Anyone who read my Chicago Tribune review of "How to Get Out of Your Own Way" (also the top Amazon review with 128 of 141 helpfuls -- and I found that out today because I haven't been on Amazon's site in about a year) knew  I was going to have something to say about "Manology." I ordered this book as soon as it came out, and to no one's surprise I didn't agree with pretty much everything Tyrese had to say about relationships. His views are like watching reality TV. You think you should probably change the channel, but they're just so terrible and entertaining. While I can't wrap my mind around why he's so unapologetically difficult, hypocritical and needy (he admits to this in the book), it blows my mind that he doesn't appear to even want to improve on these qualities. Gorgeous as he may be, he describes himself as the absolute worst boyfriend and husband ever! So I read almost all of his advice for entertainment purposes only. However, there were two points in this book that I agreed with him 100% -- his views on health club memberships over expensive wardrobe and accessories, and his warnings about dating thugs.*

I enjoyed every word of what Rev Run had to say because his views remind me of many happily married couples I personally know. I was happy both of them teamed up for this book for one major reason.

I heard about this book before his Power 105's The Breakfast Club interview, but I hadn't made an effort to read it. Angela Yee gave him a hard time about mentioning his affair with Lauryn Hill while he is/was married to Claudinette. When Wyclef said that issue was explored at the end of the book, that made me wonder what else he could talk about? I wasn't aware of all the alleged affairs or nude photos or managerial photos. I just knew him as a member of the Fugees, a solo artist, a philanthropist for Haiti (Yele) and the guy who wanted to be Haiti's president after the earthquake. I own all of his CDs but I never paid attention to his love life or any rumors about it. Up until "An Immigrant's Story," I never knew what his wife looked like. She's super pretty, by the way. And Wyclef was correct. The book had far more to do with his life than his affair, and I was instantly frustrated hearing about his love life.

I'll admit it. I'm a little superficial when it comes to sports. The only athletes I know by name are all ones I find attractive. I even mentioned this in a recent tweet about an Essence photo gallery. I read LeBron James' book "Shooting Stars" because he reminds me of this guy I went to high school with and I think he's a good-looking guy. I won't even bother lying and saying I knew who Dwyane Wade was before the Miami Heat triple team promotions, but I unfortunately got to know more bad than good things about him from hearing about the issues with him and his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches. I actually started paying more attention to Dwyane Wade because I vehemently opposed Toni Braxton's views on suing a mistress (although Gabrielle Union is not one). I picked up the book figuring it would be about sports but also talk about his divorce and Gabrielle Union. I was right but only to a certain extent.

This is not the tell-all book that some readers may be hoping for. Dwyane Wade does talk about some issues he's had with Siohvaughn, but the way he writes about her, the only thing it did was make me hope she writes a book to tell her side. Have you ever heard someone tell a story and they make themselves look way too good? You've probably heard the saying about three sides to a story (his side, her side and the truth). After finishing this book, I'd like to read her side.

Some of Gordon Livingston, M.D.'s advice isn't for sensitive people because he can be a bit blunt. But I couldn't figure out why "Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now" ended up on Barnes & Noble's bargain shelf. That was a really good book and I enjoyed it so much that I planned to read it again (scroll to the bottom for my review of the first book). So when I saw "And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need to Know Now," I expected the same reading pleasure. The problem was that this book was far more dark and a little uncomfortable, especially the chapter with the gun and his father.

Maybe it was my time camping and meeting a Native American girl scout troop in Canada. Or maybe it was all of those pow-wows I went to when I attended Northern Michigan University. Or it could be all of those Native American folklore stories I read in elementary school and then college. I don't think it's because I'll indignantly shout "Team Jacob" at a "Twilight" convention or used to own a Taylor Lautner umbrella and blanket. I don't think it's because I was a dog owner for 13 years and a dog kidnapper (my parents' dog) for 7 more years. And Tyler Hoechlin is handsome on "Teen Wolf," but that's not it either. Whatever reason it is, I have always been fascinated with Native American culture and wolves, and "Wolves" by Shaun Ellis with photographs from Monty Sloan incorporates both.

Every animal who favors a dog isn't my thing. I'm not into foxes or coyotes, which are also in this book. But there's this fascination I have with the way wolves (and huge dogs) look. However, outside of how beautiful they are, I knew next to nothing about them besides legends. This book took us past the bad reputation wolves get (Little Red Riding Hood, you should've found another route) and into how wolves really behave. There are in-depth details about why their fur is the color it is, which wolves can eat what parts of certain prey, what a wolf has to do to become a nanny, why the alpha female is so hard on other female wolves, what pups must learn before they can become part of a pack, how packs are formed, what a lone wolf has to do to survive and how the human population had to be held responsible for extinct wolves. There are also countless observations about how smart wolves are, from figuring out how to break latches to putting snow around their muzzles so their prey can't see their cold breath.

