Thor is starting his own book club.
OK, not that Thor. We’re talking about Noah Syndergaard, the New York Mets pitcher who earned his mythological nickname because of his long, golden mane and imposing 6’6” frame.
“Hobbies include ice baths, being shirtless….and reading,” Syndergaard tweeted last week. “Now starting #NoahsBookClub. Dropping the first book on Feb. 1st. Let’s Read.”
On Monday, he revealed the club’s first pick: Scott Carney’s What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength. “As the title implies, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,” Syndergaard wrote. “This book is about becoming a stronger human being.”
For the first pick of #NoahsBookClub, I went with @sgcarney’s What Doesn’t Kill Us. As the title implies, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. This book is about becoming a stronger human being. I'll check back in soon to hear your thoughts... #LetsRead 🍎⚡️ (More on IG) pic.twitter.com/ZBMwS9QdYr
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) February 1, 2021
It’s an appropriate pick for Syndergaard, who’s being forced to sit out this season as he recovers from elbow surgery.
“It was just a fun idea I thought about throughout quarantine and while I’ve been recovering from Tommy John [surgery],” Syndergaard told People magazine. “I’m excited to share what I’m into and give the fans a different view of what I’m about and to promote literacy.”
Syndergaard, who plans to pick a new book each month, told the magazine that his love of reading is a fairly new development.
“When I was in school, honestly, I wasn’t a huge reader and I somewhat dreaded it,” the pitcher said. “But now I enjoy it, and I see the benefit. I’m constantly reading and learning now, and in starting this book club, I want to make reading cool again.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
