How did Robert Owen’s early apprenticeship to a clothier influence his education?

Robert Owen’s apprenticeship to a clothier, which began when he was 10 years old, significantly shaped his intellectual development by providing him with access to his employer’s library.1

During this period, Owen spent much of his time reading, which fostered his critical thinking and independent inquiry. Specifically, his study of books concerning religious controversies led him to conclude at a young age that there were fundamental flaws in all religions. This early skepticism was a formative experience that eventually contributed to his broader philosophy of social reform, where he rejected traditional beliefs in favor of his own theories regarding the formation of human character through environmental influences.12