Covid-19 has been referred to as a "black swan event." It, quite literally, turned all of our worlds upside down and exposed deep structural inequalities and social issues. Surely, historians will come to recount this period as viscerally destructive and they will wonder how did we cope and what have we learned? 'Perception' and 'response' will sum up this era. Have governments, agencies of the state and individuals demonstrated flexibility? Have we all successfully adapted to the many crisis challenges that unfolded week in, week out? Most importantly to the authors in this volume, has resiliency been demonstrated? Our book Essays on Covid 19, is timely. It is of national and global importance to capture how ordinary citizens of Ireland lived, worked and coped with the frightening upheaval in their everyday lives. To rely solely on scientific laboratory text would be an omission.This book illuminates the human spirit, resilience, coping, a muddling through and survival.