I want to get a better understanding of Islam

Religions are revealed to improve the spirit and life of hereafter, not the body and this worldly life. The difference in the prophet and the poet is quite clear. A poet talks to improve this life where as the prophet the hereafter.

After the revelation is over the religions are interpreted in two ways: the outward meaning concerns mostly to the life of this world and the inward to the life of hereafter. If the interpreter is carrying the structure of feelings similar to that of a prophet, I mean if he is spiritual by nature, he will explain the inward meaning of religion. On the other hand if he is a kind of philosopher, poet, business man or politician with a structure of feelings concerning to the loss and profit of this world only, he will interpret the meaning of religion in outward terms.
Meaning explained in the terms of loss and profit of this world is of no importance. Religion is not a peace of poetry or political theory. On the other hand if the meaning explained is in terms of loss and profit of the hereafter, it is worth considering.
Like all other religions of the world, islam carries two interpretations: the interpretation of the people concerning the welfare of this world, and the interpretation of the people concerning the good of hereafter. The former are political and social minded mullas and mawlavis, whereas the latter are Sufis and mystics. To take the better understanding of islam one should consult the life and works of Sufis.
You may find the Muslim Sufis like mystics of other religions, but actually the case is not so. The very path and the way to travel that path are quite different. Muslims Sufis submit their Will to Allah. Once they have done so they have no concern with any thing in this world and the hereafter. They stop living with their desires, determinations and efforts. They don't trust their feelings, emotions and ideas. They don't stick to their hopes, fears and expectations. They don't follow the imagination, vision and ideal. They are left with nothing, nothing but soul or spirit. Consult the teachings of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jailani of Baghdad. He is admittedly the greatest saint of the Muslim world.
On the other hand if you want to follow the principles of islam to reform your life of this world, but also with some hopes of benefits in the hereafter, you should only read the works of muslim Sufis. You should not try to adopt their teachings practically. Just read them and live you life as a common muslim. This will also lead you to Allah. Developed in strong sense of morality and ethics your life shall be slightly different and difficult but satisfied and contented.
If you have a tendency to bear difficulties and odd situations, without making efforts to come out of them, you can be a better muslim. If you are naturally forgiving, forgetting, and forbearing you can be a better muslim. If you are not so you can develop them reading the wroks of Muslim Sufis.
There are certain other things: the traditional ways of Ibadas, and morality. You may learn them in articles by other writers.