there are a few nootropics that i routinely use.
for beginners any of the cetam's would be a good choice, with piracetam, aniracetam, oxiaracetam being the most popular wiht piracetam being the mildest. some normal nootrophics people might know of a vasodialators like ginko biloba and a good standby called bacopa monerii which is both a carminitive as well as mast cells stabilizer. you would have to add a choline donor such as alpha gpc or choline bitarate to avoid fuzziness. most of cetams have anxiolytic effects as well.
subletamine is another highly effective nootropic which is higly effect, there are others like Huperzine A
Galantamine,Idebenone,DMAE, Acetyl L-Carnitine,Pyritinol,Centrophenoxine etc.. but youd have to do your research if you where to use some of these compounds as you could build quite a stack if you had some knowledge.
another novel nootropic i have used is picamilon which is basically gaba bound to niacin which allows for access to the brain, because gaba does not cross the BBB via oral administration. it is mainly used as an anxiolytic, anti depressant, but has a unique stimulating, and relaxing effect at high doses, its also cheap!!
my adivice is to stick with a cetam, most likely piracetam as its mild and most studied. all nootrophics are inherently toxic, and may potentiate glutamate degeneration as seen in alzheimers. the info is clouded with some studies showing neuroprotection while others showing possible toxicity not related to drug levels. thus try piracetam at low-moderate doses, and you may potentiate it with a vasodialator like picamilon or gingko if you need a little more kick. good old caffiene is a nice nootrophic as well which shows increase in global concentration. thats a bit of info but its a run down of some, as there are many with many many mechanisms of action.