Wars, revolutions, pandemics and malnutrition have not only been recurring in human history but can now, almost be described as normal. Dealing with uncertainty is man’s predicament.

This anthology deals with how different societies historically and today have handled and dealt with crises. Twenty-five world-leading experts describe and analyse how crises create both problems and opportunities, but above all show the human race’s unsurpassed ability to adapt and reorient.

Essayists include: Clive Aslet, Philip Bobbitt, Peter Burke, Gillian Clark, Jonathan Fenby, Peter Frankopan, Jessica Frazier, Lawrence Freedman, Matthew Goodwin, Andrew Graham-Dixon, Johan Hakelius, Vanessa Harding, Tom Holland, Mark Honigsbaum, Alexander Lee, Tim Marshall, Lincoln Paine, Iskander Rehman, Donald Sassoon, David Seedhouse, Graham Stewart, Hew Strachan, Helen Thompson, Richard Whatmore and Adrian Wooldridge.