Very good book, and easy to use even if not a native speaker of english (which i am not). Vast amount of vocabulary, kanji section with how-to-read and how-to-write plus example words. each lesson is filled with reading chapters (we follow the same group as in genki 1), grammar section, useful vocabulary and practice tasks.
The difference between 1st and 2nd edition is not huge. some vobacs have been exchanged to synonyms, certain images have been ugbraded (a taberecorder has been exchanged to a plushie etc[small things to keep it modern), and the kanji section has changed a little (both kun and on readings of kanji is spelled out in hiragana [in 1st onyomi is spelled with katakana], but are here marked with either a black or a wite arrow to show which is what.)
Highly recomended!!
//S