Literature is the vehicle of society. Since the dawn of language, the written word has been humanity's greatest tool and most powerful weapon. Throughout history, the greatest literary minds are those capable of arousing emotion and asking questions that demand answers. When scholars think of works with “literary merit,” they appeal to stories that have stood the test of time. These works challenge the widely accepted norms of their respective time periods in a way that distinguishes them from their contemporaries. In this way, Matthew Quick's The Silver Linings Playbook is a novel deserving of solid literary recognition. Quick's story addresses the rampant problem of mental illness in America and challenges the reader to look through the lens of a victim of a serious medical condition. Rarely does a novel as effectively refute commonly accepted stereotypes and assumptions as The Silver Linings Playbook does. The story, and the resulting message of hope from Pat Peoples, the main character, transcends social and literary boundaries. Clever rhetorical techniques and devices only exemplify the central theme of optimism, while simultaneously creating a perspective that forces the reader to think differently. Not every story has the ending we might expect or want for ourselves. However, this novel invites us to look for something bigger than ourselves and face our problems head on. This advice is universal and applicable in any era or situation. By the traditional definition, The Silver Linings Playbook has enough literary excellence and emotional value to warrant considerable literary merit. Works of literary excellence have the ability to challenge a society's accepted beliefs and values. In The Silver Linings Playbook, both…half of the paper…are right; every story has a positive side. But it is when we open ourselves to life and its infinite possibilities that we might find it. Works Cited Banach, Jennifer. “How to Write a Good Essay.” Bloom's How to Write About Kurt Vonnegut. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2012. Bloom's Literature. File, Inc. Web Facts. June 4, 2014Corrigan, Patrick, et al. “Perception of Discrimination Among People with Severe Mental Illness.” Psychiatric Services 54.8 (2003): 1105-1110.Crisp, Arthur H., et al. “Stigmatization of people with mental illnesses.” The British Journal of Psychiatry 177.1 (2000): 4-7.Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. New York: Harper, 2003. Print.Quick, Matthew. The Bright Side Manual. New York: Sarah Crichton /Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Print.