What is CFA® actually about and how does it compare to self-studying with others?

I was thinking about enrolling for the CFA® . However, I'm not sure what it's actually about. I know the Quant and the Econ sections are more about setting background for broader portfolio management concepts and issues but what is the crux of the program? Is it valuation? If it is that, how does their material compare to books written by McKinsey and Aswath Damodaran on valuation (I've read McKinsey and found it to be VERY practical and "fast-paced", while I think AD is more academic and exhaustive)? Especially Aswath Damodaran. I have all of his books but too busy to read them. So would making time to self-study through his books and go through his online courses be better than enrolling for the CFA® ? I can't do both because I probably can make max 2 hours to devote to studying. So essentially I'm doing the cost-benefit analysis!