The third edition is just out of the presses. I have the 2nd one, and one of the appendixes is an explanation of LaTeX and TeX infamously cryptic error messages, and it is really useful.
As for using PDF features, try PDFLaTeX or even better, XeLaTeX or luatex. The latter use utf-8 and advanced PDF kerning techniques, among other useful stuff.
My first advice would be to invest in getting The LaTeX Companion (https://www.amazon.com/LaTeX-Companion-Techniques-Computer-T...). Really, it is the "common things people want or need to do documents" as you said.
The third edition is just out of the presses. I have the 2nd one, and one of the appendixes is an explanation of LaTeX and TeX infamously cryptic error messages, and it is really useful.
As for using PDF features, try PDFLaTeX or even better, XeLaTeX or luatex. The latter use utf-8 and advanced PDF kerning techniques, among other useful stuff.