Question: There is not an `Edit | Preferences` option. How do I get the files to display in a list view with details, and not as icons?

Answer: 
To change the default for **all folders** \*, Open the file manager and when the window is active move the mouse pointer to the top left of the top panel and you will see:

![Nautilus toolbar options](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R7ZaP.png) 

Select `Edit -> Preferences -> Views (tab) -> View new folders using` then select your preferred view type (in your case it would be 'List').

To change the default view for **just that folder**, select `View -> List` from the menu, or use the keyboard shortcut `Ctrl` + `2` 

\*Note that in the first step the default preferences will not be used for any folders you have manually changed view type on in the past. To reset this, see [this question](https://askubuntu.com/q/164551/12864) then apply the new default preference.
Open your file manager then move your mouse to the left of the top panel
and select 'View' then 'List' (near the bottom) or try CTRL+2.