Resilient Pastors seeks to develop a ‘pastoral theology of resilience’ in order to help pastors strengthen the people they serve as they face significant challenges in their lives and to help pastors themselves be strengthened for their role. Allain-Chapman wisely recognises this two-fold objective for the church needs mature ministers capable of processing personal exposure to pain and suffering in a way that is beneficial for all. An exercise in practical theology, Resilient Pastors draws extensively on secular understandings of the ‘journey from adversity to altruism’ as well as Christian tradition and scripture, and especially the experience of the desert. Adopting Stephen Pattison’s ‘critical conversation’ methodology, Allain-Chapman enters into conversation with a wide range of conversation partners from psychosocial science research, the biblical stories of Hagar and Moses, to the writings of Rowan Williams. In particular, the established notion of ‘wounded healer’ is re-examined as the pastoral theology of resilience develops.