Can other races be used for F&D or is it suggested to just use the races in the rulebook?

Any species from any of the Edge of the Empire or Age of Rebellion books are fully compatible.

I would just present the list of 8 species to your players.

If one of your players really wants to play a different species (I always seem to have one of those at my table), try and work with him to make up some reasonable stats for the species. Best advice is to either re-skin an existing species, or create a species template with the caveat, "We'll see how this goes, but I reserve the right to make changes to the species if I come to realize I've created something too powerful."

I would just present the list of 8 species to your players.

If one of your players really wants to play a different species (I always seem to have one of those at my table), try and work with him to make up some reasonable stats for the species. Best advice is to either re-skin an existing species, or create a species template with the caveat, "We'll see how this goes, but I reserve the right to make changes to the species if I come to realize I've created something too powerful."

If it is the only book you have, this is fine but if you have other books of this game lines, why restrict the specie choices?

I would just present the list of 8 species to your players.

If one of your players really wants to play a different species (I always seem to have one of those at my table), try and work with him to make up some reasonable stats for the species. Best advice is to either re-skin an existing species, or create a species template with the caveat, "We'll see how this goes, but I reserve the right to make changes to the species if I come to realize I've created something too powerful."

If it is the only book you have, this is fine but if you have other books of this game lines, why restrict the specie choices?

Well, the OP said "the rulebook." I made the leap, and assumed that he only has the one book. It's all about the context

Really though, it's whatever; use whatever you have at your disposal. However, I find that (generally speaking) the less choices a player has, the better. Otherwise you get players locked in eternal indecisiveness—a very maddening place for all concerned.

It's open, use any career in any book for any thing. Droids can't use the Force so that's less of an option, but it can still be done, a Shii Cho Droid for example can't use the Force Tallents but can Parry with the best of them.