The 'Peter Parker reading book' meme originates from a scene in the 2002 movie "Spider-Man," where Peter Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, is seen engaging with some literature. The image captures him looking smug and self-assured as he reads a blue book, only for him to quickly close it with a knowing smile when confronted with a blank page. This moment has been immortalized as a meme to humorously depict situations where one appears knowledgeable or opinionated but is actually ignoring evidence that contradicts their beliefs. It plays on the comedic trope of selective ignorance, where one chooses to overlook inconvenient truths.