one I believe in deeply, and I'm looking forward to reading this book and exploring this in more detail."
The announcement sent Basic Books, Naim's publisher, rushing to fill the outpouring of orders over the weekend. It was listed as "Sold Out" for a brief period before the publisher was able to refill its stocks for Amazon. Currently, "The End of Power" is sitting at No. 10 on Amazon's best-sellers list and No. 49 on the Kindle Store. It is also the No. 1 best-seller in the International & World Politics and Economic History, and Politics & Government categories.
Following Zuckerberg's announcement, David Steinberger, president and CEO of Basic Books owner Perseus Books Group, says the publisher has received orders for 10,000 copies of the book from different book sellers.
"We had no prior notice and learned about it at the same time as everybody else did," says Steinberger. "Orders are pouring in."
While "The End of Power" is no unknown title, having sold more than 20,000 copies, including 4,500 e-books and endorsed by The Financial Times as one of the best books of 2013. Personalities such as Bill Clinton, Arianna Huffington and George Soros have also praised and recommended the book, with the former President recommending it to deputy British Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Nelson Mandela's funeral service.
Still, Naim, who is former executive director of the World Bank and ex-minister of trade and industry in Venezuela, says he is "flabbergasted" by Zuckerberg's sales and looks forward to participating in the discussion on Facebook.
