In a world of nonstop notifications, packed schedules, and pressure to respond instantly, former government strategist, speaker, and meditation teacher Alex Snider invites readers to question today's culture of chronic urgency in his 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).
Snider draws on more than 15 years in high-pressure government environments, along with contemplative practice, psychology, leadership, and everyday human experience. He explores the origins of modern concepts of punctuality and lateness, introducing concepts such as "authentic lateness," "time alchemy," and "standing behind your own clock." These offer readers new ways to approach time—not by rejecting ambition or efficiency, but by creating space to be intentional about attention and energy.
However, Snider insists that this isn't a book about relaxing or opting out. Speed can be useful, necessary, and even an act of care. "Both our speedy rabbit energy and our inner slower sloth have their places," he says, noting that speed primarily becomes a problem when it becomes our default rather than a deliberate response. "When urgency starts overriding our values," notes Snider, "we lose access to patience, perspective, compassion, and connection."
Ultimately, "Sometimes You Should Be Late" offers a new way to think about time—not as something to constantly manage, optimize, or outrun, but as something to experience with greater awareness and intention. In a world that rewards rushing, Snider reminds us that slowing down creates the space to reconnect with what matters most: our values, our relationships, and our humanity.
The book has garnered praise from notable authors. Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Power of Regret" and "When," says, "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 journey to writing this book was shaped by a life-altering bike accident that reshaped his perspective on urgency and attention. A meditation teacher and co-founder of Mindful Fed, he explores what modern busyness gives us—and what it quietly takes away. The book is available at Amazon.com, Bookshop.org, and BN.com.
