Something I've always told myself... If you want to believe in something, read a book on it.

Books are written by people who have all sorts of ideas. I think simply because I've read a book doesn't mean I believe it, in fact I might read a book to find out why someone believes something quite opposite to what I do. Reading is a great way to acquire an understanding of the world and I would always advocate it, but there needs to be a breadth in the texts chosen so that in coming to a personal belief you have understood all sides of it.

I like the title of a CS Lewis book: The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others’ Eyes. He was a convinced Christian who was not afraid to debate with anyone who would engage with him.

I think it is good to read on things, but also be aware of the goals and perspectives of the writer. This is especially true of political and religious texts. The goals aren't to educate, but to indoctrinate through language that is often circular.

So if you know you are reading something that requires acceptance of a side, make sure you round it out with reading something from the opposing side, or be aware of the inherent goals and motivations of the book you are reading so you can recognize it when it comes up.

"Knowledge is power",but follow a lot of sources;no book explains it all..for instance even as pedestrian sources like the wikipedia may have "though some disagree with this IDEA X..i am off to the races,Iwanna know dbout idea X..Libraries are your friend

Actual objective evidence is what I prefer. There are lots of astrology books, but not one shows it works and how it works.