Paulina 
Child: What’s the most powerful weapon?
Mom: Reading. Culture. Information. That’s why GOP would rather you have a gun than a book.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Well, the "mom" made it sound like as if reading books, i.e. the consumption of ideas (real learning requires additional steps), were a cool and mighty weapon, as to incentivize the kid.
Sir #FrancisBacon seems to have coined this phrase for modern times:
"Knowledge is power.—Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est."
I agree that #knowledge in the form of know-how of natural #sciences can also create #weapons.
I do *not* agree with US fantasy author...
...#TerryGoodkind's sexy-sounding quote:
"Knowledge is a weapon. I intend to be formidably armed."
Knowledge is a tool. Like a knife, it is neither inherently a weapon nor a cooking utensil. Man's will and intent turn it into either one.
So, reading something is indifferent/neutral.
@HistoPol -- I see what you are saying. However, I can't yet agree with your conclusion that reading is indifferent/neutral. 
I would not agree with this stand-alone statement either.
Ideas can be intoxicating, boring, be the flame of a revolution, etc.
All I am saying is that books are not weapons, even if some books have been #weaponized (e. g. #TheBible, #Koran, #TheArtOfWar, #VomKriege, #OnTheOriginOfTheSpieces, #MeinKampf, #ManifestDerKommunistischenPartei, #LittleRedBook, etc. etc.)
This is what I mean with "neutral". The "evil" starts with (criminal) intent and requires an act.