What is the best madhhab for a student of knowledge, and is it better to follow the madhhab of one's country, and what are the recommended graduated books and shaykhs?

The ease and eloquence of books vary, even within the same madhhab. It is best for a student of knowledge to gain understanding according to the prevalent madhhab in their country and to study one of its abridgements under a trusted scholar, because going against it may stir up contention. Sheikh al-Islam mentioned the story of Judge Abu Ya'la with a faqih who wanted to study the madhhab of Ahmad; the judge advised him to study the madhhab of al-Shafi'i because it was prevalent in his country. Among the scholars who made Hanbali fiqh easy to understand is Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen.