I like the way that this book has two different people to describe the metaphysical qualities of each crystal, it makes for a much more rounded overview. The photographs are beautiful too. Very thorough.

I do not own the first edition of this book, so I am unsure of what exactly is different about this edition. Either way tho, I am most pleased with having purchased this book. It has stones and crystals that I have read about on various websites but have NOT seen in other books, for example Heulandite is one of them. My mother had found a chunk of it at a crystal shop and had wanted me to find out what it was used for. I could not find any information on it except on the internet, but I was most pleased to see it listed in the Book of Stones! I have also found some other stones/crystals I had heard of, but never found a good description of them anywhere but the internet.
In this book I really like that they give you some key words for each stone/crystal. Key words for Heulandite are: Dreams, Visions, Emotional healing, etc.
They also list the element that the stone is with, for example Heulandite's element is Wind. Also the chakras in which the stones would work with, Heulandite works with the Heart, Third Eye, and Crown chakras.
I very much enjoy the pictures they have added, they vary from natural formations, cut, tumbled, and spheres.
Both Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian give descriptions about each stone, so instead of one person talking about the stone you have two. Naisha also likes to list down the spiritual properties, emotional, physical, and affirmation of most stones, which I find is most helpful as well. It is a long read but definatly a wealth of information.