The Peter Parker reading a book meme originates from the 2002 Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire. The image typically captures Peter in his bedroom or a library, intensely focused on a textbook as he tries to balance his academic life with his new superhero responsibilities. In internet culture, the template is used to represent someone trying to make sense of confusing information, reading fine print, or reacting to a surprising piece of text. It has become a staple for student-related humor and relatable 'me-reading' scenarios across platforms like Reddit and Twitter.