Book excerpt: For the first time in modern human history, the response to a global health crisis was required among all countries no matter their wealth, size, or economic status. Every country was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as it surged across the world, it took many lives with it. Thus, it is essential to study the ability of human societies to cope with the changes caused by pandemics. Societal Resilience and Response to Contagious Diseases and Pandemics adopts and maintains an interdisciplinary-transdisciplinary approach to investigating societal resilience. This book builds upon different insights of what has already been done for humanity to survive the spread of a deadly pandemic. Covering topics such as the role of healthcare professionals, political economy, and consumption culture, it is an essential resource for professionals, business leaders, policymakers, professors, graduate students, researchers, and academicians.