To succeed, your command of a subject must be so secure that you can persuade people you are right. And then you must activate them. You should have such a mastery of the issues that you can frame your arguments to anticipate and render ineffective your opponent's arguments. You should know all you can learn about what works and what doesn't work. Schooling alone will not suffice.
All knowledgeable people are largely self-taught.
HOW TO READ The surest way to acquire a wide range of useful knowledge is to read every day. My introduction to books came early, before I started school. We had a lot of books in our house. First, my parents regularly read aloud to me. A child should not be discouraged from reading anything that he takes a liking to, from a notion that it is above his reach.