In the 4th edition, you could expect improved organization and presentation of the personal stories for better readability. Maybe there are new introductions or commentaries to provide additional context.
Well, one of the main themes could be friendship. In many of the stories, characters' relationships with their friends play important roles. Another might be self - discovery as the characters often learn about themselves through the events in the stories.
Well, in 'big book 4th edition stories', often there are themes of perseverance. Characters face difficulties and keep going. Also, themes of growth are present. They start from one state and develop into a better or more aware version of themselves. For example, a character might start as a shy person and through the events in the story, become more confident and outgoing.
The uniqueness lies in their honesty. People share their most vulnerable moments, like hitting rock bottom, and how they managed to climb back up. It's different from fictional stories because these are real experiences that happened to real people within the context of AA. They also show the diversity of backgrounds and experiences of those in AA, which makes them special.