He can link and quote what he has read until the cows come home but if his conclusion is always 'I don't know', then why even bother saying anything at all?
'What do you think about X?' 'I don't know. Also, here are some disconnected factoids I read on the topic over the past year and can link you to.'
Excuse me, isn't that exactly what Google does, but much better than you? What have you synthesized after all that reading, other than don't know and it's complicated?
People really can't seem to tell an aristocrat asshole who spends his/her days reading to impress others over people who actually understand a thing or two about the world.
Here's a simple tip: if someone uses words like 'larval' when 'early' will do and it's not for comedic or literary effect, chances are extremely high that you are talking to an asshole.