In an era dominated by relentless notifications and the pressure to respond instantly, former government strategist and meditation teacher Alex Snider's debut book, "Sometimes You Should Be Late: The Quiet Rebellion of Slowing Down in a World Obsessed With Speed" (Practical Inspiration Publishing, July 7, 2026), challenges the pervasive culture of chronic urgency. Snider, who spent over 15 years in high-pressure federal environments, argues that our default mode of speed often overrides our values, leading to a loss of patience, perspective, compassion, and connection.
The book, which blends contemplative practice, psychology, leadership, and everyday experience, traces the historical origins of punctuality and lateness, introducing concepts like "authentic lateness," "time alchemy," and "standing behind your own clock." Rather than rejecting ambition or efficiency, Snider offers readers new ways to approach time with intentionality, emphasizing that speed can be useful and even an act of care when it is a deliberate choice rather than a default reaction. "Both our speedy rabbit energy and our inner slower sloth have their places," Snider notes, highlighting that the problem arises when urgency becomes a reflexive response rather than a considered one.
The book has garnered early praise from notable authors. Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Power of Regret" and "When," remarks, "This book reminds us that time's real value lies in the human moments we refuse to rush." Jamie Metzl, bestselling author of "Superconvergence" and "The AI Ten Commandments," adds, "'Sometimes You Should Be Late' shows why slowing down in the right contexts isn't an obstacle to progress, but a prerequisite for it."
Snider's personal journey, including a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his perspective on urgency, informs the book's core message. He co-founded Mindful Fed and holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. The book encourages readers to consciously choose how to move through time, asking them to notice when speed pulls them away from their values and to feel the impact of constant rushing on relationships. "This book is inviting you — nay, imploring you — to notice when speed has pulled you away from your values, to feel what being in a constant rush does to our relationships, to lift the blinders that trick you into thinking you don't have options, and to consciously choose how to move through time," Snider explains.
"Sometimes You Should Be Late" is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, and BN.com. With 242 pages, the book offers a blend of research, stories, and practical reframes to help readers explore their relationship with time. Snider's message is timely: in a world that rewards rushing, slowing down creates space to reconnect with what matters most—our values, relationships, and humanity.