On Juneteenth I strolled around in The DuSable Museum and looked for a keepsake in the bookstores. I ran across this title and almost ignored it considering I'd already read "Dreams from My Father." How many people can write about the same person and tell a new story? I seldom buy any books about another person that aren't biographies or autobiographies, but what was unique about this book was the amount of photos inside. Stephen Krensky did a beautiful job of capturing Barry to President Barack Obama. But the book went one step further by capturing photographs of other well-known figures that Pres. Obama either admired or who were essential to his progress. Other photographs included former President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, former Mayor Harold Washington, Colin Powell and more. Of course there were family photographs, school photos and one interesting one of his old dorm room. But my favorite photograph of all of them is a shot of him talking to his daughters before they head to school in Hyde Park. Malia sits beside him with her legs folded under her and Sasha sits on his lap playing with his fingers. It's a beautiful father-daughter moment. Quick read, too.

Other photograph books I'd recommend about the Obamas:

1. The Editors of Essence "The Obamas: Portrait of America's New First Family" (Click here for review)

2. Deborah Willis and Emily Bernard "Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs"

Non-photograph book I'd recommend about the Obamas:

1. Barry Liberty and Rick Faulk "Barack, Inc., Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign"

2. Barack Obama "Dreams from My Father"

Hogan is an actress/waitress who has a background in modeling, is 5'10, blue-eyed, blonde and 120 pounds if she's dripping weight. Unfortunately for this New Yorker, being mainstream pretty doesn't do her much good when she heads to work and gets hit by a Mercedes going 40 mph.

Even though she flipped over twice and landed in the back windshield of that car — her grande soy Tazo chai still stuck in the one remaining shard of glass from the window — the people in the car are less than sympathetic.

"Stand up! You're not hurt! I'm a doctor, I know you're not hurt!" screams the passenger before the EMT straps Hogan into a board and neck collar.

Ironically enough, that lack of sympathy followed her from the hospital (where she has no health insurance and is sent home with a neck brace), the emergency room (where she lays fetal waiting for over three hours), the welfare office (where the smart-alec social worker calls her "Paris Hilton"), her best friend Gayle (who stopped speaking to her for some inexplicable reason), her brother (who loses patience with his sister being sick and refuses to drop by and check on her) and a police officer (who makes her walk eight blocks to get a money order for $10 because they don't take anything but checks or money orders for accident reports).

For someone who keeps losing, Jennifer Hudson sure is winning (and not the Charlie Sheen way).

She lost the opportunity to sing back-up for Barry Manilow but later worked with him as a contestant on "American Idol" singing "Weekend in New England." She lost "American Idol" but gained a Grammy for a later single. She lost weight and gained better health. She turned down a role in "Precious" and gained an Oscar award for her performance in "Dreamgirls." She turned down the "sex kitten" ideas for her music video "No One's Gonna Love You" but was still sexy enough for reality show contest and wrestler David Otunga to propose to her.

She lost some support from females who ranted on Twitter about her weight loss but gained support from male followers who tweeted comments like "Why can't you leave her alone?" and "I think what Jennifer has done is terrific. She looks great."

In "I Got This," J-Hud talks about what it was like growing up as a singer in a group who was more focused on looks than talent. She confirms that she's always been confident in her appearance — something her real fans have always known — but weight loss isn't new to her.

I believe most people will check this book out for the gardening tips. Me? I wanted to check out the photos. My grandfather tried to get me into gardening. There's nothing in the produce section that he doesn't currently have in his backyard right now (except maybe watermelons) and I would hang out with him and a childhood next-door-neighbor named Mrs. Th-----n (family know who I'm talking about but I don't want to publish her last name) who loved to garden. It wasn't for me. All I saw was a lot of utensils, worms and didn't have enough patience to wait for seeds to grow but loved following them around. However, I found this book fascinating. There were a few health tips (could've used more; if you've heard her talk about childhood obesity you won't read anything new), a lot of tips on how/where/when to garden and her minor freakouts about gardening at the White House, the history of other First Ladies and presidents who were into gardening, the change in soil and architecture at the White House, recipes and how kids reacted to gardening.

While reading Justin Halpern's latest book, I tried to remember which of his books I found funnier -- "Sh*t My Dad Says" or this title. I can't remember which one made me laugh more hysterically in public but this one was all kinds of funny. The difference between the two is the first book relied on his father for quick witty remarks. This book was filled with strange pieces of advice and wacky comments from his older brothers, his friends, his bosses and his father. The title pretty much gives away the summary of the book -- Halpern's experiences with young ladies over the years, from drawing a picture of a girl with a dog taking a dump on top of her head (his way of showing affection) to having to take a dump in his girlfriend's bathroom and making sure she stood watch. The entire book is not bathroom humor. Matter of fact, those are the only two instances of dirty humor that I can think of, outside of him stealing porn from a couple homeless guys and one of them yelling "Gimmie back my titties!"