Journalist Thomas Friedmanâ??s hefty speaking fee cost him a chance at being chosen for UW-Madisonâ??s common book read program, Go Big Read.
His book â??Hot, Flat and Crowded,â? was one of five finalists for the programâ??s first book, but his fee of $70,000 â?? which has been the subject of some controversy of late â?? was too pricy for UW-Madisonâ??s budget, said Sara Guyer, interim director of the UW-Madison Center for Humanities and a member of the book selection committee.
Instead, Michael Pollanâ??s book, â??In Defense of Food: An Eaterâ??s Manifesto,â? was chosen by Chancellor Biddy Martin. Pollan was already scheduled to visit to campus this fall at a rate of $15,000, sponsored by a number of sources including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.