Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate policy
The Pastoral Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of The Pastoral books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the The Pastoral series? Start with "Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work" (1980) and follow publication order through all 4 books.
The complete The Pastoral reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work
1980
Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity
1987
The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction
1989
Under the Unpredictable Plant an Exploration in Vocational Holiness
1992
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, Reading Order Books earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain the site and continue providing reading order guides. Read our full disclosure