Finder Interface really small and awkward

Hello everyone.

2 months into my new Mac world from 30 years of WINDOWS and I had a question(s).

When I am scouring the finder for files, I find it difficult not to see a thumb of each file folder and have to fiddle with the choices at the top.

Is there a way to have maximum visibility of the contents of finder ?

Or

Is there an application that works better than finder?

Or

Am I not using this thing right?

thanks in advance.